4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards

The 4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards was the 4th edition of the Interactive Achievement Awards, an annual awards event that honored the best games in the video game industry during the last ten months of 2000. The awards were arranged by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) and were held at Polly Esther's in San Jose, California on March 22, 2001 (2001-03-22). It was hosted by Martin Lewis, and featured presenters included Scott Campbell, Louis Castle, Tony Goodman, Lorne Lanning, Sid Meier, Ray Muzyka, Gabe Newell, Chris Taylor, Will Wright, and Greg Zeschuk.^[1]

4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards
Date	March 22, 2001 (2001-03-22)
Venue	Polly Esther's
Country	San Jose, California, USA
Hosted by	Martin Lewis
Highlights
Most awards	SSX (5)
Most nominations	Jet Grind Radio (8)
Game of the Year	Diablo II
Hall of Fame	John Carmack
← 3rd · D.I.C.E. Awards · 5th →

Innovation awards for console gaming and PC gaming were introduced. The console and PC awards for "Action" and "Adventure/Role-Playing" were replaced with "Action/Adventure" and "Role-Playing". Both console and PC awards had a "Family Title of the Year" game category. "Online Game of the Year" was relabeled as "Online Gameplay of the Year". This was the first year online awards for websites were not offered. The category for "Massive Multiplayer/Persistent World Game of the Year" was also introduced. This was the final year games could be nominated for more than one console or PC genre award.^[2]

Diablo II won the ceremony's top honor with "Game of the Year". The PlayStation 2 launch title SSX ended up winning the most awards at the event. Jet Grind Radio received the most nominations, but did not win a single award. Electronic Arts received the most nominations and won the most awards, some of which were for publishing SquareSoft games outside of Japan. Electronic Arts also had the most nominated games and the most award-winning games. There was also a tie between FIFA 2001 and Motocross Madness 2 for "PC Sports Game of the Year". EA Canada was the only developer with more than one award-winning game.

John Carmack, lead programmer of id Software titles Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, and Quake, was inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame.

Winners and Nominees

Winners are listed first, highlighted in boldface, and indicated with a double dagger (‡).^{[2][3][4][5][6]}

Game of the Year[a] Diablo II — Blizzard North, Blizzard Entertainment‡ Age of Empires II: The Conquerors — Ensemble Studios, Microsoft Asheron's Call — Turbine, Microsoft Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn — BioWare, Black Isle Studios, Interplay Entertainment Banjo-Tooie — Rare, Nintendo Chrono Cross — SquareSoft, Square Electronic Arts Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 — Westwood Pacific, Electronic Arts Deus Ex — Ion Storm, Eidos Interactive Disney's Magic Artist 3D — Disney Interactive EverQuest: The Ruins of Kunark — Verant Interactive, Sony Online Entertainment FIFA 2001 — EA Canada Final Fantasy IX — SquareSoft, Square Electronic Arts Jet Grind Radio — Smilebit, Sega Links 2001 — Access Software, Microsoft Madden NFL 2001 — EA Tiburon MechWarrior 4: Vengeance — FASA Interactive, Microsoft Rayman 2: The Great Escape — Ubisoft RollerCoaster Tycoon: Loopy Landscapes — MicroProse, Hasbro Interactive Sacrifice — Shiny Entertainment, Interplay Entertainment Shenmue — Sega AM2 Skies of Arcadia — Overworks, Sega Spyro: Year of the Dragon — Insomniac Games, Sony Computer Entertainment SSX — EA Canada Tekken Tag Tournament — Namco The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask — Nintendo EAD The Operative: No One Lives Forever — Monolith Productions, Fox Interactive Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 — Neversoft, Activision Virtua Tennis — Sega AM-3 WWF No Mercy — AKI Corporation, THQ

Craft Awards

Outstanding Achievement in Game Design The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask — Nintendo EAD‡ Jet Grind Radio — Smilebit, Sega Rayman 2: The Great Escape — Ubisoft Shenmue — Sega AM2 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 — Neversoft, Activision	Outstanding Achievement in Character or Story Development Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn — BioWare, Black Isle Studios, Interplay Entertainment‡ Final Fantasy IX — SquareSoft, Square Electronic Arts Shenmue — Sega AM2 Skies of Arcadia — Overworks, Sega
Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction Final Fantasy IX — SquareSoft, Square Electronic Arts‡ Escape from Monkey Island — LucasArts Jet Grind Radio — Smilebit, Sega Spyro: Year of the Dragon — Insomniac Games, Sony Computer Entertainment	Outstanding Achievement in Animation Final Fantasy IX — SquareSoft, Square Electronic Arts‡ Dead or Alive 2 — Team Ninja, Tecmo Rayman 2: The Great Escape — Ubisoft Space Channel 5 — United Game Artists, Sega Tekken Tag Tournament — Namco
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design Medal of Honor: Underground — DreamWorks Interactive, Electronic Arts‡ Deus Ex — Ion Storm, Eidos Interactive Jet Grind Radio — Smilebit, Sega The Longest Journey — Funcom, IQ Media, Tri Synergy, Empire Interactive	Outstanding Achievement in Original Musical Composition Medal of Honor: Underground — DreamWorks Interactive, Electronic Arts‡ Escape from Monkey Island — LucasArts Final Fantasy IX — SquareSoft, Square Electronic Arts Jet Grind Radio — Smilebit, Sega SSX — EA Canada
Outstanding Achievement in Game Play Engineering SSX — EA Canada‡ Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn — BioWare, Black Isle Studios, Interplay Entertainment The Operative: No One Lives Forever — Monolith Productions, Fox Interactive Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 — Neversoft, Activision	Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering SSX — EA Canada‡ FIFA 2001 — EA Canada Jet Grind Radio — Smilebit, Sega Motocross Madness 2 — Rainbow Studios, Microsoft

Console Awards

Console Game of the Year SSX — EA Canada‡ Banjo-Tooie — Rare, Nintendo Chrono Cross — SquareSoft, Square Electronic Arts Final Fantasy IX — SquareSoft, Square Electronic Arts Jet Grind Radio — Smilebit, Sega Madden NFL 2001 — EA Tiburon Rayman 2: The Great Escape — Ubisoft Shenmue — Sega AM2 Skies of Arcadia — Overworks, Sega Spyro: Year of the Dragon — Insomniac Games, Sony Computer Entertainment Tekken Tag Tournament — Namco The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask — Nintendo EAD Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 — Neversoft, Activision Virtua Tennis — Sega AM-3 WWF No Mercy — AKI Corporation, THQ	Innovation in Console Gaming Shenmue — Sega AM2‡ Fantavision — SCE Japan Studio Jet Grind Radio — Smilebit, Sega Samba de Amigo — Sonic Team, Sega Seaman — Vivarium, Sega Space Channel 5 — United Game Artists, Sega
Console Action/Adventure Game of the Year The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask — Nintendo EAD‡ Banjo-Tooie — Rare, Nintendo Rayman 2: The Great Escape — Ubisoft Spyro: Year of the Dragon — Insomniac Games, Sony Computer Entertainment Vagrant Story — SquareSoft, Square Electronic Arts	Console Role-Playing Game of the Year Final Fantasy IX — SquareSoft, Square Electronic Arts‡ Chrono Cross — SquareSoft, Square Electronic Arts Skies of Arcadia — Overworks, Sega The Legend of Dragoon — SCE Japan Studio
Console Fighting Game of the Year Dead or Alive 2 — Team Ninja, Tecmo‡ Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2 — Midway Studios San Diego, Midway Games Tekken Tag Tournament — Namco Ultimate Fighting Championship — Anchor Inc., Crave Entertainment WWF No Mercy — AKI Corporation, THQ	Console Racing Game of the Year SSX — EA Canada‡ F355 Challenge — Sega AM2 Ridge Racer V — Namco San Francisco Rush 2049 — Midway Games
Console Family Title of the Year Mario Tennis — Camelot Software Planning, Nintendo‡ Donkey Kong Country[b] — Rare, Nintendo Hey You, Pikachu! — Ambrella, Nintendo Pokémon Stadium — Nintendo EAD	Console Sports Game of the Year SSX — EA Canada‡ Madden NFL 2001 — EA Tiburon Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 — Neversoft, Activision Virtua Tennis — Sega AM-3

Online Awards

Online Gameplay of the Year MechWarrior 4: Vengeance — FASA Interactive, Microsoft‡ Clusterball — Daydream Software, RealNetworks Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 — Westwood Pacific, Electronic Arts Ultima Online: Renaissance — Origin Systems, Electronic Arts

Massive Multiplayer/Persistent World Game of the Year EverQuest: The Ruins of Kunark — Verant Interactive, Sony Online Entertainment‡ Allegiance — Microsoft Research Asheron's Call — Turbine, Microsoft Ultima Online: Renaissance — Origin Systems, Electronic Arts

PC Awards

PC Game of the Year Diablo II — Blizzard North, Blizzard Entertainment‡ Age of Empires II: The Conquerors — Ensemble Studios, Microsoft Asheron's Call — Turbine, Microsoft Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn — BioWare, Black Isle Studios, Interplay Entertainment Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 — Westwood Pacific, Electronic Arts Deus Ex — Ion Storm, Eidos Interactive Disney's Magic Artist 3D — Disney Interactive EverQuest: The Ruins of Kunark — Verant Interactive, Sony Online Entertainment FIFA 2001 — EA Canada Links 2001 — Access Software, Microsoft MechWarrior 4: Vengeance — FASA Interactive, Microsoft RollerCoaster Tycoon: Loopy Landscapes — MicroProse, Hasbro Interactive Sacrifice — Shiny Entertainment, Interplay Entertainment The Operative: No One Lives Forever — Monolith Productions, Fox Interactive	Innovation in Computer Gaming Deus Ex — Ion Storm, Eidos Interactive‡ Combat Mission: Beyond Overlord — Big Time Software, CDV Software Crimson Skies — Zipper Interactive, Microsoft Sacrifice — Shiny Entertainment, Interplay Entertainment Shogun: Total War — Creative Assembly, Electronic Arts
PC Family Title of the Year Return of the Incredible Machine: Contraptions — Dynamix, Sierra On-Line‡ Disney's Magic Artist 3D — Disney Interactive Ernie's Adventures in Space — Sesame Workshop, Mattel Interactive Tonka Dig'n Rigs — Hasbro Interactive, Infogrames	PC Action/Adventure Game of the Year Deus Ex — Ion Storm, Eidos Interactive‡ Crimson Skies — Zipper Interactive, Microsoft Escape from Monkey Island — LucasArts Star Trek: Voyager – Elite Force — Raven Software, Activision The Operative: No One Lives Forever — Monolith Productions, Fox Interactive
PC Role-Playing Game of the Year Diablo II — Blizzard North, Blizzard Entertainment‡ Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn — BioWare, Black Isle Studios, Interplay Entertainment Deus Ex — Ion Storm, Eidos Interactive Icewind Dale — Black Isle Studios, Interplay Entertainment	PC Simulation Game of the Year MechWarrior 4: Vengeance — FASA Interactive, Microsoft‡ Enemy Engaged: RAH-66 Comanche vs. KA-52 Hokum — Razorworks, Empire Interactive Links 2001 — Access Software, Microsoft Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed — Eden Studios, EA Canada RollerCoaster Tycoon: Loopy Landscapes — MicroProse, Hasbro Interactive
PC Sports Game of the Year[c] FIFA 2001 — EA Canada‡ Motocross Madness 2 — Rainbow Studios, Microsoft‡ Championship Manager: Season 00/01 — Sports Interactive, Eidos Interactive Links 2001 — Access Software, Microsoft	PC Strategy Game of the Year Age of Empires II: The Conquerors — Ensemble Studios, Microsoft‡ Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 — Westwood Pacific, Electronic Arts Sacrifice — Shiny Entertainment, Interplay Entertainment Zeus: Master of Olympus — Impressions Games, Sierra On-Line

Hall of Fame Award

• John Carmack^[9]

Multiple nominations and awards

Multiple Nominations

Games that received multiple nominations

Nominations	Game
8	Jet Grind Radio
7	Final Fantasy IX
	SSX
6	Deus Ex
5	Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
	Rayman 2: The Great Escape
	Shenmue
	Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
4	Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2
	FIFA 2001
	Links 2001
	MechWarrior 4: Vengeance
	Sacrifice
	Skies of Arcadia
	Spyro: Year of the Dragon
	Tekken Tag Tournament
	The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
	The Operative: No One Lives Forever
3	Age of Empires II: The Conquerors
	Asheron's Call
	Banjo-Tooie
	Chrono Cross
	Diablo II
	Disney's Magic Artist 3D
	Escape from Monkey Island
	EverQuest: The Ruins of Kunark
	Madden NFL 2001
	RollerCoaster Tycoon: Loopy Landscapes
	Virtua Tennis
	WWF No Mercy
2	Crimson Skies
	Dead or Alive 2
	Medal of Honor: Underground
	Motocross Madness 2
	Space Channel 5
	Ultima Online: Renaissance

Nominations by company

Nominations	Games	Company
35	11	Electronic Arts
25	8	Sega
19	7	Microsoft
11	6	Nintendo
	3	SquareSoft
10		Interplay Entertainment
9	4	Sony Computer Entertainment
8	1	Smilebit
7		Eidos Interactive
6	2	Activision
		Black Isle Studios
	1	Ion Storm
5	2	Namco
	1	BioWare
		Neversoft
		Ubisoft
4	2	Hasbro Interactive
		Rare
	1	Access Software
		FASA Interactive
		Fox Interactive
		Insomniac Games
		Monolith Productions
		Overworks
		Shiny Entertainment
		Westwood Pacific
3		AKI Corporation
		Blizzard Entertainment
		Blizzard North
		Disney Interactive
		Ensemble Studios
		LucasArts
		MicroProse
		THQ
		Turbine
		Verant Interactive
2	2	Empire Interactive
		Midway Games
		Sierra On-Line
	1	DreamWorks Interactive
		Origin Systems
		Rainbow Studios
		Team Ninja
		Tecmo
		United Game Artists
		Zipper Interactive

Multiple awards

Games that received multiple awards

Awards	Game
5	SSX
3	Diablo II
	Final Fantasy IX
2	Deus Ex
	MechWarrior 4: Vengeance
	Medal of Honor: Underground
	The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

Awards by company

Awards	Games	Company
11	4	Electronic Arts
4	3	Microsoft
3	2	Nintendo
	1	Blizzard Entertainment
		Blizzard North
		SquareSoft
2		DreamWorks Interactive
		Eidos Interactive
		FASA Interactive
		Ion Storm

Notes

1. Includes all finalists for Console Game of the Year and PC Game of the Year.^[7][8]
2. Game Boy Color version
3. Tie between finalists.

External links

• Archived Winners/Finalists Page