8th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards

The 8th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards was the 8th edition of the Interactive Achievement Awards, an annual awards event that honored the best games in the video game industry during 2004. The awards were arranged by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) and were held at the Green Valley Ranch Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 1, 2005 (2005-02-01). It was also held as part of the Academy's 2005 D.I.C.E. Summit. It was hosted by Kurt Scholler and Cory Rouse, and featured presenters including Lorne Lanning, Tommy Tallarico, Ray Muzyka, Greg Zeschuk, Stan Lee, Sid Meier, Jack Tretton, and Doug Lowenstein.^[1]

8th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards
Date	February 1, 2005 (2005-02-01)
Venue	Green Valley Ranch
Country	Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Hosted by	Kurt Scholler and Cory Rouse
Highlights
Most awards	Half-Life 2 (9)
Most nominations	Half-Life 2 (11)
Game of the Year	Half-Life 2
Hall of Fame	Trip Hawkins
← 7th · D.I.C.E. Awards · 9th →

The award for "Online Gameplay" had been reintroduced as a craft award instead of a genre award.^[2] This year's finalists were listed for "Wireless Game of the Year" along with the computer award for "Children's Game of the Year".

Half-Life 2 received the most nominations and won the most awards, including "Game of the Year". As a publisher, Vivendi Universal Games won the most awards, while Nintendo and Sony Computer Entertainment received the most nominations. Nintendo also tied with Electronic Arts for having the most nominated games while Nintendo had the most award-winning games. The Mario franchise had two award-winning titles with Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for "Console Role-Playing Game of the Year" and Super Mario 64 DS for "Wireless Game of the Year". This would be the final year of separate genre awards for console and computer. Namco was the only developer with more than one award-winning game.

Trip Hawkins, founder of Electronic Arts, 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 (‡).^[3][4][5][6]

Game of the Year Half-Life 2 — Valve, Vivendi Universal Games‡ Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas — Rockstar North Halo 2 — Bungie, Microsoft Game Studios Katamari Damacy — Namco World of Warcraft — Blizzard Entertainment, Vivendi Universal Games
Console Game of the Year Halo 2 — Bungie, Microsoft Game Studios‡ Burnout 3: Takedown — Criterion Games, Electronic Arts Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas — Rockstar North Katamari Damacy — Namco Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal — Insomniac Games, Sony Computer Entertainment	Computer Game of the Year Half-Life 2 — Valve, Vivendi Universal Games‡ City of Heroes — Cryptic Studios, NCSoft Doom 3 — id Software, Activision Sid Meier's Pirates! — Firaxis Games, Atari World of Warcraft — Blizzard Entertainment, Vivendi Universal Games

Innovation Awards

Outstanding Innovation in Computer Gaming Half-Life 2 — Valve, Vivendi Universal Games‡ City of Heroes — Cryptic Studios, NCSoft Doom 3 — id Software, Activision Rome: Total War — Creative Assembly, Activision The Sims 2 — Maxis, Electronic Arts

Outstanding Innovation in Console Gaming Katamari Damacy — Namco‡ Donkey Konga — Namco, Nintendo EyeToy: AntiGrav — Harmonix, Sony Computer Entertainment Fable — Lionhead Studios, Microsoft Game Studios Halo 2 — Bungie, Microsoft Game Studios

Craft Awards

Outstanding Achievement in Game Design Katamari Damacy — Namco‡ City of Heroes — Cryptic Studios, NCSoft Fable — Lionhead Studios, Microsoft Game Studios Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas — Rockstar North Half-Life 2 — Valve, Vivendi Universal Games	Outstanding Achievement in Character or Story Development Fable — Lionhead Studios, Microsoft Game Studios‡ Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone — Stormfront Studios, Atari Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas — Rockstar North Half-Life 2 — Valve, Vivendi Universal Games Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy — Midway Games
Outstanding Achievement in Animation Half-Life 2 — Valve, Vivendi Universal Games‡ Jak 3 — Naughty Dog, Sony Computer Entertainment Prince of Persia: Warrior Within — Ubisoft Montreal Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal — Insomniac Games, Sony Computer Entertainment Sly 2: Band of Thieves — Sucker Punch Productions, Sony Computer Entertainment	Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction Half-Life 2 — Valve, Vivendi Universal Games‡ Doom 3 — id Software, Activision Metroid Prime 2: Echoes — Retro Studios, Nintendo Prince of Persia: Warrior Within — Ubisoft Montreal Sly 2: Band of Thieves — Sucker Punch Productions, Sony Computer Entertainment
Outstanding Character Performance - Male Robert Guillaume as Dr. Eli Vance (Half-Life 2) — Valve, Vivendi Universal Games‡ Daniel Riordan as Rannek (Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone) — Stormfront Studios, Atari David Hayter as Naked Snake (Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater) — Konami Cary Elwes as The Bard (The Bard's Tale) — inXile Entertainment Vin Diesel as Riddick (The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay) — Starbreeze Studios, Vivendi Universal Games	Outstanding Character Performance - Female Judi Dench as M (GoldenEye: Rogue Agent) — EA Los Angeles‡ Vanessa Marshall as Zhai (Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone) — Stormfront Studios, Atari Linda Currie (Zoo Tycoon 2) — Blue Fang Games, Microsoft Game Studios
Outstanding Achievement in Soundtrack Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas — Rockstar North‡ Donkey Konga — Namco, Nintendo Need for Speed: Underground 2 — EA Black Box Tony Hawk's Underground 2 — Neversoft, Activision	Outstanding Achievement in Original Musical Composition Fable — Lionhead Studios, Microsoft Game Studios‡ Katamari Damacy — Namco Killzone — Guerrilla Games, Sony Computer Entertainment NBA Ballers — Midway Games Rome: Total War — Creative Assembly, Activision
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design Halo 2 — Bungie, Microsoft Game Studios‡ Doom 3 — id Software, Activision Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal — Insomniac Games, Sony Computer Entertainment Rome: Total War — Creative Assembly, Activision Sly 2: Band of Thieves — Sucker Punch Productions, Sony Computer Entertainment	Outstanding Achievement in Gameplay Engineering Half-Life 2 — Valve, Vivendi Universal Games‡ Donkey Konga — Namco, Nintendo EyeToy: AntiGrav — Harmonix, Sony Computer Entertainment Fable — Lionhead Studios, Microsoft Game Studios Spider-Man 2 — Treyarch, Activision
Outstanding Achievement in Online Gameplay Halo 2 — Bungie, Microsoft Game Studios‡ Rome: Total War — Creative Assembly, Activision Unreal Tournament 2004 — Epic Games, Digital Extremes, Atari Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War — Relic Entertainment, THQ	Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering Half-Life 2 — Valve, Vivendi Universal Games‡ Doom 3 — id Software, Activision Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone — Stormfront Studios, Atari Metroid Prime 2: Echoes — Retro Studios, Nintendo Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal — Insomniac Games, Sony Computer Entertainment

Genre Awards

Console

Console Platform Action/Adventure Game of the Year Prince of Persia: Warrior Within — Ubisoft Montreal‡ Jak 3 — Naughty Dog, Sony Computer Entertainment Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal — Insomniac Games, Sony Computer Entertainment	Console Action/Adventure Game of the Year Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas — Rockstar North‡ Full Spectrum Warrior — Pandemic Studios, THQ Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater — Konami Pikmin 2 — Nintendo EAD Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy — Midway Games Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow — Ubisoft
Console Action Sports Game of the Year Tony Hawk's Underground 2 — Neversoft, Activision‡ Mario Power Tennis — Camelot Software Planning, Nintendo NBA Ballers — Midway Games NFL Street 2 — EA Tiburon	Console First-Person Action Game of the Year Halo 2 — Bungie, Microsoft Game Studios‡ GoldenEye: Rogue Agent — EA Los Angeles Killzone — Guerrilla Games, Sony Computer Entertainment Metroid Prime 2: Echoes — Retro Studios, Nintendo The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay — Starbreeze Studios, Vivendi Universal Games
Console Children's Title of the Year Sly 2: Band of Thieves — Sucker Punch Productions, Sony Computer Entertainment‡ Backyard Baseball 2005 — Humongous Entertainment, Atari Mario Party 6 — Hudson Soft, Nintendo Pokémon Colosseum — Genius Sonority, Nintendo Shrek 2 — Luxoflux, Activision	Fighting Game of the Year Mortal Kombat: Deception — Midway Games‡ Def Jam: Fight for NY — AKI Corporation, EA Canada Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3 — Dimps, Bandai, Atari
Console Family Game of the Year Donkey Konga — Namco, Nintendo‡ EyeToy: AntiGrav — Harmonix, Sony Computer Entertainment Karaoke Revolution Volume 3 — Harmonix, Konami WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Games! — Nintendo R&D1	Racing Game of the Year Burnout 3: Takedown — Criterion Games, Electronic Arts‡ Rallisport Challenge 2 — DICE, Microsoft Game Studios
Console Role-Playing Game of the Year Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door — Intelligent Systems, Nintendo‡ Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles — Square Enix, Nintendo Tales of Symphonia — Namco Tales Studio The Bard's Tale — inXile Entertainment X-Men Legends — Raven Software, Activision	Console Sports Simulation Game of the Year ESPN NFL 2K5 — Visual Concepts, Sega‡ ESPN NHL 2K5 — Kush Games, Sega Madden NFL 2005 — EA Tiburon World Soccer Winning Eleven 7 International — Konami

Handheld

Wireless Game of the Year Super Mario 64 DS — Nintendo EAD‡ Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen — Game Freak, Nintendo

Handheld Game of the Year Metroid: Zero Mission — Nintendo R&D1‡ Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories — Square Enix Super Mario 64 DS — Nintendo EAD

Computer

Computer Action/Adventure Game of the Year Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow — Ubisoft‡ Full Spectrum Warrior — Pandemic Studios, THQ Myst IV: Revelation — Ubisoft Montreal The Suffering — Surreal Software, Midway Games	Computer Children's Game of the Year Backyard Skateboarding — Humongous Entertainment, Atari‡
Downloadable Game of the Year The Incredibles: Escape from Nomanisan Island — Backbone Entertainment, Disney Interactive‡ Diner Dash — Gamelab, PlayFirst Mahjong Garden To Go — Pogo.com, Electronic Arts Shroomz - Quest for Puppy — The Planet, Gametrust Inc.	Computer Family Game of the Year Zoo Tycoon 2 — Blue Fang Games, Microsoft Game Studios‡ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban — KnowWonder, EA UK Scrabble Online — Boston Animation, Atari
Computer First-Person Action Game of the Year Half-Life 2 — Valve, Vivendi Universal Games‡ Doom 3 — id Software, Activision Joint Operations: Typhoon Rising — NovaLogic Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault — EA Los Angeles Unreal Tournament 2004 — Epic Games, Digital Extremes, Atari	Computer Role-Playing Game of the Year Neverwinter Nights: Kingmaker — BioWare, Atari‡ Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines — Troika Games, Activision
Simulation Game of the Year The Sims 2 — Maxis, Electronic Arts‡ Pacific Fighters — 1C:Maddox Games, Ubisoft RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 — Frontier Developments, Atari	Computer Sports Game of the Year Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005 — EA Redwood Shores‡
Strategy Game of the Year Rome: Total War — Creative Assembly, Activision‡ The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth — EA Los Angeles Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War — Relic Entertainment, THQ

Online Awards

Massive Multiplayer/Persistent World Game of the Year World of Warcraft — Blizzard Entertainment, Vivendi Universal Games‡ City of Heroes — Cryptic Studios, NCSoft Final Fantasy XI: Chains of Promathia — Square Enix, Sony Computer Entertainment Star Wars Galaxies: Jump to Lightspeed — Sony Online Entertainment, LucasArts

Hall of Fame Award

• Trip Hawkins^[7]

Multiple nominations and awards

Multiple Nominations

Games that received multiple nominations

Nominations	Game
11	Half-Life 2
6	Doom 3
	Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
	Halo 2
5	Fable
	Katamari Damacy
	Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
	Rome: Total War
4	City of Heroes
	Donkey Konga
	Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone
	Sly 2: Band of Thieves
3	EyeToy: AntiGrav
	Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
	Prince of Persia: Warrior Within
	World of Warcraft
2	Burnout 3: Takedown
	GoldenEye: Rogue Agent
	Full Spectrum Warrior
	Jak 3
	Killzone
	Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
	NBA Ballers
	Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy
	Super Mario 64 DS
	The Bard's Tale
	The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay
	The Sims 2
	Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow
	Tony Hawk's Underground 2
	Unreal Tournament 2004
	Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War
	Zoo Tycoon 2

Nominations by company

Nominations	Games	Company
18	12	Nintendo
	7	Sony Computer Entertainment
17		Activision
16	3	Vivendi Universal Games
15	12	Electronic Arts
14	4	Microsoft Game Studios
13	8	Atari
11	1	Valve
10	3	Namco
7	4	Ubisoft
6		Midway Games
	1	Bungie
		id Software
		Rockstar North
5		Lionhead Studios
		Creative Assembly
		Insomniac Games
4	3	Konami
	2	THQ
		Harmonix
	1	Cryptic Studios
		NCSoft
		Stormfront Studios
		Sucker Punch Productions
3		Square Enix
		Blizzard Entertainment
		Retro Studios
2	2	Humongous Entertainment
	1	Blue Fang Games
		Criterion Games
		Digital Extremes
		Epic Games
		Guerrilla Games
		inXile Entertainment
		Maxis
		Naughty Dog
		Neversoft
		Pandemic Studios
		Relic Entertainment
		Starbreeze Studios

Multiple awards

Games that received multiple awards

Awards	Game
9	Half-Life 2
4	Halo 2
2	Fable
	Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
	Katamari Damacy

Awards by company

Awards	Games	Company
10	2	Vivendi Universal Games
9	1	Valve
7	3	Microsoft Game Studios
4	4	Nintendo
3	3	Electronic Arts
	2	Namco
2		Activision
		Atari
		Ubisoft
	1	Rockstar North

External links

• Archived Finalists/Winners List