2003 Interactive Achievement Awards

Computer Action/Adventure games are those titles on a PC or Mac in which players are challenged with real-time action activities and combat where possibly skill, accuracy and puzzle-solving are required.

Computer First Person Action games are games on a PC or Mac which feature game play in the first-person perspective. Such games often (but not always) involve weapons combat in addition to other game play mechanics suited to a first-person perspective.

The best game voted by the membership of the Academy that operates on a Windows or Macintosh OS-based multipurpose computing system.

This award honors a PC or Mac title where an individual assumes the role of one or more characters and develops those characters in terms of abilities, statistics, and/or traits as the game progresses. Gameplay involves exploring, acquiring resources, solving puzzles, and interacting with player or non-player characters in a persistent world. Through the player’s actions, his/her virtual characters’ statistics or traits demonstrably evolve throughout the game.

Computer Simulation Games are games on a PC or Mac which use game play systems to simulate aspects of the real world.

Computer Sports games are games on a PC or Mac which offer the user the opportunity to virtually reproduce a sporting experience: either a realistic portrayal of an actual sport or games that reproduce for the user the experience of participating in an existing competitive sport.

Computer Strategy games are defined to be those PC or Mac titles in which the user directs or manipulates resources to create a set of conditions that result in success as determined within the confines of the game. These games can offer the user the chance to simulate or to virtually reproduce an experience, real or imaginary, which would require some form of equipment. Strategy games emphasize the planning of tactics rather than the execution.

Console Action/Adventure games are those titles on a console in which players are challenged with real-time action activities and combat where possibly skill, accuracy and puzzle-solving are required.

The Console Family Game of the Year shall be awarded to the best title of any genre on a console geared towards a shared, family gaming experience. The title’s play dynamics must be suitable for a younger audience but can appeal to adults as well. These games often offer a mini-game component and encourage group play.

Console Fighting games are those titles on a console that offer the user the virtual experience of controlling a character engaging in individual combat with another character usually from a fixed camera perspective. The opponent can either be controlled by another player or by the game.

Console First Person Action games are games on a console which feature game play in the first-person perspective. Such games often (but not always) involve weapons combat in addition to other game play mechanics suited to a first-person perspective.

The best game voted by the membership of the Academy that operates on a video game console platform.

Console Platform Action/Adventure games are those titles on a console in which players are challenged with platform-movement, real-time action activities and combat where possibly skill, accuracy and puzzle-solving are required.

Console Racing games are those console titles that allow the user to participate in a contest in which the objective is to convey an object through a course of virtual physical progress as quickly as possible. Racing games may involve competition against other user-controlled competitors or against system controlled competitors. Racing games must simulate vehicular motion.

This award honors a console title where an individual assumes the role of one or more characters and develops those characters in terms of abilities, statistics, and/or traits as the game progresses. Gameplay involves exploring, acquiring resources, solving puzzles, and interacting with player or non-player characters in a persistent world. Through the player’s actions, his/her virtual characters’ statistics or traits demonstrably evolve throughout the game.

Console Sports games are games on a console which offer the user the opportunity to virtually reproduce a sporting experience: either a realistic portrayal of an actual sport or games that reproduce for the user the experience of participating in an existing competitive sport.

The single game, without regard to system or delivery mechanism, voted by the membership of the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences that best utilizes the chosen medium to entertain users.

The Handheld Game of the Year shall be the game developed for a handheld platform that demonstrates the greatest achievement in overall game design, play and/or breakthrough in handheld gaming. All genres of games are included.

The PC or Mac game that, through innovation of design and execution, is most likely to define a new category of games, or represents a creative or technological breakthrough in an existing console category or genre.

The console game that, through innovation of design and execution, is most likely to define a new category of games, or represents a creative or technological breakthrough in an existing console category or genre.

This award recognizes the best online massively multiplayer or persistent world game.

This award will be presented to the individual or team whose work represents the highest level of achievement in bringing a character or characters to life in an interactive title. This award will consider the fluidity of movement, and interaction with the environment in addition to contextual realism (look and feel).

Presented to the individual or team whose work represents the highest level of achievement in designing a unified graphic look for an interactive title.

Presented to the individual or team whose work has furthered the interactive experience through the creation of a memorable character or a memorable story within an interactive title.

This award will be presented to the title that most effectively combines interactive and non-interactive elements to create a cohesive gameplay experience.

Presented to the individual or team whose work represents the highest level of achievement in engineering artificial intelligence and related elements which contribute to a challenging game.

This award will be presented to the individual or team whose work represents the highest level of achievement in online game play in an interactive title. These titles frequently offer excellent matchmaking systems, innovative gameplay options including collaborative and competitive gameplay, user customization and fluidity of gameplay.

Presented to the individual or team whose work represents the highest level of achievement in original musical composition for an interactive title. Both the quality of the score and the integration of the score into the title will be considered when determining the recipient of this Award.

Presented to the individual or team whose work represents the highest level of achievement in creating a unified audio environment, integrating both music and audio effects, in an interactive title.

Presented to the individual or team whose work represents the highest level of achievement in rendering 3-D virtual environments for an interactive title.