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The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences held the 12th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards last night at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas, hosted by comedian and avid gamer Jay Mohr.

In a partnership with the Academy, Independent Film Channel (IFC) will broadcast a half hour special with highlights from the IAAs in April 2009.

The peer-based awards recognize the outstanding products, talented individuals and development teams that have contributed to the advancement of the multi-billion dollar worldwide entertainment software industry. The winners in each category are as follows:


Overall Game of the Year: LittleBigPlanet

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: Media Molecule
Producer: Siobhan Reddy, Leo Cubbin
Game Director: Mark Healey, David Smith

Console Game of the Year: LittleBigPlanet

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: Media Molecule
Producer: Siobhan Reddy, Leo Cubbin
Game Director: Mark Healey, David Smith

Computer Game of the Year: Left 4 Dead

Publisher: Valve Software
Developer: Valve Software
Producer: Gabe Newell
Game Director: Mike Booth

Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction: LittleBigPlanet

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: Media Molecule
Creative Director: Mark Healey

Casual Game of the Year: Braid

Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: Number None
Producer: Kevin Hathaway
Game Director: Jonathan Blow

Fighting Game of the Year: Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo, Hal Laboratory, Sora Ltd.
Producer: Shigeru Miyamoto
Game Director: Masahiro Sakurai

Handheld Game of the Year: God of War: Chains of Olympus

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment of America
Developer: Ready at Dawn
Producer: Marc Turndorf, Eric Koch, Chad Cox
Game Director: Ru Weerasuriya
Lead Designer: Dana Jan

Massively Multiplayer Game of the Year: World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King

Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Producer: J. Allen Brack
Game Director: Jeff Kaplan

Cellular Game of the Year: Spore Origins

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Barbaraoga, Tricky Software
Producer: Mike Pagano

Role-Playing Game of the Year: Fallout 3

Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Production Director: Ashley Cheng
Lead Producer: Gavin Carter
Game Director: Todd Howard
Lead Designer: Emil Pagliaruio

Racing Game of the Year: Burnout Paradise

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Criterion Games
Producer: Peter Hawley
Lead Designer: Alex Ward

Outstanding Achievement in Game Design: World of Goo

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: 2D Boy
Lead Game Designer: Kyle Gabler

Adventure Game of the Year: Mirror's Edge

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Digital Illusions Creative Entertainment
Producer: Owen O'Brien
Game Director: Yoshiaki Koizumi
Creative Director: Shigeru Miyamoto

Sports Game of the Year: NHL 09

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Canada
Producer: David Littman
Game Director: Sam Ramjagsingh
Lead Designer: Matt Mahar

Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year: Command and Conquer 3: Red Alert

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Los Angeles
Producer: Chris Corry, Amer Ajami
Game Director: Jason Torres, Greg Black

Action Game of the Year: Dead Space

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Redwood Shores
Producer: Glen Schofield
Game Director: Bret Robbins

Family Game of the Year: LittleBigPlanet

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: Media Molecule
Producer: Siobhan Reddy, Leo Cubbin
Game Directors: Mark Healey, David Smith

Outstanding Achievement in Animation: Prince of Persia

Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Lead Animator: David Wilkinson

Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction: LittleBigPlanet

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: Media Molecule
Art Director: Kareem Ettourney

Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering: LittleBigPlanet

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: Media Molecule
Technology Director : Alex Evans, David Smith

Outstanding Character Performance: LittleBigPlanet (Sackboy)

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: Media Molecule
Writer: Dean Wilkinson

Outstanding Achievement in Story -Adapted: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

Publisher: LucasArts
Developer: LucasArts
Writer: Haden Blackman

Outstanding Achievement in Story - Original: Fallout 3

Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Writer: Emil Pagliarulo

Outstanding Achievement in Online Game Play: Left 4 Dead

Publisher: Valve Software
Developer: Valve Software
Lead Online Designer: Mike Booth

Outstanding Innovation in Gaming: LittleBigPlanet

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: Media Molecule
Producers: Siobhan Reddy, Leo Cubbin
Game Director: Mark Healey

Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
Developer: Kojima Productions
Composer: Harry Gregson-Williams

Outstanding Achievement in Soundtrack: Rock Band 2

Publisher: MTV Games
Developer: Harmonix Music Systems, Inc.
Music Supervisor: Paul DeGooyer, Eric Brosius

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design: Dead Space

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Redwood Shores
Sound Designer: Don Veca

Since 1996, the Interactive Achievement Awards have recognized outstanding games, individuals and development teams that have contributed to the advancement of the multi-billion dollar worldwide entertainment software industry. More than 160 titles were played and evaluated by members of the Academy's Peer Panels. The panels are comprised of the game industry's most experienced and talented men and women. Each panel is responsible for evaluating one award category.

Interactive Achievement Award recipients are determined by a vote of qualified Academy and IGDA members. Award voting is confidential, conducted online and supervised and certified by VoteNet Solutions, Inc.

The integrity of the system, coupled with a broad-based voting population of AIAS members, makes the Interactive Achievement Awards the most credible, respected and recognized awards for interactive entertainment software.