The 2000 Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences may have been held back on March 22nd, but the actual awards were distributed this evening at the L.A. Convention Center. Diablo 2 won the coveted Game of the Year honors, and Electronic Arts snagged 5 individual honors for their PS2 snowboarding hit SSX. Here is a list of all the categories and the award winners:
CRAFT AWARDS
Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction-Final Fantasy IX (Square-PSX)
Outstanding Achievement in Animation-Final Fantasy IX (Square-PSX)
Outstanding Achievement in Sound-Medal of Honor: Underground (Dreamworks Interactive-PSX)
Outstanding Achievement in Musical Composition-Medal of Honor: Underground (Dreamworks Interactive-PSX)
Outstanding Achievement in Game Design-Zelda: Majora's Mask (Nintendo-N64)
Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering-SSX (EA Sports BIG-PS2)
Outstanding Achievement in Game Play Engineering-SSX (EA Sports BIG-PS2)
Outstanding Achievement in Character/Story Development-Baldur's Gade II (Bioware-PC)
CONSOLE
Action/Adventure Game of the Year-Zelda: Majora's Mask (Nintendo-N64)
Role Playing Game of the Year-Final Fantasy IX (Square-PSX)
Fighting Game of the Year-Dead or Alive 2 (Tecmo-Dreamcast)
Racing Game of the Year-SSX (EA Sports BIG-PS2)
Family Title of the Year-Mario Tennis (Nintendo-N64)
Sports Game of the Year-SSX (EA Sports BIG-PSX)
Innovation in Console Gaming-Shenmue (AM2 of CRI-DC)
Console Game of the Year-SSX (EA Sports BIG-PS2)
ONLINE
Online Gameplay of the Year-Mechwarrior 4 (Microsoft-PC)
Massive Multiplayer/Persistent World Game of the Year-EverQuest (SCEA-PC)
PERSONAL COMPUTER
Family Title of the Year-Return of the Incredible Machine (Sierra-PC)
Action/Adventure Game of the Year-Deus Ex (Ion Storm-PC)
Role Playing Game of the Year-Diablo II (Blizzard-PC)
Simulation Game of the Year-Mechwarrior 4 (Microsoft-PC)
Sports Game of the Year-TIE between FIFA 2001 (EA Sports-PC) and Motorcross Madness (Microsoft-PC)
Strategy Game of the Year-Age of Kings II: The Conquerors (Ensemble Studios-PC)
Innovation in Computer Gaming-Deus Ex (Ion Storm-PC)
Computer Game (and overall) Game of the Year-Diablo II (Blizzard-PC)
Trends in the AIAS awards continue strong, as repeated winner Bruce Shelley expands his trophy case with Age of Kings II winning for Strategy Game of the Year, and EA Sports continues their strong presence with the 5 awards for SSX.
In concluding the event, the official name for the AIAS award was announced. AIAS President Paul Provenzano christened the "Nexus Award," named after video/computer games being a "convergence of science and art."