# 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.
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.
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".
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 (‡).

### 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 — Rare, Nintendo Hey You, Pikachu! — Ambrella, Nintendo Pokémon Stadium — Nintendo EAD, HAL Laboratory | 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 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

### Multiple nominations and awards
#### Multiple Nominations

Games that received multiple nominations :
| Nominations | Game |
| 8 | Jet Grind Radio |
| 7 | Final Fantasy IX |
| 7 | SSX |
| 6 | Deus Ex |
| 5 | Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn |
| 5 | Rayman 2: The Great Escape |
| 5 | Shenmue |
| 5 | Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 |
| 4 | Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 |
| 4 | FIFA 2001 |
| 4 | Links 2001 |
| 4 | MechWarrior 4: Vengeance |
| 4 | Sacrifice |
| 4 | Skies of Arcadia |
| 4 | Spyro: Year of the Dragon |
| 4 | Tekken Tag Tournament |
| 4 | The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask |
| 4 | The Operative: No One Lives Forever |
| 3 | Age of Empires II: The Conquerors |
| 3 | Asheron's Call |
| 3 | Banjo-Tooie |
| 3 | Chrono Cross |
| 3 | Diablo II |
| 3 | Disney's Magic Artist 3D |
| 3 | Escape from Monkey Island |
| 3 | EverQuest: The Ruins of Kunark |
| 3 | Madden NFL 2001 |
| 3 | RollerCoaster Tycoon: Loopy Landscapes |
| 3 | Virtua Tennis |
| 3 | WWF No Mercy |
| 2 | Crimson Skies |
| 2 | Dead or Alive 2 |
| 2 | Medal of Honor: Underground |
| 2 | Motocross Madness 2 |
| 2 | Space Channel 5 |
| 2 | Ultima Online: Renaissance |
Nominations by company :
| Nominations | Games | Company |
| 35 | 11 | Electronic Arts |
| 25 | 8 | Sega |
| 19 | 7 | Microsoft |
| 11 | 6 | Nintendo |
| 11 | 3 | SquareSoft |
| 10 | 3 | Interplay Entertainment |
| 9 | 4 | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| 8 | 1 | Smilebit |
| 7 | 1 | Eidos Interactive |
| 6 | 2 | Activision |
| 6 | 2 | Black Isle Studios |
| 6 | 1 | Ion Storm |
| 5 | 2 | Namco |
| 5 | 1 | BioWare |
| 5 | 1 | Neversoft |
| 5 | 1 | Ubisoft |
| 4 | 2 | Hasbro Interactive |
| 4 | 2 | Rare |
| 4 | 1 | Access Software |
| 4 | 1 | FASA Interactive |
| 4 | 1 | Fox Interactive |
| 4 | 1 | Insomniac Games |
| 4 | 1 | Monolith Productions |
| 4 | 1 | Overworks |
| 4 | 1 | Shiny Entertainment |
| 4 | 1 | Westwood Pacific |
| 3 | 1 | AKI Corporation |
| 3 | 1 | Blizzard Entertainment |
| 3 | 1 | Blizzard North |
| 3 | 1 | Disney Interactive |
| 3 | 1 | Ensemble Studios |
| 3 | 1 | LucasArts |
| 3 | 1 | MicroProse |
| 3 | 1 | THQ |
| 3 | 1 | Turbine |
| 3 | 1 | Verant Interactive |
| 2 | 2 | Empire Interactive |
| 2 | 2 | Midway Games |
| 2 | 2 | Sierra On-Line |
| 2 | 1 | DreamWorks Interactive |
| 2 | 1 | Origin Systems |
| 2 | 1 | Rainbow Studios |
| 2 | 1 | Team Ninja |
| 2 | 1 | Tecmo |
| 2 | 1 | United Game Artists |
| 2 | 1 | Zipper Interactive |

#### Multiple awards

Games that received multiple awards :
| Awards | Game |
| 5 | SSX |
| 3 | Diablo II |
| 3 | Final Fantasy IX |
| 2 | Deus Ex |
| 2 | MechWarrior 4: Vengeance |
| 2 | Medal of Honor: Underground |
| 2 | The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask |
Awards by company :
| Awards | Games | Company |
| 11 | 4 | Electronic Arts |
| 4 | 3 | Microsoft |
| 3 | 2 | Nintendo |
| 3 | 1 | Blizzard Entertainment |
| 3 | 1 | Blizzard North |
| 3 | 1 | SquareSoft |
| 2 | 1 | DreamWorks Interactive |
| 2 | 1 | Eidos Interactive |
| 2 | 1 | FASA Interactive |
| 2 | 1 | Ion Storm |