The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences has announced the categories and opening of nominations for the 4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards. Nominations will open today and close at 5pm PST on January 5, 2001. The 27 awards will be presented at a gala party in March 2001. Highlights include an overall Game of the Year, as well as Game of the Year awards presented in the computer and console areas.

　　"The Academy is proud to have added new awards to honor massive multiplayer/persistent world online games and online gameplay, as well as innovation in both computer and console gaming," stated Jim Charne, Academy president and executive director.

　　Also to be honored is the recipient of the Hall of Fame award, who will be announced January 1. The recipient will join such notables as Shigeru Miyamoto (Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong), Sid Meier (Civilization), and Hironobu Sakaguchi (Final Fantasy).

　　Peer review panels made up of individual Academy members with specific expertise in each category will be established to conduct the preliminary round of judging. The voting to determine award recipients is done by Academy members, conducted online, and supervised by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

　　Charne believes the Game of the Year and Craft category awards will be the highlights of the evening. "The Console and Computer Games of the Year each recognize the top game in their respective arenas. Overall Game of the Year honors the best game, no matter what the platform. Craft awards honor the very best work by the individuals and teams most responsible for these great games. Finalists for each award have survived the toughest competition when they are selected by their Academy peers."

　　The categories are listed below.

　　Interactive Achievement Awards Categories

　　A. Game of the Year Awards 1. Game of the Year 2. Console Game of the Year 3. Computer Game of the Year B. Craft Categories 4. Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction 5. Outstanding Achievement in Animation 6. Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design 7. Outstanding Achievement in Original Musical Composition 8. Outstanding Achievement in Game Design 9. Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering 10. Outstanding Achievement in Game Play Engineering 11. Outstanding Achievement in Character or Story Development C. Genre awards 12. Action/Adventure Game of the Year 13. Family Title of the Year 14. Fighting Game of the Year 15. Racing Game of the Year 16. Role-Playing Game of the Year 17. Sports Game of the Year 18. Innovation in Console Gaming D. Online Categories 26. Massively Multiplayer/Persistent World Game of the Year 27. Online Gameplay of the Year