1998 Interactive Achievement Awards

Computer Action Games are titles on a PC or Mac that follow the gameplay from the perspective of the character that the player is controlling. These games feature heavy weapons use and/or involve characters engaged in combat while moving through a linear or open environment. The opponent can either be controlled by another player or by the game.

Computer Adventure games are those titles on a PC or Mac in which players are challenged with real-time action activities where timing, skill and accuracy are necessary to succeed. Puzzle-solving, resource management and exploration often drive the quest oriented narrative rather than primarily combat mechanics.

The Computer Creativity Title of the Year shall be awarded to the best title on a PC or Mac that is used for creative pursuits.

Computer Edutainment Games are those on a PC or Mac which use themes, graphics, and game play to teach various subjects such as science, language, and mathematics to children and young adults.

The Computer Family/Kids Game of the Year shall be awarded to the best title of any genre on a PC or Mac geared towards a shared, family gaming experience. The title’s play dynamics must be suitable for a younger audience. These games often offer a mini-game component and encourage group play.

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 Skills Building Titles are those on a PC or Mac which train users to improve a personal skill such as a language or typing.

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.

Computer Action Games are titles on a console that follow the gameplay from the perspective of the character that the player is controlling. These games feature heavy weapons use and/or involve characters engaged in combat while moving through a linear or open environment. The opponent can either be controlled by another player or by the game.

Console Adventure games are those titles on a console in which players are challenged with real-time action activities where timing, skill and accuracy are necessary to succeed. Puzzle-solving, resource management and exploration often drive the quest oriented narrative rather than primarily combat mechanics.

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.

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

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.

This is the best website that focuses on entertainment-related subjects such as media and the arts.

The single title, 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 best website that features news and information. This is the site that best organizes information, informs the reader, and is most up-to-date.

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 designing a unified graphic look for an interactive title.

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

Presented to the individual or team whose work represents the highest level of achievement in software engineering for an interactive title.

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.