The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) and the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), have signed an agreement where the IGDA will become involved in the Interactive Achievement Awards (IAAs).
The IAAs, now in their 12th year, are supported by all of the major video game publishers and developers in the industry. Their purpose is to recognize the top creative and commercial successes each year with Academy, and now IGDA members, voting on the winners.
"The Interactive Achievement Awards have stood as the pinnacle of the awards season as publishing and development peers select the titles that best represent the industry across a number of creative categories," said Joseph Olin, president of The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. "Our partnership with the IGDA deepens the relevance of the Awards by expanding the peer group voting for awards. This basically makes the Interactive Achievement Awards the official awards of the games industry."
"We're pledging the support of the IGDA in the interest of including the voices of our more than 14,000 international members in the IAAs," said Jason Della Rocca, executive director of the International Game Developers Association. "This partnership also opens the door for more collaboration between the Academy and the IGDA, and we look forward to the possibilities of working together in the common goal of credibly recognizing the creative talent within our industry."
The Interactive Achievement Awards Awards have been presented since 1998, and are held annually at the D.I.C.E. Summit in Las Vegas. Interactive Achievement Award recipients are determined by a vote of qualified Academy and IGDA members. As such, selection as an Interactive Academy Award finalist or recipient represents the strongest possible peer recognition. No person may vote unless he or she can demonstrate a threshold level of experience and professional credits in the industry. Award voting is secret, conducted on-line, and supervised and certified by eBallot.
The integrity of the system, coupled with a broad-based voting population, make the Interactive Achievement Awards the most credible, respected and recognized awards for interactive entertainment software.
