The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences^® (AIAS) today announced the nominees for the 11th annual Interactive Achievement Awards^®. The nominations for the peer-based awards have been dominated by two blockbuster first-person shooter games, BioShock (2K Games) and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Activision) by receiving an astounding 10+ nominations from industry leaders and members of the interactive entertainment software business. In addition, finalists in close lead with top nominations include: The Orange Box (Electronic Arts and Valve Software), Rock Band (MTV) and Super Mario Galaxy (Nintendo of America), all up for the Overall Game of the Year Award.

The awards ceremony will take place during The D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit^® 2008 on February 7 at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas, with comedian, actor and proud game enthusiast, Jay Mohr returning for his third year to host the award ceremony.

These peer-based awards recognize the outstanding products, talented individuals and development teams that have contributed to the advancement of the multi-billion dollar worldwide entertainment software industry. The Interactive Achievement Awards for the first time can be viewed live via webcast on GameSpot (www.gamespot.com) and Comcast HD Video on Demand. This gives game enthusiasts worldwide the opportunity to experience first-hand the excitement as the coveted Interactive Achievement Awards are presented to the geniuses and giants behind the most popular video games of the year.

"This year’s finalists reflect the commitment game makers have to create compelling, engaging and exciting experiences for the expanding game playing audience," said Joseph Olin, president, AIAS. "The 2008 nominees represent the tremendous talent and passion that our members bring to their craft. The Interactive Achievement Awards are dedicated to acknowledging the men and women who create these innovative and excellent games."

Following is a partial list of finalists; the complete list of finalists is available at www.interactive.org:

Overall Game of the Year:

BioShock

• Publisher: 2K Games
• Developer: 2K Boston, 2K Australia

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

• Publisher: Activision
• Developer: Infinity Ward

Rock Band

• Publisher: MTV Games
• Developer: Harmonix

Super Mario Galaxy

• Publisher: Nintendo of America
• Developer: Nintendo

The Orange Box

• Publisher: Electronic Arts / Valve Software
• Developer: Valve Software

Console Game of the Year:

BioShock

• Publisher: 2K Games
• Developer: 2K Boston, 2K Australia

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

• Publisher: Activision
• Developer: Infinity Ward

Mass Effect

• Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
• Developer: BioWare

Rock Band

• Publisher: MTV Games
• Developer: Harmonix

Super Mario Galaxy

• Publisher: Nintendo of America
• Developer: Nintendo

Computer Game of the Year:

BioShock

• Publisher: 2K Games
• Developer: 2K Boston, 2K Australia

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

• Publisher: Activision
• Developer: Infinity Ward

Crysis

• Publisher: Electronic Arts
• Developer: Crytek

The Orange Box

• Publisher: Electronic Arts/Valve Software
• Developer: Valve Software

World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade

• Publisher: Vivendi Games
• Developer: Blizzard Entertainment

Outstanding Innovation in Gaming:
Assassin’s Creed

• Publisher: Ubisoft
• Developer: Ubisoft Montreal

BioShock

• Publisher: 2K Games
• Developer: 2K Boston, 2K Australia

Rock Band

• Publisher: MTV Games
• Developer: Harmonix

Super Mario Galaxy

• Publisher: Nintendo of America
• Developer Nintendo

The Orange Box

• Publisher: Electronic Arts/Valve Software
• Developer: Valve Software

Handheld Game of the Year

Drawn to Life

• Publisher: THQ
• Developer: 5th Cell

Jeanne d’Arc

• Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
• Developer: Level 5

Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords

• Publisher: D3 Publisher of America
• Developer: Infinite Interactive, 1st Playable Productions

Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters

• Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
• Developer: High Impact Games

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

• Publisher: Nintendo of America
• Developer: Nintendo

Since 1998, the Interactive Achievement Awards have recognized outstanding games, individuals and development teams that have contributed to the advancement of the multi-billion dollar worldwide entertainment software industry. More than 160 titles were played and evaluated by members of the Academy’s Peer Panels. These panels; one for each award category, are comprised of the game industry’s most experienced and talented men and women who are experts in their chosen fields. Interactive Achievement Award recipients are then determined by a vote of qualified Academy members, which is secret, conducted online and supervised and certified by VoteNet Solutions, Inc. The integrity of the system, coupled with a broad-based voting population of AIAS members, makes the Interactive Achievement Awards the most credible, respected and recognized awards for interactive entertainment software.

About the D.I.C.E. Summit:

The D.I.C.E. Summit is a high-level interactive entertainment industry conference that brings together the top video game designers and developers from around the world and business leaders from all the major publishers to discuss the state of the industry, its trends and the future. The three-day event will be held in Las Vegas, at the upscale Red Rock Resort, February 6-8, 2008. Online registration for the D.I.C.E. Summit 2008 is open now. Please visit http://www.dicesummit.org for more information and to register to attend the interactive entertainment industry event of the year.

About the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) was founded in 1996 as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the advancement and recognition of the interactive arts. The Academy’s mission is to promote and advance common interests in the worldwide interactive entertainment community; recognize outstanding achievements in the interactive arts and sciences; and conduct an annual awards show (Interactive Achievement Awards) to enhance awareness of the interactive art form. The Academy also strives to provide a voice for individuals in the interactive entertainment community. In 2002 the Academy created the D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit, a once yearly conference dedicated to exploring approaches to the creative process and artistic expression as they uniquely apply to the development of interactive entertainment. The Academy has over 12,000 members, with the board comprised of senior executives from the major videogame companies including Bioware/Pandemic, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Insomniac Games, Microsoft, Nintendo of America, Sony, THQ and Ubisoft. More information on the AIAS, the Interactive Achievement Awards and the nominees can be found at http://www.interactive.org.