The 9th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards were held at the Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 9th.  Along the red carpet, guests were greeted by game personalities like Nintendo’s Mario and Kratos from God of War.  Before the show, attendees also got a chance to mingle at a pre-awards party thrown at the world famous Body English at the Hard Rock.  Comedian Jay Mohr hosted the show with some of the biggest names in video games as presenters. 

These peer-based awards are dedicated to recognizing 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 have been presented annually since 1998 and are determined each year by a vote of qualified Academy members, making them the most credible, respected and recognized awards for interactive entertainment software. 

Highlights of this years awarded included David Jaffe’s God of War, which won seven categories including game of the year, and the innovative Guitar Hero by Harmonix Music Systems, which won four awards.  Accompanied onstage by his mother, Ultima-creator Richard Garriott was inducted into the Academy Hall of Fame in a presentation made by his mother and his brother Robert Garriott.