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Skyrim wins IAA Game of the Year

The Elder Scrolls V caps a big night by winning multiple categories, top honors at the Interactive Achievement Awards.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim cast a dragon-size shadow over the 15th annual Interactive Achievement Awards, taking home five awards, including Game of the Year and Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction.

It's the Game of the Year (and not just because it would take you that long to see it all).

It's the Game of the Year (and not just because it would take you that long to see it all).

It beat out a competitive group in the top category, including Batman: Arkham City, Portal 2, Uncharted 3, and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. With the exception of Skyward Sword, the above titles all won other awards at the ceremony, with Uncharted picking up a trio of gongs for various visual categories.

Not all of the award recipients were revealed at the event. The organizing Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences announced that Asteroids and Centipede designer Ed Logg would be receiving the annual Pioneer Award, while Epic Games cofounder Tim Sweeney would be inducted into the AIAS Hall of Fame.

The IAA show is a highlight of the D.I.C.E. Summit (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain), a yearly conference dedicated to exploring approaches to the creative process and artistic expression as they uniquely apply to the development of interactive entertainment. For complete video of the ceremony, as well as every D.I.C.E. panel and presentation, keep an eye on GameSpot's official coverage page.

A full list of nominees follows below. Winners have been italicized.

Game of the Year
Batman: Arkham City--Rocksteady Studios
Portal 2--Valve
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim--Bethesda Game Studios
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword--Nintendo
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception--Naughty Dog

Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition
L.A. Noire--Team Bondi
Little Big Planet 2--Media Molecule
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception--Naughty Dog
InFamous 2--Sucker Punch
Portal 2--Valve

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design
Battlefield 3--DICE
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3--Infinity Ward/Sledgehammer Games
L.A. Noire--Team Bondi
Need for Speed: The Run--EA Black Box
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception--Naughty Dog

Outstanding Achievement in Story
Bastion--Supergiant Games
L.A. Noire--Team Bondi
Portal 2--Valve
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim--Bethesda Game Studios
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception--Naughty Dog

Outstanding Character Performance
Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Adam Jensen)--Eidos Montreal
L.A. Noire (Cole Phelps)--Team Bondi
Portal 2 (Wheatley)--Valve
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception (Nathan Drake)--Naughty Dog
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception (Victor Sullivan)--Naughty Dog

Downloadable Game of the Year
Bastion--Supergiant Games
Drawn: Trail of Shadows--Big Fish Games
Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet--Fuel Cell
Ms. Splosion Man--Twisted Pixel Games
Orcs Must Die!--Robot Entertainment

Casual Game of the Year
Fruit Ninja Kinect--Halfbrick Studios
Tiny Wings--Andreas Illiger
Jetpack Joyride--Halfbrick Studios
Monsters Ate My Condo--Adult Swim/PikPok
Where's My Water?--Creature Feep

Social Networking Game of the Year
Army Attack--Digital Chocolate
CastleVille--Zynga
Gardens of Time--Playdom
The Sims Social--Playfish
Triple Town--Spry Fox

Role-Playing/Massively Multiplayer Game of the Year
Dark Souls--From Software
Deus Ex: Human Revolution--Eidos Montreal
Star Wars: The Old Republic--BioWare Austin
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim--Bethesda Game Studios
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings--CD Projekt

Outstanding Innovation in Gaming
Bastion--Supergiant Games
L.A. Noire--Team Bondi
Portal 2--Valve
Skylanders Spyro's Adventure--Toys for Bob
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim--Bethesda Game Studios

Sports Game of the Year
FIFA 12--EA Canada
Madden NFL 12--Tiburon
MLB 11: The Show--SCE San Diego
NBA 2K12--Visual Concepts
NBA Jam: On Fire Edition--Firemint

Racing Game of the Year
Forza Motorsport 4--Turn 10 Studios
Mario Kart 7--Nintendo
Real Racing 2 HD--Firemint

Fighting Game of the Year
Fight Night Champion--EA Canada
King of Fighters XIII--SNK Playmore
Mortal Kombat--NetherRealm Studios
Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition--Capcom
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3--Capcom

Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year
Iron Brigade--Double Fine
Orcs Must Die!--Robot Entertainment
Total War: Shogun 2--The Creative Assembly
Toy Soldiers: Cold War--Signal Studios
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Retribution--Relic Entertainment

Family Game of the Year
Dance Central 2--Harmonix
Just Dance 3--Ubisoft Paris
Kinect Disneyland Adventure--Frontier Developments
Little Big Planet 2--Media Molecule
Skylanders Spyro's Adventure--Toys for Bob

Mobile Game of the Year
Contre Jour--Chillingo
Dead Space--EA Mobile
Infinity Blade II--Chair Entertainment
Tentacles--Press Play
The Dark Meadow--Phosphor Games Studio

Handheld Game of the Year
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective--Capcom
Kirby Mass Attack--Hal Laboratory
Mario Kart 7--Nintendo
Professor Layton and the Last Specter--Level 5
Super Mario 3D Land--Nintendo

Adventure Game of the Year
Batman: Arkham City--Rocksteady Studios
L.A. Noire--Team Bondi
Portal 2--Valve
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword--Nintendo
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception--Naughty Dog

Outstanding Achievement in Online Game Play
Battlefield 3--DICE
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3--Infinity Ward/Sledgehammer Games
Gears of War 3--Epic Games
Little Big Planet 2--Media Molecule
Star Wars: The Old Republic--BioWare Austin

Outstanding Achievement in Connectivity
Battlefield 3--DICE
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3--Infinity Ward/Sledgehammer Games
Dragon Age II--BioWare Edmonton
Portal 2--Valve
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception--Naughty Dog

Action Game of the Year
Battlefield 3--DICE
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3--Infinity Ward/Sledgehammer Games
Dead Space 2--Visceral Games
Gears of War 3--Epic Games
Saints Row: The Third--Volition

Outstanding Achievement in Animation
Assassin's Creed: Revelations--Ubisoft Montreal
Batman: Arkham City--Rocksteady Studios
L.A. Noire--Team Bondi
Rayman Origins--UbiArt Montpellier
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception--Naughty Dog

Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction
Batman: Arkham City--Rocksteady Studios
Battlefield 3--DICE
Portal 2--Valve
Rayman Origins--UbiArt Montpellier
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception--Naughty Dog

Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering
Batman: Arkham City--Rocksteady Studios
Crysis 2--Crytek GmbH
L.A. Noire--Team Bondi
Rage--id Software
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception--Naughty Dog

Outstanding Achievement in Game Play Engineering
Batman: Arkham City--Rocksteady Studios
Portal 2--Valve
Skylanders Spyro's Adventure--Toys for Bob
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim--Bethesda Game Studios
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword--Nintendo

Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction
Batman: Arkham City--Rocksteady Studios
L.A. Noire--Team Bondi
Portal 2--Valve
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim--Bethesda Game Studios
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception--Naughty Dog

191 Comments

  • monco59

    Posted Feb 12, 2012 1:37 pm GMT

    @ sammoth:

    "Having some minor flaws is not a problem on the PC version anyway. Mods will fix/bring out more in that."

    So you think a developer should be rewarded and revered for making the fans do the work and get the game running smoothly? Shouldn`t those fans get the awards then and not Bethesda?

    It is no wonder gaming is in such an abysmal state right now, because of views like that. Who cares if a game is even playable, as long as it looks good in screens, right? And after all, someone will eventually fix it with a mod... Sheesh!

  • monco59

    Posted Feb 12, 2012 1:26 pm GMT

    @ calvinsora:

    Since you personally never experienced glitches or bugs, all of this must have been blown out of proportion, right?

    Also, try playing Morrowind and Oblivion (Skyrim is simply a reskin of Bethesda`s previous games) and tell me if Skyrim really is a masterpiece, or simply a graphical upgrade to a 10-year old game. In order to earn an award for innovation, I would hope you actually need to innovate first.

  • chechak7

    Posted Feb 12, 2012 1:17 pm GMT

    "Role-Playing/Massively Multiplayer Game of the Year
    Dark Souls--From Software
    Deus Ex: Human Revolution--Eidos Montreal
    Star Wars: The Old Republic--BioWare Austin
    The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim--Bethesda Game Studios
    The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings--CD Projekt"

    is there multilayer in skyrim ??

  • TheForthcoming1

    Posted Feb 12, 2012 11:49 am GMT

    Skyrim is one of the best gamers ever made.

  • rastotm

    Posted Feb 12, 2012 11:19 am GMT

    Well done IAA, you look like another subsidised, subjective, bandwagon and predictable award show.
    Skyrim won outstanding story and was nominee for innovation? COD 3 won action? ORCS must die won strategy? It's no wonder that nearly all games are clear cut copy's when we fail to reward creativity and innovation year after year.

  • widdowson91

    Posted Feb 12, 2012 10:54 am GMT

    @Grovilis: I didn't say I never got my money's worth, did I

  • Xandoom

    Posted Feb 12, 2012 10:12 am GMT

    Skyrim deserved it. Congratulations Bethesda!

  • benelori

    Posted Feb 12, 2012 9:19 am GMT

    I really don't want to come across as hater :s...but Outstanding Achievement in story?....that's a bit weird...

    I never spent this much time with any game, so Skyrim is indeed the best out there...but overall, the story part of the game is average and without impact...there are high points from story POV, but the lows are more in number.

  • Gravity_Slave

    Posted Feb 12, 2012 9:05 am GMT

    Good job Oblivion 1.5....err i mean Skyrim...

  • d12dotcom

    Posted Feb 12, 2012 9:03 am GMT

    So glad Orcs Must Die! won something. Probably spent most time on that game all year. Fantastically underrated game

  • linkdarkside

    Posted Feb 12, 2012 8:47 am GMT

    so Skyrim Fus Ro Dah the competition? good because it deserve it.

  • oflow

    Posted Feb 12, 2012 7:56 am GMT

    Skyrim was overrated, boring and buggy. Arkham City should have won GOTY.

    @Lamachina
    After how terrible SWTOR is Bioware has lost some of its its luster, ME3 might suck like DA2 did. Beta testers for D3 also say it doesnt live up to the hype which is why they are taking so long to bring it out trying to make it better.

    KOA got average reviews but everyone I know that plays it thinks itsawesome. I have a bunch of friends that never play fantasy/rpg games that love KOA. I hope they use the same engine for the KOA MMO it might be the first successful action MMO.

  • Lamachina

    Posted Feb 12, 2012 5:48 am GMT

    @chardokufan KOA:Reckoning won't even get rpg of the year. not with me3 and diablo 3 coming out this year. pretty much makes game of the year impossible

  • 02050muh

    Posted Feb 12, 2012 5:02 am GMT

    how to know which one is the winner WITHOUT watching the video

  • Vojtass

    Posted Feb 12, 2012 3:32 am GMT

    @sammoth
    I know what is the difference between art design and graphic engineering. Art design in The Witcher 2 was one of the best, if not the best, in previous year. It's not an opinion, it's a fact. I think you should play TW2 on PC in 1080p - when you're first playing, it's a jaw-dropping experience.

  • emiroas

    Posted Feb 12, 2012 1:26 am GMT

    Yeah, I think that the GOTY is well deserved but....nothing for Dark Souls!
    Come on, give me a break. The features they made online are really original and engaging!
    Sorry but I think that at the end you favor the American games a litlle bit.

  • chardokufan

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 8:07 pm GMT

    Kingdoms of Amalur will be on this list next year. Guaranteeeeeeeed!!!!

  • sammoth

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 7:09 pm GMT

    @Assassin_O

    Well said. Too many people focus on the little thing instead of the overall picture. The problem with gamers today is they are very judgemental about eveything. They have there right to opinions but, base it off previous experiences instead of accepting games as a whole or an experience. While Skyrim is not perfect it stands out. Everytime I play it something new happens. Something I didn't expect. Sometimes I love just looking around the enviorment and take it in to how such a massive game like this can look so good. Having some minor flaws is not a problem on the PC version anyway. Mods will fix/bring out more in that. The New HD texture packs by Bethesda is a nice touch too.

  • godzillavskong

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 7:04 pm GMT

    Skyrim should have won, although it may get bumped down a half a point for its bugs at launch, but all is forgiven. I hate putting that game in, cause then I won't touch any other game the whole night!!

  • sammoth

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 6:47 pm GMT

    @Vojtass
    Don't mistake Art for Graphics they are 2 differnt subjects.

  • brylynt

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 2:51 pm GMT

    Skyrim wins GOTY not surprised at all. Its awesome minus a bug here or there. this is just one of many it is bound to win.

  • Vojtass

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 2:39 pm GMT

    I've forgot one more thing. The Witcher 2 didn't get nomination for Best Art Direction. It's funny, because Triss Merigold model is one of the most popular character mod in Skyrim. Also one category for RPGs and MMORPGs is just stupid.

  • Vojtass

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 2:28 pm GMT

    Best story award and no nomination for The Witcher 2!? Skyrim and best story!? What a joke. This is just disgraceful and pathetic.

  • Danu_06

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 2:16 pm GMT

    Dark Souls > all.

  • Alpr1010

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 1:07 pm GMT

    @widdowson91

    75 hours? Most games don't even last that long. Everything is multiplayer now.

  • Neil_Clancy

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 12:25 pm GMT

    Yes, Portal 2 is more polished than Skyrim. In fact, Portal 2 basically does what it sets out to do perfectly. But what Portal 2 sets out to do isn't nearly as ambitious as what Skyrim does. Portal 2 is a nearly flawless set of puzzles and charming storytelling that last for maybe 7 hours. Skyrim is a far from perfect but still amazing world that you can live in for 100 hours and still not see everything. That's why it won GOTY. Valve deserves commendation, but Bethesda made us all feel more immersed and invested in a virtual world than we ever had before.

  • alex_1889

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 12:03 pm GMT

    It's cool to hate Skyrim now that it has been shown to be doing well. The game was fantastic and set a new standard in nearly every aspect it pursued. My only real issue is the story and I feel that's all people can seriously dislike about Skyrim. It was just a bit boring, much like most of the side-quests. After loving the faction quests in Oblivion, the Skyrim quests were really dull and predictable, with the Dark Brotherhood being the only quest to let you feel epic. It should not have won an award for story, but otherwise, it deserves praise.

  • Femto513

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 11:45 am GMT

    If a developer releases a game on three platforms and that game is unplayable on one and unfinished on the other two, then that developer has failed and doesn't deserve to even be nominated for awards. Fanboys, however, will be fanboys.

  • the_requiem

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 10:12 am GMT

    Skyrim won awards for story? JOTY! Joke Of The Year!

  • 2bitSmOkEy

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 8:44 am GMT

    Is it just me or are "game awards" always just bad?

  • Suikogaiden

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 7:43 am GMT

    @Almajisti
    Skyrim is pretty high standard even if there were some bug when it was first released, maybe its because I bought it after most bugs were patched I guess because I havent had any serious problems. Give credit where its due, Bethesda put a lot of work into Skyrim and the patches were very prompt. All Eldar Scrolls games have some bugs when first released, because its a huge and dynamic game, Bethesda isnt perfect. What kind of substandard game has the consumers putting 75+ hours on average into it?

  • snfonseka

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 7:34 am GMT

    Outstanding Achievement in Story - Skyrim? WTF? I love Skyrim... but this?

  • Warhawk613

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 6:25 am GMT

    With Skylanders winning Outstanding Innovation in Gaming
    is like a big middle finger to all the haters who didn't give it a chance.

  • CoRiNi

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 3:20 am GMT

    COD did not win GOTY? Preposterous!! *sarcasm*

  • ratchet200

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 3:07 am GMT

    I really wished Xenoblade Chronicles got up there for the 'RPG of the year' award. But i spose it didn't 'cos it wasn't released in America when the rest of the world got it huh...

  • Collins0262

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 2:31 am GMT

    Uncharted 3
    Uncharted 3
    Uncharted 3
    Uncharted 3
    Uncharted 3
    Unch.......

  • Grovilis

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 12:29 am GMT

    I understand that everyone has their opinion, but I'm appalled that Modern Warfare 3 was even acknowledged let alone being the awarded the of best action game of the year.

  • Grovilis

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 12:25 am GMT

    @widdowson91

    If you spent 75 hours then I would say that you got your money's worth.

  • widdowson91 posted Feb 11, 2012 12:09 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    widdowson91

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 12:09 am GMT (hide)

    Skyrim doesn't deserve GotY simply because of the state it was released in. I love the game, but after 75 hours of ridiculous glitches I stopped playing it. Portal 2 would have been more worthy, it's my choice for GotY 2011.

  • HipHopBeats

    Posted Feb 10, 2012 10:39 pm GMT

    Skyrim has been much playing better since 1.4 but still too early to tell. Thumb me down if you want but KOA is definitely a breath of fresh air as far as fun rpg's. Not comparing it to Skyrim but any game that is at least playable during release will always have my vote.

    After the whole Skyrim fiasco, bugs and glicthes should also be categories for GOTY nominations. Granted it's an incredible game, that still doesn't make up for Bethesda releasing a damn near broken product. We pay for games, not public betas.

  • nineironriot

    Posted Feb 10, 2012 10:37 pm GMT

    To be clear, I'm not being hard on Skyrim because I'm trolling, I'm being hard on it because I like it sooo much but in the end it let me down. Here's hoping that my next try playing through with 1.4 goes well. (It's just so hard to start over after all that time put in

  • nineironriot

    Posted Feb 10, 2012 10:06 pm GMT

    @sknight175216. I'm actually a big fan of Skyrim. Also of Oblivion and Fallout 3. I've sunk 100+ hours into Skyrim, so imagine my dismay when, in addition to the numerous other bugs AND having to hard reset my system at least once per every play session, not one but TWO major missions glitched beyond repair. One of the missions was the Liberation of Skyrim storyline which I was super stoked to finish. Not only that, but the 1.4 update didn't fix either of my games issues. It's frustrating enough that Bethesda released a half finished product and charged me full price, but the fact that I've been a huge fan makes the betrayal all the worse. Dark Souls was has an unbelievable presence and atmosphere, one of the best world designs EVER, and I've put in 170 hours without a single glitch. That's a developer that takes pride in their work.

  • moviequest14

    Posted Feb 10, 2012 10:01 pm GMT

    @Assassin_O : Actually...just to set the record back for those that did,not denying or agreeing with what you said about Skyrim...but Skyward Sword took just as long,if not longer in development..I believe a year or 2 longer.Portal 2 development was also about 4 years.In fact,Uncharted 3 is the only GOTY nominee that was made in under 2 years.I think it is only right to say so considering the time that those did put into it...

  • moviequest14

    Posted Feb 10, 2012 9:52 pm GMT

    @baal46 : I agree that there is quite a bit of hate towards Skyrim...but I wouldn't go as far as saying it deserves ALL of the praise it gets.I don't think I could say there is ANY game AT ALL that deserves the amount of excessive praise Skyrim has gotten...not Ocarina of Time,not Skyward Sword,Portal,Arkham City,or ANY title.I'm not saying that Skyrim isn't a good game..it is great..but it is receiving an over-excessive amount of praise..even when it isn't even relevant or important at all.

  • baal46

    Posted Feb 10, 2012 9:44 pm GMT

    Skyrim deserves all the praise it gets.
    Haters will, however, hate.

  • sknight175216

    Posted Feb 10, 2012 9:22 pm GMT

    @nineironriot I bet you're just one of those people who thinks their cool because they don't play Skyrim like a lot of people. There are many good RPGs out there and Skyrim just happens to be a great one. So just get over it and play the game instead trolling.

  • RavageCobra

    Posted Feb 10, 2012 7:37 pm GMT

    HA! Skyrim got Gameplay Engineering? It's the same thing from 20 years ago...

  • Assassin_O

    Posted Feb 10, 2012 7:30 pm GMT

    You guys are killing me... I'll admit Skyrim has a lot of bugs. On the flip side Bethesda has come out with multiple updates to try to correct some of them. You guys are missing the point on the way games are chosen as game of the year or rpg of the year etc... Its all about the experience... Skyrim brings the experience that no other game on the list here presents.... the entire game is unpredictable... One moment you are hiding in a coffin... the next you are seeing a little girl who soul cant be put the rest unless you help her. Majority of the games everyone feels that should have won prob took a year to a year in half to develop. Name another single player game that is as large and in depth as Skyrim? You can't... Their is a reason Skyrim took almost 6 years to come out after Oblivion... So all of your yearly released games like COD, Assassin Creed, BF,and many others enjoy.. Games in the Elder Scroll chapters take time for innovation to bring something new to the table.Once again I do agree with the fact that their is a lot of bugs however i focus on the overall experience of the game... Congratz Skyrim You deserve GAME OF THE YEAR

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