2002 Game Developers Choice Awards Recipients Named

The celebration honored innovation as well as technical and artistic achievement in interactive entertainment. The nominations were open to all game developers, ensuring a true reflection of development community opinion. This year, the Game Developers Choice Awards advisory board gave out three special awards in addition to the traditional categories: Yuji Naka, president and CEO of Sega's Sonicteam, received a Lifetime Achievement Award for the innovative and award-winning work he has produced during his career, including the creation of Sega mascot, Sonic The Hedgehog. Hubert Chardot received the First Penguin Award for Alone in the Dark, a game that started the "survival-horror" genre. Jeff Lander was honored with the Community Contribution Award for his writings on game development, community building efforts and student outreach. The other award categories and winners are as follows: The 2nd Annual Game Developers Choice Awards recipients are: Game of the Year Grand Theft Auto III (DMA Design/Rockstar Games) Rookie Studio of the Year Bohemia Interactive Studio for Operation Flashpoint Original Game Character of the Year Daxter from Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy Excellence in Audio Marty O'Donnell & team for sound effects in Halo: Combat Evolved Excellence in Game Design GTA3 team for game play in Grand Theft Auto III Excellence in Level Design Fumito Ueda & team for level design in Ico Excellence in Programming Richard Evans for artificial intelligence in Black & White Excellence in Visual Arts Fumito Ueda & team for art direction in Ico Game Innovation Spotlights Black & White (Lionhead Studios) Grand Theft Auto III (DMA Design/Rockstar Games) Ico (Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc.) Majestic (Electronic Arts) Rez (United Game Artists) More information on the awards and recipients can be found at http://www.igda.org/awards.