AIAS and IFC to Televise Interactive Achievement Awards

So, did the Spike TV Video Game Awards show leave you feeling, well, a little juvenile about the industry? Looking to see the video game industry I a little more of a professional light? Well, it looks like you’re going to be getting your wish. Earlier today, the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS) and IFC (Independent Film Channel) announced that they’ve entered into a partnership to bring the 12th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards to television audiences for the first time. The awards presentation will take place on Thursday, February 19th at the Red Rock Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, while broadcast of the show will take place on IFC in April 2009. The IAA broadcast will be condensed into a half hour special with highlights from the IAAs and will be hosted by comedian, actor, and “proud game enthusiast”, Jay Mohr.

“Bringing the Interactive Achievement Awards to our audience marries alternative culture with alternative content,” said Jennifer Caserta, executive vice president and general manager of IFC said. “The Interactive Achievement Awards is an exciting and highly anticipated addition to our programming line-up that will include award highlights, scenes from the red carpet and interstitials hosted by IFC News’ Matt Singer.”

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Did WGA Game Awards Get Snubbed?

Earlier this month, when the Writers Guild of America announced its nominees for the 2008 Videogame Writing Award, a lot of gamers were left scratching their heads. Sure, games like Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed were entertaining, but where were the games like Dead Space? Apparently, the folks behind those games simply decided to skip out.

According to an article on Variety’s website, a number of games were never considered for nomination due to the companies behind those games either not having their writers join the WGA or never submitting scripts to the WGA for nomination.

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WGA Videogame Writing Nominees Announced

After people complained about Dead Head Fred winning last year’s award (the reason being that the nominated game in question had to feature writing from a member), it looks like the Writers Guild Association is trying to redeem itself this year. The organization announced this year’s nominees, which includes an excellent indie game from Mouschief. See this year’s nominees after the break.

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WGA Announces Videogame Writing Nominees

Despite the ongoing strike putting the brakes on Hollywood, the Writers Guild of America is still moving forward with the inclusion of videogame writing as a part of its annual Writers Guild Awards show. The nominees for the Guilds” inaugural Videogame Writing Award, honoring outstanding achievement in videogame writing during 2007 include:

Crash of the Titans (Sierra Entertainment): Written by Christopher Mitchell

Dead Head Fred (D3 Publisher): Written by Dave Ellis and Adam Cogan

The Simpsons Game (Electronic Arts): Lead Writer Matt Selman, Written by Tim Long and Matt Warburton, Dialogue by Jeff Poliquin

The Witcher (Atari): Lead Story Designer Artur Ganszyniec, Dialogue Sebastian Stepien, Additional Dialogue Marcin Blacha, Writers Sande Chen and Anne Too

World in Conflict (Sierra Entertainment): Story Design Christofer Emgard, Story Consultant Larry Bond, Script Consultant Ed Zuckerman

According to the WGA’’s statement, the WGA’’s inaugural Videogame Writing Award was developed by the WGA and spearheaded by the Guild’’s New Media Caucus to encourage storytelling excellence in videogames, improve the status of writers, and foster uniform standards within the gaming industry, spotlights quality work by videogame writers, raising their profiles, and validating their contributions to this rapidly maturing medium.

Due to the ongoing strike, the show for the WGA Writers Awards has been canceled, but the winners will still be announced at a press event on Feb. 9.