4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards

The 4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards was the 4th edition of the Interactive Achievement Awards, an annual awards event that honored the best games in the video game industry during the last nine months of 2000. The awards were arranged by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) and were held at Polly Esther's in San Jose, California on March 22, 2001 (2001-03-22). It was hosted by Martin Lewis, and featured presenters included Scott Campbell, Louis Castle, Tony Goodman, Lorne Lanning, Sid Meier, Ray Muzyka, Gabe Newell, Chris Taylor, Will Wright, and Greg Zeschuk.^[1]

Innovation awards for console gaming and PC gaming were introduced. The console and PC awards for "Action" and "Adventure/Role-Playing" were replaced with "Action/Adventure" and "Role-Playing". Both console and PC awards had a "Family Title of the Year" game category. "Online Game of the Year" was relabeled as "Online Gameplay of the Year". This was the first year online awards for websites were not offered. The category for "Massive Multiplayer/Persistent World Game of the Year" was also introduced. This was the final year games could be nominated for more than one console or PC genre award.^[2]

Diablo II won the ceremony's top honor with "Game of the Year". The PlayStation 2 launch title SSX ended up winning the most awards at the event. Jet Grind Radio received the most nominations, but did not win a single award. Electronic Arts received the most nominations and won the most awards, some of which were for publishing SquareSoft games outside of Japan. Electronic Arts also had the most nominated games and the most award-winning games. There was also a tie between FIFA 2001 and Motocross Madness 2 for "PC Sports Game of the Year".

John Carmack, lead programmer of id Software titles Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, and Quake, was inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame.