The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS) today announced the finalists for the 10th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, and Gears of War for the Xbox 360 is looking like a frontrunner to take home the most awards. The blockbuster shooter from Epic Games and Microsoft has been nominated in 10 different categories, including Overall Game of the Year, Console Game of the Year, Outstanding Innovation in Gaming, Action/Adventure Game of the Year, and more. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (Xbox 360, PC) and Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii, GCN) each garnered 6 nominations from the Academy.

"The discussion and debate among the panel concerning the nuances of each genre/award category reflects the commitment of the Academy's peer panelists to critically evaluate each other's work and to recognize great achievement," said Joseph Olin, president, AIAS. "The Interactive Achievement Awards is dedicated to acknowledging the people who create these innovative and excellent games."

A partial list of the finalists for this year's awards is provided below. You can check out all the nominations at the official website.

Overall Game of the Year

  • Gears of War (P: Microsoft Game Studios, D: Epic Games, Producer: Rod Ferguson, Game Director: Michael Capps, Creative Director: Cliff Bleszinski)
  • Wii Sports (P: Nintendo, D: Nintendo, Executive Producer: Satoru Iwata, Producer: Katsuya Eguchi, Game Directors: Keiza Ohta, Takayuki Shimamura, Yoshikazu Yamashita)
  • The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (P: Nintendo, D: Nintendo, Producer: Shigeru Miyamoto, Game Director: Eiji Aonuma, Executive Producer: Satoru Iwata)
  • Guitar Hero 2 (P: Activision/Red Octane, D: Harmonix, Producer: John Tam, Game Director: Daniel Sussman, Creative Director: Josh Randall)
  • Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (P: 2K Games, D: Bethesda Softworks, Executive Producer: Todd Howard)

    Console Game of the Year

  • Gears of War (P: Microsoft Game Studios, D: Epic Games, Producer: Rod Ferguson, Game Director: Michael Capps, Creative Director: Cliff Bleszinski)
  • The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (P: Nintendo, D: Nintendo, Producer: Shigeru Miyamoto, Game Director: Eiji Aonuma, Executive Producer: Satoru Iwata)
  • Wii Sports (P: Nintendo, D: Nintendo, Executive Producer: Satoru Iwata, Producer: Katsuya Eguchi, Game Directors: Keiza Ohta, Takayuki Shimamura, Yoshikazu Yamashita)
  • Guitar Hero 2 (P: Activision/Red Octane, D: Harmonix, Producer: John Tam, Game Director: Daniel Sussman, Creative Director: Josh Randall)
  • Viva Piñata (P: Microsoft Game Studios, D: Rare, Producer/Game Director/Creative Director: Greg Mayles)

    Computer Game of the Year

  • Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (P: 2K Games, D: Bethesda Softworks, Executive Producer: Todd Howard)
  • Company of Heroes (P: THQ, D: Relic, Producer/Game Director: John Johnson, Creative Director: Sean Dunn)
  • Battlefield 2142 (P: Electronic Arts, D: D.I.C.E.)
  • Prey (P: 2K Games, D: Human Head Studios, Producer: Timothy S. Gerrtisen, Game Directors: Ted Halsted and Chris Rhinehart)
  • Age of Empires III: The Warchiefs (P: Microsoft Game Studios, D: Ensemble Studios, Producer: Wally Wachi, Creative Director: Sandy Petersen)

    Outstanding Innovation in Gaming

  • Wii Sports (P: Nintendo, D: Nintendo, Executive Producer: Satoru Iwata, Producer: Katsuya Eguchi, Game Directors: Keiza Ohta, Takayuki Shimamura, Yoshikazu Yamashita)
  • Nintendo Brain Age (P: Nintendo, D: Nintendo, Producer: Shinya Takahashi, Game Director: Kouichi Kawamoto, Creative Directors: Kouichi Kawamoto, Noriko Kitamura, Masamichi Sakaino, Shinji Kitahara, Yoshinori Katsuki, Tadashi Matsushita, Masura Nishida)
  • Gears of War (P: Microsoft Game Studios, D: Epic Games, Producer: Rod Ferguson, Game Director: Michael Capps, Creative Director: Cliff Bleszinski)
  • Viva Piñata (P: Microsoft Game Studios, D: Rare, Producer/Game Director/Creative Director: Greg Mayles)
  • LocoRoco (P: Sony Computer Entertainment, D: Sony Computer Entertainment, Producer/Game Director/Creative Director: Tsutomo Kouno)

    Handheld Game of the Year

  • LocoRoco (P: Sony Computer Entertainment, D: Sony Computer Entertainment, Producer/Game Director/Creative Director: Tsutomu Kouno)
  • Elite Beat Agents (P: Nintendo, D: Nintendo, Producers: Shinya Saito and Masako Harada, Game Director/Game Designer: Keiichi Yano)
  • New Super Mario Bros. (P: Nintendo, D: Nintendo, Producer: Hiroyuki Kimura, Game Director: Shigeyuki Asuke, Design Director: Masanao Arimoto)
  • Nintendo Brain Age (P: Nintendo, D: Nintendo, Producer: Shinya Takahashi, Game Director: Kouichi Kawamoto, Creative Directors: Kouichi Kawamoto, Noriko Kitamura, Masamichi Sakaino, Shinji Kitahara, Yoshinori Katsuki, Tadashi Matsushita, Masura Nishida)
  • Lego Star Wars II (P: LucasArts, D: TT Games, Producer: Loz Doyle, Game Director: Jon Burton, Creative Director: James Cunliffe)



    The awards ceremony will be held on February 8 in the "The Joint" at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas (in conjunction with the ongoing D.I.C.E. Summit) and will be hosted by comedian, actor and video game enthusiast, Jay Mohr, who also hosted last year's awards. GameDaily BIZ will bring you full coverage.