Sunday, 10th May 2026

Interactive Achievement Awards - 1997

The Interactive Achievement Awards (IAAs), now known as the D.I.C.E. Awards, are an annual awards ceremony honoring outstanding achievements in the video game industry. The IAAs were established by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) in 1998 to recognize excellence in various categories within the gaming industry.

The awards cover a wide range of categories, including game design, art direction, sound design, storytelling, and gameplay mechanics. They also honor individual contributions such as voice acting, music composition, and direction. The awards are presented based on votes from members of the AIAS, which includes professionals from the gaming industry.

The games

Blade Runner proved that licensed games could be more than simple adaptations. Developed by Westwood Studios, it delivered an original narrative set alongside the film, emphasizing investigation, atmosphere, and player choice. Its branching storylines and multiple endings added replayability and depth, making it a landmark example of interactive storytelling in adventure games.

StarCraft refined real-time strategy through exceptional balance and asymmetrical design. Its three factions - Terran, Zerg, and Protoss - played fundamentally differently yet remained competitively fair, a rare achievement that helped define modern esports. Combined with a strong science-fiction narrative, the game set a new standard for both competitive and single-player RTS experiences.

Age of Empires blended accessible gameplay with historical progression, allowing players to guide civilizations across technological eras. Its focus on resource management and advancement made it approachable without sacrificing strategic depth, while its educational undertones gave it a distinct identity within the genre.

Here's the complete list of the 1997 awards.

1997
Age of Empires Simulation/Strategy Game of the Year
Blade Runner Adventure Game of the Year
Diddy Kong Racing Racing Game of the Year
Dungeon Keeper Role-Playing Game of the Year
FIFA: Road to World Cup 98 Sports Game of the Year
GoldenEye 007 Game of the Year
Nintendo 64
Quake II Action Game of the Year
StarCraft Simulation/Strategy Game of the Year
Ultima Online Massively Multiplayer Game of the Year
WCW vs. nWo: World Tour Fighting Game

The ceremony is held during the D.I.C.E. Summit, an annual conference for professionals in the interactive entertainment industry. D.I.C.E. stands for "Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain," and the event serves as a platform for industry leaders to discuss and share insights into the world of gaming.
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