Game Developers Choice Awards

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The International Game Developers Association announced the winners of Game Developers Choice Awards last night at GDC. Unlike the AIAS awards, all game developers are eligible to make nominations for the GD Choice Awards (see this story for all the nominated games). This year's winners

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)

A Lifetime Achievement Award went to Yuji Naka, president and CEO of Sonic Team.
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