AIAS president Joseph Olin claims that the partnership "basically makes the IAAs the awards of the games industry," with any IGDA member now able to vote in the Game of the Year categories. Traditionally awarded at the AIAS' yearly D.I.C.E. summit, the Interactive Achievement Awards have been running since 1998.

"We're pledging the support of the IGDA in the interest of including the voices of our more than 14,000 international members in the IAAs," noted IGDA executive director Jason Della Rocca. "This partnership also opens the door for more collaboration between the Academy and the IGDA."

This year's IAA awards saw Infinity Ward's Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare take 2007 Game of the Year, with Valve's The Orange Box honored as Computer Game of the Year and Nintendo's Super Mario Galaxy netting Adventure Game of the Year.