yeah, the award is for INNOVATION WITH REGARDS TO INTERACTIVITY.

It's got nothing to do with Gameplay. Nothing to do with story. Nothing to do with whether or not they've come up with some cool new game mechanics. It was given for making the best interactive experience for gamers with regards to what they can do with their game, what they can create, what they can build, what they can share, how they can do all this with their friends. No one gives a skullskullskullskull if it is Halo 2.5 or not. That is not what this is about. I don't know how this could be made any clearer to you.