PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Thomas J. Allen
Phone:  (410) 721-8895
E-mail: info at navgtr dot org


SCHEDULE, CATEGORIES ANNOUNCED FOR 5^TH ANNUAL NAViGaTR AWARDS

November 29, 2005 -- The official schedule for the 5^th Annual NAViGaTR Awards has been announced, along with category changes.  The NAViGaTR Awards are presented by the National Academy of Video Game Testers & Reviewers Corp. (NAVGTR), a 501(c)(6) media organization. 

11/28 – Ballot Committee Elected

11/29 – Category Changes Announced

12/31 – Early Deadline for Entries

1/3 – Ballot Videos prepared from official entries received, with earliest entries given priority

1/6 – Final Deadline for Entries, due at 5 p.m. (final ballot sent to voters after 6 p.m.)

1/12 – Nomination Voting Period Ends

1/13 – Nominees Announced for 5^th Annual Awards; pre-production begins on TV special

3/26 – Ballot sent to voters to select winners

3/30 – Winner Voting Period Ends

3/31 – Winners Announced

Since the very first awards year, two categories for Outstanding Achievement in Writing (Dialogue or Story) were included in the program.  This year, the categories have been re-named to the more tangible and appreciable “Writing in a Comedy” and “Writing in a Drama.” 

In addition, the Voice Performance categories for lead and supporting roles have been further divided into comedy and drama, with awards for “Outstanding Lead Performance in a Comedy,” “Outstanding Lead Performance in a Drama,” “Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Comedy,” and “Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Drama.”

The total awards program honors the best in video game art, technology, and production across 48 categories.  A complete list of categories is available on the Academy’s online entry form.

The general voting body of more than 1,200 journalists and writers includes contributors for such varied outlets as About.com, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Austin American-Statesman, NBC, CNN, CNN.com, CNNmoney.com, Chicago Sun-Times, Computer Gaming World, Contra Costa Times, Digital Journal, ElectricPlayground.com, FHM, GamersTemple.com, GamingTarget.com, Gannett News Service, Gear, HappyPuppy.com, Kids & Computers, LA Weekly, Los Angeles Times, National Post, New York Times, Marquee, PC Gamer, Philadelphia Inquirer, PlanetPong.com, Salon, San Jose Mercury-News, USA Today, USAToday.com, Wired News, Wizard Magazine, WOW Weekly, ZDNet, Detroit Free Press, National Public Radio, Public Radio International, Play Magazine, Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff-Davis Media), Evergeek Media (www.evergeek.com), The Ottawa Citizen, The Vancouver Sun, The Regina Leader-Post, Canada.com, myTelus.com, www.YesWonder.com, www.GamesArcadia.com, www.gamingtrend.com, www.freep.com/gameon, and hundreds more. 

NAVGTR Corp. is devoted to promoting and recognizing the developments and achievements of the interactive entertainment industry for public awareness and education.  In addition to the annual awards, the academy’s future goals include acknowledging, documenting, and/or memorializing industry leaders and historical events through educational and informative television specials or videos, as well as efforts to preserve the history of interactive entertainment through the development of archives in public libraries and universities. 

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