February 1, 2004 --- The National Academy of Video Game Testers and Reviewers Corp. is pleased to announce the nominees for its third annual awards honoring interactive entertainment.  A voting body of more than 950 eligible video game media critics determined the final 179 nominees in all 43 categories from an extensive preliminary ballot that was created using a compilation of official entries and the selections of a voter-elected five-member committee.

“I think this year’s nominations show that we are the most effective organization when it comes to recognizing the incredibly diverse and specific technical and creative talents that come together to make this industry great,” said Thomas J. Allen, NAVGTR Corp. executive director.  “I want to thank the committee members and the voters for their dedication and commitment to making this process a success.  Their hard work and savvy choices have led to an exciting array of nominations that celebrate the industry’s best work in the fields of art, technology, and production.”

The nominees for Game of the Year are Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge™, The Legend of Zelda®: Wind Waker™, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time™, and Star Wars®: Knights of the Old Republic™.  The four nominees for Game of the Year represent 22% of the total nominees. 

Prince of Persia leads the pack with sixteen (16) nominations, the only game to score double-digit nominations.  Wind Waker received the next highest total with nine (9) nominations, while Crimson Skies and Knights of the Old Republic each have seven (7) nominations, as does Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne.  Rounding out the top nominees are Final Fantasy X-2 with six (6) nominations and three other games with five (5) nominations each:  Call of Duty, Primal, and Silent Hill 3. 

Ubisoft leads all other game companies with 25 nominations, followed by Nintendo (19), Sony (17), Microsoft (17), LucasArts (13), Konami (13), Electronic Arts (12), Activision (12), Rockstar (8), Capcom (7), and Square Enix USA (7).  Last year, Nintendo led the race with a record-breaking 41 nominations. 

For the complete list of nominees, as well as more information on NAVGTR Corp.’s missions and programs, log onto www.navgtr.org.  NAVGTR Corp. will attempt to make arrangements with nominees to provide clips of nominated materials to the media upon request.  Winners will be announced on Thursday, March 25, 2004, and Friday, March 26, 2004, at the Game Developers Conference in San Jose, CA.  More details will follow.

The NAVGTR voting body includes more than 950 eligible voters, representing a broad spectrum of mainstream and specialist media that cover video games, including Computer Graphics World, The Detroit Free Press, National Public Radio, Public Radio International, Play Magazine, About.com, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Austin American-Statesman, CNN, CNN.com, CNNmoney.com, 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, Marquee, PC Gamer, Philadelphia Inquirer, PlanetPong.com, Salon, San Jose Mercury-News, USA Today, USAToday.com, Wired News, Wizard Magazine, WOW Weekly, ZDNet, Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff-Davis Media), New York Post (NY), Boston Herald (MA), Dallas Morning News (TX), Minneapolis Star Tribune (MN), Denver Post (CO), Birmingham News (AL), Albuquerque Journal (NM), Ashville MudCat Magazine (AL), Beaver County Times (PA), Bridgeport Post Telegram (CT), Bridgewater Courier News (NJ), Cleveland Plain Dealer (OH), Durham Sun Morning Herald (NC), Erie Times (PA), Gainesville Sun (FL), Jackson Clarion Ledger (MS), Kingsport Times (TN), Las Vegas Review Journal (NV), Lexington Herald Leader (KY), Maryville Times (TN), Pueblo Star Journal Chieftan (CO), Salt Lake Deseret News (UT), Spartanburg Herald Journal (SC), Tifton Gazette (GA), Ventura County Star(CA), 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.freep.com/gameon, and many more.

NAVGTR Corp. is a 501(c)(6) non-profit corporation 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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