A call for candidates was sent to all NAVGTR voters in October 2003.  This year marked the beginning of a new process whereby each candidate "ran" on a platform of proposed nominees, giving voters clear choices in the ballot development process.  The committee will spend the rest of the year playing late release games, deliberating, and honing their lists to a final slate of no more than five finalists per category.  Voters will be able to contact the committee this month, by direct member e-mail or through NAVGTR, before the committee completes its work in January 2004.

The combined slate of committee members will be used in the construction of the Nomination Ballot.  Official entries received will be added to the list of finalists so that NAVGTR voters can choose the final nominees in each award category honoring work in 2003. 

Each committee member has extensive experience covering the interactive entertainment industry as a game tester or reviewer for media outlets.  The work of the committee has been seen in an endless list of publications, forums, and web sites, including the Detroit Free Press, National Public Radio, Public Radio International, Play Magazine, 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.

The general voting body of NAVGTR also includes contributors for 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, and ZDNet.

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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