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GameSpot Editors Pick ``World of Warcraft'' as 2004 Game of the Year; Concludes its ``Best and Worst Of 2004'' Awards Honoring Year's Highs and Lows In GamingSAN FRANCISCO --(Business Wire)-- Dec. 22, 2004 -- World of Warcraft, the highly acclaimed "massively multiplayer online role-playing game" (MMORPG), was named Game of the Year by GameSpot (www.gamespot.com), a leading source for unbiased gaming information. The award concluded GameSpot editors' picks for the ninth annual review of the highs and lows in gaming this year, including more than 40 award categories ranging from "Best Action Adventure Game" to "Best Game No One Played." For a complete list of winners, please check out: http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2004/. "World of Warcraft is in a league of its own," said Greg Kasavin, executive editor of GameSpot. "The game brings out all the best aspects of the MMORPG genre. The particulars of the game's design -- along with its incredibly vast, beautiful, majestic world -- translate into a one-of-a-kind experience that seems fresh and original in its own right." World of Warcraft and the other winners were chosen by GameSpot's dedicated editorial staff, which has been covering the gaming industry since the site's launch in 1996. Finalists in this year's Game of the Year category include: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2), Burnout 3 (Xbox), Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (GC), and Half Life 2 (PC). -0- *T Following is a list of the categories and winners: Game of the Year: World of Warcraft (PC) Best Action Adventure: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2) Best Shooter: Half-Life 2 (PC) Best Fighting Game: Mortal Kombat: Deception (Xbox, PS2) Best Platformer: Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal (PS2) Best Adventure Game: Myst IV Revelation (PC) Best Driving Game: Burnout 3: Takedown (Xbox, PS2) Best Puzzle/Rhythm Game: Katamari Damacy (PS2) Best Role-playing Game: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (GC) Best Massively Multiplayer Online Game: World of Warcraft (PC) Best Traditional Sports Game: ESPN NFL 2K5 (Xbox, PS2) Best Alternative Sports Game: Mario Power Tennis (GC) Best Strategy Game: Rome: Total War (PC) Best N-Gage Game: Colin McRae Rally 2005 Best Game Boy Advance Game: Astro Boy: Omega Factor Best GameCube Game: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Best PlayStation 2 Game: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Best Xbox Game: Burnout 3: Takedown Best PC Game: World of Warcraft Best Original Music: Katamari Damacy (PS2) Best Licensed Music: Battlefield Vietnam (PC) Best Story: Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (PS2) Best Graphics, Technical: Doom 3 (PC) Best Voice Acting: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2) Best Graphics, Artistic: Half-Life 2 (PC) Best Game Based on a TV or Film Property: The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay (PC, Xbox) Most Innovative Game: Katamari Damacy (PS2) Best Multiplayer Game: Halo 2 (Xbox) *T About GameSpot GameSpot, a CNET Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq:CNET) property, is a leading online source for gaming information. The GameSpot family includes GameFAQs, Game Rankings, Wireless Gaming Review, GameSpot DLX, and GameSpot Trax, its real-time market intelligence tool. GameSpot's Websites offer free access to tens of thousands of PC and video game reviews from expert editors, previews of the hottest upcoming games, game downloads, video streams, guides, breaking news, and hints. GameSpot also has one of the most active online gaming communities which is a free, innovative social network service that makes it fun and easy for gamers to meet and interact with others that share their specific gaming interests. About CNET Networks, Inc. CNET Networks, Inc. (www.cnetnetworks.com) is a premier global interactive content company that informs, entertains, and connects large, engaged audiences around topics of high information need or personal passion. The company focuses on three categories -- personal technology, games and entertainment, and business technology -- and includes such leading brands as CNET, ZDNet, TechRepublic, MP3.com, GameSpot, CNET Download.com, CNET News.com, Webshots, Computer Shopper magazine, and CNET Channel. With a strong presence in the US, Asia and Europe, CNET Networks has operations in 12 countries. |
