Spike TV to Present First-Ever Televised Presentation of the 'Game Critics Awards: Best of E3 2005"

Awards Announcement Presented on Spike TV Tuesday, June 7 At 11:25 PM, ET

Network Features Night of Videogame Themed Programming; Includes Premiere of Original Special THE ULTIMATE GAMER: E3

NEW YORK, May 31 -- Spike TV will celebrate the best in the world of videogames with the first-ever televised presentation of "Game Critics Awards: The Best of E3" awards. This announcement event will take place on Spike TV Tuesday, June 7 at 11:25 PM, ET. Leading up to and immediately following this special award announcement, Spike TV will feature an entire evening of videogame themed programming with special presentations of E3 CINEMA and THE ULTIMATE GAMER.

The "Game Critics Awards: Best of E3" is presented annually by The Game Critics Awards, an independent group of videogame journalists from 35 leading media outlets. Now in its ninth year, these awards recognize the games that will shape the future of interactive entertainment. Games eligible for nomination were shown during the May 2005 Electronic Entertainment Expo, better known as E3, the world's largest videogame convention.

This year's Game Critics Awards will be presented in 16 wide-ranging categories. At 11:25 PM ET, Spike TV will present a commercial-free telecast of the "Game Critics Awards: Best of E3" awards, announcing the winners in the five top categories -- Best of Show, Best Original Game, Best PC Game, Best Console and Best Peripheral/Hardware. Viewers will see footage of winning games, watch interviews with the game designers, and hear commentary from the Game Critics Awards judges. Winners in all categories will be simultaneously announced on the Internet at http://www.spiketv.com, http://www.gamecriticsawards.com and through many of the media outlets represented on the Game Critics Award panel.

Leading up to Spike TV's telecast of "Game Critics Awards: The Best of E3" announcement, the network will present a videogame inspired CASINO CINEMA presentation of Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (9:00 - 11:25 PM, ET/PT). This 1997 fantasy/action film is based on the popular video game where a group of martial arts warriors have only six days to save the Earth from an extra-dimensional invasion. Game Critics Awards co-chairman Geoff Keighley and videogame journalist Zoe Flower will be on hand during CASINO CINEMA to talk about some of this year's "Game Critics Awards: Best of E3" nominees.

Immediately following the awards announcement, Spike TV will premiere THE ULTIMATE GAMER: E3 (11:30 PM - Midnight, ET/PT). This original special will take viewers for an inside look at the E3, the world's largest video game industry convention and will offer a sneak peek at some of the games that will start hitting stores later this year. THE ULTIMATE GAMER specials present some of videogame's hottest and most anticipated game titles. The series features never before seen game footage, highlights incredible play action of upcoming releases and surprises the "ultimate" fan of a particular video game franchise, sending him on a whirlwind tour to experience the game in real life.

Spike TV, the first network for men, is available in 88 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks. MTV Networks, a division of Viacom International Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).

SOURCE Spike TV
Web Site: http://www.spiketv.com http://www.gamecriticsawards.com