GAMESPOT NAMES "GEARS OF WAR" GAME OF YEAR".

Gears of War, a graphically stunning sci-fi shooter published by Microsoft Games, was named Game of the Year by GameSpot (http://www.gamespot.com), the leading source for unbiased gaming information. For GameSpot's 11th Annual Best & Worst of 2006 Awards, more than 40 awards were presented in categories ranging from Best New Character to Best Game No One Played. A complete list of winners is available at: http://www.gamespot.com/special_features/bestof2006/index.html.

"Gears of War is a stunning, extremely satisfying, and challenging shooter," said Greg Kasavin, editor-in-chief of GameSpot. "The developers at Epic Games have set a new standard for how believable and intense action gaming experiences can be." Gears of War and the other winners were chosen by GameSpot's expert 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 included Bully (PS2), Company of Heroes (PC), Dead Rising (X360), The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (PC, X360), Final Fantasy XII (PS2), The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princes (Wii, GC), Okami (PS2), Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas (X360), and Viva Pinata (X360).

Below is a sampling of the categories and winners. A complete list of finalists and winners is available at: http://www.gamespot.com/special_features/bestof2006/index.html

In addition to the editorial awards, GameSpot's audience can cast their votes in more than 40 award categories. The GameSpot Readers'

Game of the Year: Gears of War (X360)

Best Action Adventure Game: Dead Rising (X360)

Best Driving Game: GTR 2 (PC)

Best Fighting Game: Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (X360)

Best Game No One Played: GTR 2 (PC)

Best Game Boy Advance Game: Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation

Best GameCube Game: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

Best Graphics, Artistic: Okami (PS2)

Best Graphics, Technical: Gears of War (X360)

Best Licensed Music: Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure (XBOX, PC, PS2)

Best Multiplayer Game: Gears of War (X360)

Best New Character(s): Delta Squad from Gears of War (X360)

Best New Gaming Hardware: Nintendo Wii

Best Nintendo DS Game: Elite Beat Agents

Best Original Game Mechanic: Free-Motion Controls in Madden NFL 07 (Wii)

Best Original Music: Bully (PS2)

Best PC Game: Company of Heroes

Best Platformer: Daxter (PSP)

Best PlayStation 2 Game: Final Fantasy XII

Best PlayStation 3 Game: Resistance: Fall of Man

Best PSP Game: Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops

Best Puzzle Game: Exit (PSP)

Best Rhythm/Music Game: Elite Beat Agents (DS)

Best Role-Playing Game: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (PC, X360)

Best Shooter: Gears of War (X360) Best Strategy Game: Company of Heroes (PC)

Best Traditional Sports Game: Madden NFL '07 (Wii)

Best Use of Xbox 360 Achievement Points: Dead Rising

Best Nintendo Wii Game: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

Best Xbox 360 Game: Gears of War

Best Xbox Game: NCAA Football '07

Biggest News : The Saga of the PlayStation 3 Launch

Most Improved Sequel: Tomb Raider: Legend (X360, Xbox, PS2, GC)

Most Surprisingly Good Game: Saints Row (X360)

About GameSpot

Celebrating its 10-year anniversary in 2006, GameSpot's (http://www.gamespot.com) expert editorial team provides more than a million daily visitors with comprehensive, engaging, and unbiased game information for console, PC, and portable platforms. The site's award-winning coverage includes previews and reviews on the hottest titles, breaking news, live webcasts, online tournaments, game downloads, videos, guides, hints, and more. GameSpot also has one of the most active online gaming communities fueled by a free, innovative social networking service that makes it easy and fun for gamers to meet and interact with other like-minded enthusiasts. The GameSpot family includes GameFAQs, Game Rankings, and GameSpot Trax, the industry's premier real-time market intelligence tool. GameSpot is part of the CNET Networks Entertainment division, which includes MP3.com, TV.com, and Metacritic.com.

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