NEW YORK: It is Game Over for traditional awards shows. Viacom's all male network Spike TV presents the first annual Video Game Awards (VGAs) from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

This unprecedented and non-traditional awards show hosted by actor/comedian David Spade Just Shoot Me will celebrate the many accomplishments of the past year in video gamedom. It will also look to the future of games in 2004 and beyond. The show premieres on Spike TV on 4 December.

Spike TV president Albie Hecht added, "The VGAs celebrate those games that have blistered our fingers poised on the joystick and kept us up all night. We are throwing out all the boring and stagnant elements of traditional awards shows and focusing on what matters -- the characters, game play, animation, music and performances that have made an impact on the video game community throughout the past year."

In a major departure from the norm the VGAs will not feature podiums, presenters and long, boring acceptance speeches. The VGAs will replace drawn-out presenter-reading-prompter segments with advocate introductions. These advocates are fans of the nominated video game, and that can mean a celebrity, musician or actual character featured within the game itself.

As advocates they can bash and/or brag all they want in support of their game. This will immediately be followed by an intimate look at the nominated game itself. When winners are announced, the awards will come to the Winners Circle of tables where celebrity toastmasters will offer boasts and roasts to the newly minted winners.

Awards in 16 wide-ranging categories will be presented in the culmination of Spike TVs first annual Video Game Awards. Nominees and winners of Spike TVs VGAs are tallied from gaming industry experts, public opinion via Spike TVs website (www.spiketv.com) and Spike TVs editorial board. Some of the categories are Game of Year; Best Sports Game; Best Action Game; Best Animation; Best Driving Game; Best Game Based on a Movie.

The VGAs will take place in a futuristic setting reminiscent of what was seen in the Tom Cruise blockbuster Minority Report. The show will seamlessly blend real and animated worlds into a dynamic show presentation. Nominee presentations will combine cinematic animation sequences to intercut with actual game play performed by top-notch game players.