2004 DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT CONFERENCE & AWARDS CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS

BEST OF SHOW

A1. Visionary of the Year
Awarded to the individual whose ideas, achievements and vision have provided invaluable direction, leadership and voice to the digital entertainment industry.

A2. Innovator of the Year
Awarded to the company or individual(s) whose creative or technological development(s) had the most profound impact on the digital entertainment industry by revealing a new approach or idea that is leading the industry in a new direction.

A3. Brand of the Year
Awarded to the company that has made the most significant advances in solidifying its identity as a leader in the digital entertainment industry. The award reflects the ability to build customer loyalty by identifying value and quality with a brand.

GAMES

B1. Game Innovation of the Year
Awarded to the technology, application, platform, accessory or device that has had the most profound impact on the game industry by revealing a new approach or idea that is leading the industry in a new direction.

B2. PC or Console Game of the Year
Awarded to the best overall game playable on a PC or console system, including Xbox, Playstation 2, Gamecube and next-generation console technologies. All genres will be considered.

B3. Handheld Game of the Year
Awarded to the best game created for play on an advanced portable entertainment platform including GameBoy Advance SP, Nokia N-Gage, PocketPC, Palm OS, wireless and next-generation handheld technologies. All genres will be considered.

B4. Web/Downloadable Game of the Year
Awarded to the best web or downloadable game. Downloadable games are typically less than 15MB, where the primary method of distribution requires download to, installation on, and execution from the end-user's hard-drive. This does not include demos of titles that are primarily sold through retailers. Web-based games are launched via a web page with no prior installation software required. This does not include games that are downloaded to the user's hard-drive and run outside of the web-browser but does include games launched from a web page that might require/install a general or custom ActiveX control. All genres will be considered.

B5. Multiplayer Game of the Year
Awarded to the best game played online or via a mobile device simultaneously by more than one player.

B6. Advergame of the Year
Awarded to the best game played online or via a mobile device created expressly for promotion and/or branding of a non-gaming product.

B7. Game Developer of the Year
Awarded to the developer showing the best body of work distributed on any platform or combination of platforms over the last year.

B8. New Developer's Award
Awarded to a new developer showing creativeness and innovation in an unpublished web or downloadable game (see definitions of "web" and "downloadable" games in category 7 above).

B9. Best Character in a Game
Awarded to best creative use of back-story, personality and brand-building in a game's character or avatar development across any gaming platform.

B10. Best Use of Sound in a Game
Awarded to the best creative and innovative use of music and/or sound effects in a game's soundtrack or original score across any gaming platform.

MUSIC

C1. Digital Music Innovation of the Year
Awarded to the technology, application, platform, accessory or device that has had the most profound impact on the music industry by revealing a new approach or idea that is leading the industry in a new direction.

C2. Best Use of Technology by a Music Label
Awarded to the music label (major or independent) that best utilizes digital technologies in connection with the promotion and/or distribution of music and/or music-related events. Examples might include use of software, website(s), email, mobile or wireless applications, television, games, DVDs or other digital technologies or some combination thereof in connection with a specific campaign.

C3. Best Use of Technology by an Artist
Awarded to the band or individual artist who best utilizes digital technologies in connection with the promotion and/or distribution of music and/or music-related events. Examples might include use of software, website(s), email, mobile or wireless applications, television, games, DVDs or other digital technologies or some combination thereof in connection with a specific campaign.

C4. Best Use of Technology for a Music Marketing Campaign
Awarded to the most innovative use of digital technologies in a music marketing campaign.

C5. Best Radio Service
Awarded to the best radio service (digital, Internet, satellite or other format) with respect to variety, innovation and user experience.

C6. Best Downloadable or Subscription Music Service
Awarded to the best downloadable or subscription music service (digital, Internet, satellite or other format) with respect to variety, innovation and user experience.

C7. Best Digital Music Community
Awarded to the best music community devoted to providing music news, information, reviews, etc in a digital format.

C8. Music DVD of the Year
Awarded to the best use of digital technologies in a DVD issued by a band or individual artist.

FILM, TELEVISION & VIDEO

D1. DVD of the Year
Awarded to the best overall use of digital technologies in a non-music DVD (including extras, user interface, etc.).

D2. Television Technology of the Year
Awarded to the technology, application, platform, accessory or device that has the most profound impact on the television industry by revealing a new approach or idea that takes the industry in a new direction.

D3. Best Interactive Television Programming
Awarded to the best use of digital technologies to engage users in an interactive television environment.

D4. Best HDTV Programming
Awarded to the best original programming developed for the digital high definition format.

D5. Best Use of Technology for Sports Programming
Awarded to the best use of digital technologies to enhance sports programming, involving sports news or live events, on any platform.

D6. Best Use of Technology for Educational Programming
Awarded to the best use of digital technologies to promote learning on any platform.

D7. Best Use of Technology in a Feature Film or Film-related Project
Awarded to the best use of digital technologies to enhance a feature film or film-related project.

D8. Most Innovative Use of Technology for Advertising
Awarded to the most innovative use digital technologies in an advertising campaign utilizing film, television or video to promote any product or service on any platform.

D9. Best Video On-demand Service
Awarded to the best video on-demand service on any platform with respect to selection, user interface, usability and customer experience.