Hardcore industry meets hardcore media. Play more. Award more.
Why testers and reviewers?
More than any other professional group in the industry, testers spend the most time playing games and are therefore most apt
to evaluate them on a technical level with intense detail or analysis. Reviewers in the media also spend a great deal
of time analyzing and writing about games from a creative perspective to aid consumers in their evaluations. The best
reviewers sometimes parlay their reputation into industry jobs as producers or testers. For these reasons, the recommendation
of testers and reviewers serves as a special mark of quality that balances important creative and technical perspectives and
represents the most hard-core enthusiasts from industry and media.
Promoting the Art of Games
The National Academy of Video Game Testers and Reviewers Corp. was incorporated in the State of Maryland on January 4,
2001, to carry out specific non-profit purposes. Each year, a voting body of more than
640 voters has the opportunity to participate in the most comprehensive awards program for the gaming industry. Through
a vast array of unique categories, the annual awards recognize outstanding achievements and innovations in video game art,
technology, and production.
The public perception of the industry is also a focus for the Academy.
We believe that by encouraging more recognition of many of the industry’s talented individuals, the enhanced visibility
of these leaders will lead to a greater public appreciation of the medium as an art form, and possibly expand the style and
scope of video game marketing over time.
Recognizing Creative Talent
Dedicated members of the industry and members of the press are stepping forward to recognize the video game achievements
that you don't hear about on the evening news' entertainment report. Our mission is to bring awareness to this
industry so that the public understands the limitless artistry that can come from this interactive medium. Video games
are an art form, and our unique award categories reflect just how far that art has come.
In its effort to recognize
emerging talent and new ideas, NAVGTR Corp. includes categories for Original Games in addition to the sequel or series categories.
This strategy not only allows the voters of the Academy to recognize and honor a greater variety of products, but also gives
original IP a fighting chance against the well-known franchises in a tremendously sequel-driven industry.
New Programs
Events at industry gatherings and the Hilton Waikoloa Village in Hawaii are currently being planned for 2013
or 2014, including a sit-down awards ceremony built around Kickstarter campaigns for groups of award categories.
The Academy will also survey its active voters to develop a match-a-reviewer tool for consumers to track critics
that share their values, sensibilities, and priorities.
In addition, the Academy will also launch a program to
foster the creative development of new writers with the participation of established editors looking for new and qualified
voices for outstanding freelance work. The program will culminate in recognition for the most outstanding credentialed,
independent, and newcomer reviewers.
Tester Registration
Qualified testers and reviewers of interactive video game media will vote on the annual NAViGaTR Awards for excellence
in the industry. Testers can register to vote using the
Tester Registration Form. To access the form, type "guest" as the username. The password is the number of lenses (in eyeglasses)
seen in the above image, written with letters of the alphabet.
Reviewer/Journalist Registration
New reviewers must register with the Academy to vote on award nominees and winners. There is no fee to become a
voter.
To qualify, analysts/journalists must e-mail info at navgtr dot org and demonstrate a high quality of work
OR meet a preponderance of the following "A" or "B" items:
<A1> the actual BADGE you
received from attending any recognized industry trade show or conference within the past 12 months. Please cut off the
machine-readable stripe and throw it away before sending your badge. The badge should indicate that you are registered
as Press.
<A2> the actual badge HOLDER you received from attending any recognized industry trade show or
conference within the past 12 months. If possible, the badge holder should indicate that you are registered as Press
(i.e. official press ribbon attached to badge holder).
<B1> company bus
iness card
<B2> a detailed job description (100-word minimum) signed by a company supervisor on company letter
head with an original signature; in general, any bona fide job in the media involving game testing, playing, reporting, or
editing will suffice, but in the case of independent media, applicant must provide proof of services to industry (i.e. reference
letter signed by client, proof of publication, proof of employment, etc.), where the validity, integrity, and/or reliability
of such proof will be determined by NAVGTR Corp.
<B3> one (1) print article with a 300-word minimum, from
a magazine, newspaper, or book published by an incorporated publishing company or accredited college or university.
Applicants should include the retail/published copy. Articles should include a signed statement that the submitted articles
are the work of the individual seeking voter eligibility.
<B4> links to ten (10) online articles, each with a 300-word minimum, reaching 1,000 unique web visitors a month.
The Academy should receive a signed statement that the submitted articles are the work of the individual seeking voter eligibility.
E-mail attachments or articles that appear only in e-mails and not on the web will not be accepted.
<B5>
one (1) television or video segment with a one-minute minimum, from cable television, satellite television, broadcast television,
or webstreaming video available to at least 15,000 households or receiving 5,000 views. Eligible applicants include
TV hosts, reporters, writers, and game testers who produce B-roll related to preparing the segments for television or video,
as long as the applicant actually plays the game being reviewed for television or video. Applicant should include public
or unlisted YouTube link with the applicant's name shown in the credits of the program. For television, a list of
all markets should be included with call letters, city, state, and country of operation. For webstreaming, a server
site statistics report should be included.
Cover Page Requirements:
In your e-mailed submission materials, you should include the following information on a Cover Page attachment:
Name
Home Address
Home Phone
Work Address
Work Phone
E-mail
E-mail
your submissions, including links and scanned items, to info at navgtr dot org. In the e-mail body, you should include
all of the information supplied on the Cover Page attachment, and the subject line and body text should both contain the
phrase “Confirm New Voter.”
Mailing address is 13200 Forest Drive, Bowie, MD, 20715, USA.
Update: Submissions are no longer being accepted by mail. Please submit via e-mail to info at navgtr dot org.
Preference will be given to those submissions whose attachments are in PDF format.
Submissions received within the 30 days preceding a voting event (or a series of voting events) may not be processed until
after the voting event(s). Note: The careful following of the above rules may determine whether any submission
will be processed. However, individuals in recognized press databases may or may not be exempt from submission requirements.
LinkedIn and Facebook Registration
The Academy will consider express registration by reviewing a LinkedIn or Facebook profile in some cases. Testers should
try to join the Academy through LinkedIn, and reviewers should try to join through Facebook.
