TheGlobe's Happy Puppy Announces Winners Of Annual "Golden Fire Hydrant Awards"

Market Wire, 20050229

The votes have been tabulated and the people have spoken. Happy Puppy (www.happypuppy.com), the leading gaming lifestyle publication that is part of games.theglobe.com (games.theglobe.com), announced today the winners of the "Golden Fire Hydrant Awards," the site's annual game awards where Happy Puppy readers are polled for their favorite picks of the year on all gaming platforms in 16 different categories.

Happy Puppy will present the top three awards of 1999 (Game of the Year, Best Console Game and Best Computer Game) to a representative from each game company at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles next week. The award is an actual gold-plated facsimile of a fire hydrant.

"The goal of 'The Golden Fire Hydrant Awards' is to accurately reflect what today's gamer thinks are the best and most innovative games of the year and as always, our readers have chosen an interesting variety of winners," said Charles Gray, publisher, Happy Puppy. "We'd like to congratulate the game and hardware companies, all the developers and publishers who were recipients of this year's awards, and we look forward to covering another great year of games and hardware on our site."

Following are the results: GAME OF THE YEAR Final Fantasy VIII/PlayStation Developed by: Squaresoft Published by: Electronic Arts COMPUTER GAME Quake III: Arena/Windows 98, Macintosh Developed by: id Software Published by: Activision CONSOLE GAME Final Fantasy VIII/PlayStation Developed by: Squaresoft Published by: Electronic Arts ACTION Unreal Tournament/Windows 98, Macintosh Developed by: Epic Published by: GT Interactive ADVENTURE Rayman 2/Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, Windows 98 Developed by: UbiSoft Published by: UbiSoft ARCADE NFL Blitz 2000/Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, PlayStation Developed by: Midway Published by: Midway BOARD/CARD/PUZZLE You Don't Know Jack/PlayStation Developed by: Jellyvision Published by: Berkeley Systems SPORTS Tony Hawk's Pro Skater/PlayStation, Nintendo 64 Developed by: Neversoft Published by: Activision FIGHTING Super Smash Bros./Nintendo 64 Developed by: HAL Published by: Nintendo FLIGHT SIM FreeSpace 2/Windows 98 Developed by: Volition Published by: Interplay RPG Final Fantasy VIII/PlayStation Developed by: Squaresoft Published by: Electronic Arts STRATEGY Age Of Empires II: The Age Of Kings/Windows 98 Developed by: Ensemble Studios Published by: Microsoft SIMULATION Rollercoaster Tycoon/Windows 98 Developed by: MicroProse Published by: Hasbro Interactive RACING Gran Turismo 2/PlayStation Developed by: Polyphony Digital Published by: Sony HARDWARE Sega Dreamcast/Vendor: Sega PERIPHERAL Microsoft Intellimouse with Intellieye/Vendor: Microsoft the world's largest games information resource (Media Metrix 12/99) is comprised of Happy Puppy, Games Domain, Console Domain, Kids Domain, Computer Games Online, Chips & Bits and Computer Games Magazine, and will have its official launch at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo in Booth 868 in the South Hall. Happy Puppy

Since its launch on Valentine's Day of 1995, Happy Puppy has remained the true voice of today's gamer, bringing all types of PC and console games to life in a unique and irreverent environment. Happy Puppy targets all levels of gamers seeking a site whose wit and style stands out from the crowd. Happy Puppy's online offerings include extensive and honest game reviews, game demo downloads, hints and cheats, a comprehensive member newsletter, and tons of contests.

About games.theglobe.com games.theglobe.com, a division of theglobe.com Network, is the world's largest interactive entertainment and games information resource geared towards game enthusiasts of all ages and levels of expertise. Visitors to any of the games.theglobe.com properties can read timely game reviews, special features and industry news, get the latest tips and cheats, download demos of new games before the full versions hit store shelves, play exclusive multi-player web games, enter contest promotions, and even purchase the hottest new games software.