The 53rd annual Hugo Awards will contain a special category for Interactive Video Games in the 2006 awards roster. The Special Hugo Category has previously been used as a testing ground for new permanent categories in the Hugo Awards.
The Hugo Awards, named for founding editor Hugo Gernsback at Amazing Stories magazine, officially began in 1953 when attendees of the 11th World Science Fiction Convention formalized their "best of" votes for the previous year's work, both in published fiction and fan material. Several categories since the award's inception have been added and later removed; at present the only post-founding categories that remain are Best Dramatic Presentation, in both long and short form, Best Related Book, and Best Web Site.
"Games are not just something that some science fiction fans do," said Craig Miller, organizer of the WSFC. "We believe that interactive video games have become an important part of the tapestry that is science fiction. And for that reason, we have decided to include them among the Hugo Categories for the first time."
Qualifying members may now nominate winners in all 14 categories of the Hugos. The awards will be presented at the 64th World Science Fiction Convention, at the Anaheim Convention Center in California, from August 23-27th.
