With 2005 just around the corner, it is almost time once again for GameSpot's ninth annual Best and Worst of the Year Awards. The Awards begin this Friday night, with our Year in Review news roundup, and coverage of the finalists in the Dubious Honors, Genre Awards, Platform Awards, and Special Achievement Awards categories.

　　Then, starting this weekend, GameSpot will start handing out medals to the winners of the Special Achievement Awards (Saturday, December 18) and Dubious Honors (Sunday, December 19). Next week will see the winners in the Genre Awards (Monday, December 20) and the Platform Awards (Tuesday, December 21). GameSpot Live will be running exclusive video content showcasing the winners of each category.

　　Next Tuesday will also see the 10 finalists for the Game of the Year named. The following day, GameSpot will crown our 2004 Game of the Year across all platforms. The next day, it will be your turn to pick your favorite game of the year when the voting for GameSpot's Readers' Choice Awards begins. The winners in those categories will be named on Saturday, January 17 at 6:00pm PST.

　　A near-complete listing of categories and finalists is below. To discuss the finalists, categories, or anything else awards-related, go to our official GameSpot's Best and Worst of 2004 forum.

　　CATEGORIES AND FINALISTS

　　SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS (FINALISTS):

　　Best Original Music

　　The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay (Xbox, PC)

　　Halo 2 (Xbox)

　　Katamari Damacy (PS2)

　　Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (PS2)

　　Myst IV Revelation (PC)

　　Most Surprisingly Good Game

　　City of Heroes (PC)

　　The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay (PC, Xbox)

　　Greg Hastings' Tournament Paintball (Xbox)

　　Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders (Xbox)

　　TrackMania (PC)

　　Best Licensed Music

　　Battlefield Vietnam (PC)

　　Def Jam: Fight for NY (Xbox, GC, PS2)

　　Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2)

　　Red Dead Revolver (Xbox, PS2)

　　Tony Hawk's Underground 2 (PC, Xbox, GC, PS2)

　　Best Story

　　The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay (PC, Xbox)

　　Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2)

　　Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (PS2)

　　Myst IV Revelation (PC)

　　Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (GC)

　　Best Sound Effects

　　The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay (PC, Xbox)

　　Half-Life 2 (PC)

　　Halo 2 (Xbox)

　　Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (PS2)

　　Myst IV Revelation (PC)

　　Best Graphics, Technical

　　The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay (PC, Xbox)

　　Doom 3 (PC)

　　Far Cry (PC)

　　Half-Life 2 (PC)

　　Rome: Total War (PC)

　　Best Voice Acting

　　The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay (PC, Xbox)

　　Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2)

　　Half-Life 2 (PC)

　　Otogi 2: Immortal Warriors (Xbox)

　　Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords (Xbox)

　　Best Graphics, Artistic

　　Half-Life 2 (PC)

　　Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (PS2)

　　Myst IV Revelation (PC)

　　Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (GC)

　　World of Warcraft (PC)

　　Best Expansion Pack

　　Call of Duty: United Offensive (PC)

　　IL-2 Sturmovik: Forgotten Battles - Ace (PC)

　　Rise of Nations: Thrones and Patriots (PC)

　　Star Wars Galaxies: Jump to Lightspeed (PC)

　　Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Athena Sword (PC)

　　Best Game Based on a TV or Film Property

　　The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay (PC, Xbox)

　　Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3 (PS2)

　　James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing (Xbox, PS2, GC)

　　The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth (PC)

　　Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords (Xbox)

　　Best Budget Game

　　Colin McRae Rally 04 (Xbox)

　　ESPN NFL 2K5 (Xbox, PS2)

　　ESPN NHL 2K5 (Xbox, PS2)

　　Guilty Gear X2 #Reload (Xbox)

　　Katamari Damacy (PS2)

　　Best New Character

　　The Boss - Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (PS2)

　　Dog - Half-Life 2 (PC)

　　The King of All Cosmos - Katamari Damacy (PS2)

　　Kreia - Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords (Xbox)

　　Ryder - Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2)

　　Funniest Game

　　Alien Hominid (GC, PS2)

　　Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2)

　　Katamari Damacy (PS2)

　　Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude (PC, Xbox, PS2)

　　Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (GC)

　　Biggest News

　　Acclaim shutters offices, staffers ushered off premises

　　Big Deal: EA and NFL ink exclusive licensing agreement

　　ESPN NFL 2K5 officially $19.99

　　PSP hitting Japan on December 12 for $185

　　Valve vs. Vivendi Universal dogfight heats up in US District Court

　　Most Innovative Game

　　The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay (PC, Xbox)

　　Feel the Magic: XY/XX (DS)

　　Full Spectrum Warrior (PC, Xbox)

　　Katamari Damacy (PS2)

　　Perimeter (PC)

　　Best Multiplayer Game

　　Burnout 3: Takedown (Xbox, PS2)

　　ESPN NFL 2K5 (Xbox, PS2)

　　Halo 2 (Xbox)

　　Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow (Xbox, PC)

　　Unreal Tournament 2004 (PC)

　　Best Use of a Celebrity

　　James Woods (Mike Toreno) - Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2)

　　Jean Reno (Jacques) - Onimusha 3: Demon Siege (PS2)

　　Samuel L. Jackson (Officer Tenpenny) - Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2)

　　Vin Diesel (Richard B. Riddick) - The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay (Xbox, PC)

　　Willem Dafoe (Nikolai Diavolo) - James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing (Xbox, GC, PS2)

　　Best Original Game Mechanic

　　Burnout 3: Takedown (Xbox, PS2)

　　The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay (Xbox, PC)

　　Fight Night 2004 (Xbox, GC, PS2)

　　Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy (Xbox, PS2)

　　Halo 2 (Xbox)

　　Most Improved Sequel

　　Burnout 3: Takedown (Xbox, PS2)

　　Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3 (PS2)

　　FIFA Soccer 2005 (PC, Xbox, GC, PS2)

　　Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders (Xbox)

　　Unreal Tournament 2004 (PC)

　　DUBIOUS HONORS

　　Most Despicable Product Placement

　　Cy Girls (PS2)

　　Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel (Xbox, PS2)

　　Need for Speed Underground 2 (PC, Xbox, GC, PS2)

　　Worst Use of Celebrity Voices

　　The Bard's Tale (Xbox, PS2)

　　Catwoman (PC, Xbox, GC, PS2)

　　ESPN NFL 2K5 (Xbox, PS2)

　　Need for Speed Underground 2 (PC, Xbox, GC, PS2)

　　WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw (PS2)

　　Most Disappointing Delay

　　Forza Motorsport (Xbox)

　　Gran Turismo 4 (PS2)

　　Resident Evil 4 (GC)

　　S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl (PC)

　　Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory (PC, Xbox)

　　Biggest Disappointment

　　Driver 3 (Xbox, PS2)

　　Doom 3 (PC)

　　Halo 2 (Xbox)

　　Fable (Xbox)

　　GoldenEye: Rogue Agent (Xbox, GC, PS2)

　　Most Baditude

　　Need for Speed Underground 2 (PC, Xbox, GC, PS2)

　　NFL Street 2 (Xbox, GC, PS2)

　　Outlaw Golf 2 (Xbox, PS2)

　　Pocket Kingdom (NGE)

　　Prince of Persia: Warrior Within (PC, Xbox, GC, PS2)

　　Most Light Bloom

　　Def Jam: Fight for NY (Xbox, GC, PS2)

　　Fable (Xbox)

　　Hitman: Contracts (PC, Xbox, PS2)

　　Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders (Xbox)

　　Prince of Persia: Warrior Within (PC, Xbox, GC, PS2)

　　Worst Use of a Good License

　　Bad Boys: Miami Takedown (Xbox, GC, PS2)

　　Fight Club (Xbox, PS2)

　　GoldenEye: Rogue Agent (Xbox, GC, PS2)

　　Seven Samurai 20XX (PS2)

　　Spider-Man 2 (PC)

　　War of the Year

　　Vietnam

　　[The War] on Terror

　　Best Game No One Played

　　Codename: Panzers, Phase One (PC)

　　Otogi 2: Immortal Warriors (Xbox)

　　Silent Storm (PC)

　　TrackMania (PC)

　　Wade Hixton's Counter Punch (GBA)

　　Flat-Out Worst Game

　　Apocalyptica (PC)

　　Bad Boys: Miami Takedown (Xbox, GC, PS2)

　　Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing (PC)

　　FBI Hostage Rescue (PC)

　　Space Raiders (GC)

　　GENRE AWARDS

　　Best Action Adventure Game

　　The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay (PC, Xbox)

　　Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2)

　　Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (PS2)

　　Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (GC)

　　Ninja Gaiden (Xbox)

　　Best Shooter

　　Half-Life 2 (PC)

　　Halo 2 (Xbox)

　　Far Cry (PC)

　　Painkiller (PC)

　　Unreal Tournament 2004 (PC)

　　Best Fighting Game

　　Dead or Alive Ultimate (Xbox)

　　Def Jam: Fight for NY (Xbox, GC, PS2)

　　Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3 (PS2)

　　Guilty Gear X2 #Reload (Xbox)

　　Mortal Kombat: Deception (Xbox, PS2)

　　Best Platformer

　　Kirby & the Amazing Mirror (GBA)

　　Jak 3 (PS2)

　　Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal (PS2)

　　Sly 2: Band of Thieves (PS2)

　　Sonic Advance 3 (GBA)

　　Best Adventure Game

　　Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Director's Cut (Xbox)

　　Law & Order: Justice is Served (PC)

　　Myst IV Revelation (PC)

　　Silent Hill 4: The Room (PC, Xbox)

　　Syberia II (PC)

　　Best Driving Game

　　Burnout 3: Takedown (Xbox, PS2)

　　Colin McRae Rally 2005 (PC, Xbox)

　　NASCAR 2005: Chase for the Cup (Xbox, PS2, GC)

　　Rallisport Challenge 2 (Xbox)

　　TOCA Race Driver 2: The Ultimate Racing Simulator (PC, Xbox)

　　Best Puzzle/Rhythm Game

　　Feel the Magic: XY/XX (DS)

　　Dance Dance Revolution Extreme (PS2)

　　Karaoke Revolution 3 (PS2)

　　Katamari Damacy (PS2)

　　Mario vs. Donkey Kong (GBA)

　　Best Role-Playing Game

　　Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean (GC)

　　Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (GC)

　　Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne (PS2)

　　Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords (Xbox)

　　Tales of Symphonia (GC)

　　Best Massively Multiplayer Online Game

　　City of Heroes (PC)

　　EverQuest II (PC)

　　Final Fantasy XI (PS2)

　　World of Warcraft (PC)

　　Best Traditional Sports Game

　　ESPN NFL 2K5 (Xbox, PS2)

　　ESPN NHL 2K5 (Xbox, PS2)

　　Fight Night 2004 (Xbox, PS2, GC)

　　MVP Baseball 2004 (Xbox, PS2, GC)

　　World Soccer Winning Eleven 7 International (PC, PS2)

　　Best Alternative Sports Game

　　Mario Power Tennis (GC)

　　NBA Ballers (Xbox, PS2)

　　NFL Street (Xbox, GC, PS2)

　　Pool Paradise (GC, PS2)

　　Tony Hawk's Underground 2 (PC, Xbox, GC, PS2)

　　Best Strategy Game

　　Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders (Xbox)

　　Rome: Total War (PC)

　　Sid Meier's Pirates! (PC)

　　Silent Storm (PC)

　　Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War (PC)

　　PLATFORM AWARDS

　　Best N-Gage Game

　　Asphalt: Urban GT

　　Colin McRae Rally 2005

　　FIFA Soccer 2005

　　Pathway to Glory

　　Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Jungle Storm

　　Best Game Boy Advance Game

　　Astro Boy: Omega Factor

　　Kirby & the Amazing Mirror

　　Metroid: Zero Mission

　　Pokémon FireRed Version / Pokémon LeafGreen Version

　　Sonic Advance 3

　　Best GameCube Game

　　Mario Power Tennis

　　Metroid Prime 2: Echoes

　　Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

　　Pikmin 2

　　Tales of Symphonia

　　Best PlayStation 2 Game

　　Burnout 3: Takedown

　　Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

　　Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

　　Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal

　　World Soccer Winning Eleven 7 International

　　Best Xbox Game

　　Burnout 3: Takedown

　　The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay

　　Halo 2

　　Ninja Gaiden

　　Rallisport Challenge 2

　　Best PC Game

　　The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay - Developer's Cut

　　Half-Life 2

　　Rome: Total War

　　Unreal Tournament 2004

　　World of Warcraft

　　GAME OF THE YEAR (FINALISTS)

　　To be announced on Tuesday, December 21 (11:00am PST):

　　GAME OF THE YEAR (WINNER)

　　To be announced on Wednesday, December 22 (11:00am PST)

　　READERS' CHOICE AWARDS (Voting Begins Thursday, December 23, 11:00am PST)

　　PC

　　Best Action Game

　　Best Adventure Game

　　Best Driving Game

　　Best Role-Playing Game

　　Best Simulation

　　Best Sports Game

　　Best Strategy Game

　　PC Game of the Year

　　Xbox

　　Best Action/Adventure Game

　　Best Driving Game

　　Best Role-Playing Game

　　Best Sports Game

　　Xbox Game of the Year

　　GameCube

　　Best Action/Adventure Game

　　Best Driving Game

　　Best Role-Playing Game

　　Best Sports Game

　　GameCube Game of the Year

　　PlayStation 2

　　Best Action/Adventure Game

　　Best Driving Game

　　Best Role-Playing Game

　　Best Sports Game

　　PlayStation 2 Game of the Year

　　Portable

　　GBA Game of the Year

　　DS Game of the Year

　　N-Gage Game of the Year