Jack Black named Video Game Awards host

NEW YORK, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- U.S. actor Jack Black will be the host of the 2008 "Video Game Awards" show, Spike TV said Tuesday.

The prize presentation recognizes the outstanding artistic and technical achievement in the gaming industry, plus offers first-looks at the hottest games of 2009 and beyond.

The sixth annual event, which is to air on the channel Dec. 14, is to include the world premieres of "God of War III," "Brutal Legend," "Fight Night Round 4," "Mafia II," "Terminator Salvation," "Uncharted 2" and "Watchmen: The End is Nigh."

For Black, the show will cap a year that saw him star in two Hollywood blockbusters -- "Tropic Thunder" and "Kung Fu Panda," which grossed more than $800 million worldwide combined.

"Jack is a huge gamer and a former performer and winner on the 'VGAs' having taken home best performance by a human male in 2005," Casey Patterson, Spike TV's senior vice president of event production and talent development, said in a statement. "We're thrilled to have him as our host. With a record 10 world premieres including 'Brutal Legend,' starring Jack, it will be a big night and wild ride!"