The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences honored virtual worlds among the winners of the 59th Annual Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. In addition to recognizing virtual worlds and gaming -- sometimes side-by-side -- the 2008 Emmy Awards honored science, engineering and technology achievements for broadcast, broadband and personal Television.

Said NATAS in a statement, "The Technology & Engineering Awards honor excellence in advances in the use, creativity and adaptation of technology that enhances or improves the consumer experience with media across multiple platforms."

The long-titled Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Advanced Media Technology for Best Use of Commercial Advertising on Stand-Alone Broadband Devices (Personal Computers) went to Showtime Networks and Electric Sheep's collaboration on the The L Word in Second Life. Linden Lab was also honored in the User-Generated Content category, alongside Electronic Arts, for Pinball Construction, and Id Software for 1996's Quake.

MTV's Virtual Laguna Beach took home the Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Advanced Media Technology for Creation of Non-Traditional Programs or Platforms. In the category of Development of Massively Multiplayer Online Graphical Role Playing Games, AOL-Time Warner, Stormfront and TSR-Wizards of the Coast earned an Emmy for the original AOL MMO Neverwinter Nights, Sony Online Entertainment was honored for Everquest, and Blizzard received an Emmy for World of Warcraft.

Among the presenters at the evening ceremony were Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), astronaut Buzz Aldrin, and Peter Price, president and CEO of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Said Peter Price, NATAS President and CEO, "For the first time in our 59 year history, not all winners will be presented with an Emmy statuette at this year’s ceremony due to litigation with the Hollywood-based Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. We are in court aggressively fighting for the right to recognize the talents and achievements of these companies and individuals without whom our industry would not be the world leader it is today. Once victorious, we plan to present each winner from tonight’s event with their own Emmy.”