This accolade comes on the heels of Epic’s worldwide release of “Gears of War 2,” which sold over 2 million units in its first weekend at retail. Epic is known for its breakthrough “Gears of War” franchise, the multimillion-selling “Unreal” series of games, and Unreal Engine 3, the award-winning software development framework that serves as the technological foundation for many of today’s bestselling computer and video games.

NCTA’s 21 Awards program is segmented into five categories: technology industry, stage of development, functional, leadership and excellence. Epic received a technology industry award in the new category of Top Industry Driven Technology Company of the Year for Unreal Engine 3’s positive impact on the entertainment software industry.

Epic has licensed Unreal Engine 3 to esteemed game developers and publishers including Electronic Arts, Microsoft, SEGA, Capcom, Take-Two Interactive, Square Enix and Activision. The engine is also used by world class architectural firm HKS to create functional 3D visualizations of architectural spaces like the new Dallas Cowboys football stadium and W Dallas Victory Hotel and Residences. In addition, Unreal Engine 3 is used to develop animated films and 3D training simulations for military, government and corporate initiatives.

“The 2008 NCTA 21 awards was by far our most competitive with an outstanding list of finalists and a group of award recipients who distinguished themselves through outstanding achievement and superior performance,” said Brooks Raiford, president and chief executive officer of NCTA. “I congratulate Epic Games for receiving an NCTA 21 award and for the passion to lead, innovate and create.”

“We’re honored to be recognized by the NCTA as an industry leader in technology,” said Dr. Michael Capps, president of Epic Games. “The other nominees are trailblazers in their respective fields -- for a game company like Epic to be singled out as the award winner is very flattering.”