Golden Joystick Awards 2008

22/09/08 – Future, the special-interest media group, is delighted to announce Scottish stand-up comic and TV star Frankie Boyle as the host of the 26th Annual Golden Joystick Awards – together with Virgin Media.

The Golden Joystick Awards take place on Friday 31st October at the Park Lane Hilton, London and organisers are encouraging marketing and pr departments to rally their loyal fans. With all UK gamers eligible to vote – companies are invited to promote the Golden Joysticks to their online communities – those who visit official websites, create their own fan communities, or post on forums.

Supporting this quest to secure additional votes for shortlisted products and increase the chance of scooping a prestigious Golden Joystick, Future has created a comprehensive EPK available to all eligible companies – designed to encourage gamers to vote at www.goldenjoystick.com.

Organisers hope the final month of voting will be further strengthened by industry support, rocketing the Golden Joystick Awards towards one million votes for the first-time. As the headline event of London Games Festival – the cultural celebration of everything gaming, the Joysticks are a major focal point – with attendance of mainstream media across the globe already confirmed.

With just a few tables remaining, almost 800 guests will be entertained at the event as Frankie Boyle takes time out from his sold-out tour to present the show, also streamed live at www.goldenjoystick.com and the Virgin Media website – www.virginmedia.com . Frankie first came to prominence when he won the Daily Telegraph’s Open Mic competition in 1996, launching his stand-up career. Since then he has racked up an impressive CV of TV work, including his infamous appearances on BBC Two’s Mock the Week.

Emma Parkinson, Organiser of the Golden Joystick Awards said:

“This year’s Golden Joystick Awards are shaping up to be the best yet, thanks to the support of our sponsor Virgin Media and Frankie Boyle signing up as host.

“The industry has always seen the Joysticks as a focal point of its calendar and long may this continue. Increasingly, it has become a focal point for mainstream press attention and a celebration of the games industry. As we aim for a million votes, we need the help of your fans and customers – make the wider world proud of our industry.”

The EPK is available from libby.latter@futurenet.co.uk. A limited number of tables are still available; please contact Scott Longstaff – scott.longstaff@futurenet.co.uk

ENDS

About Future

Future plc is an international special-interest media group with offices in the UK and US. Founded in 1985 with one magazine, today it creates over 180 special-interest publications, websites and events, with strong portfolios in the games, technology, music, film and active sectors including sports, automotive and crafts. Future exports, syndicates or licenses its publications to 90 countries internationally. The Company employs more than 1,200 people and is listed on the London Stock Exchange (symbol FUTR).

About Virgin Media

Virgin Media is an innovative and pioneering UK entertainment and communications business. For the first time consumers can get everything they need from one company - the UK's only quad-play of TV, broadband, phone and mobile, plus the most advanced TV on demand service, all delivered through its unique fibre-optic cable network. Virgin Media launched the UK’s first high definition TV service, is the only TV platform to carry BBC iPlayer, and offers a high-specification, HD-ready V+ personal video recorder. Virgin Media is the UK’s largest residential broadband provider, the largest virtual mobile network operator and the second-largest provider of pay TV and home phone.

Virgin Media owns two content businesses - Virgin Media Television (VMTV) and sit-up. VMTV owns seven entertainment channels – Virgin1, Living, Living 2, Bravo, Bravo 2, Challenge and Trouble - and is a 50% partner in UKTV which consists of nine channels including Dave, UKTV Gold and UKTV History. sit-up runs retail TV channels bid tv, price-drop tv and speed auction tv.

Virgin Media has been voted the sixth Most Loved Brand in Britain in a Marketing magazine poll, as well as having been voted the Most Trusted ISP Brand 2008 by Reader’s Digest magazine. The Sunday Times also awarded Virgin Media its 2008 Best Buy awards for broadband and movies on demand.

Virgin Media is the largest Virgin company in the world and has almost 10 million customers. To find out more visit www.virginmedia.com/presscentre.