Hello Games wins 2 awards

Guildford-based Joe Danger developer Hello Games has won two Develop awards, taking home the prizes for Best New Studio and Best Micro-Studio at a ceremony in Brighton, UK, last night.

The company, which recently released its title on the PlayStation Network, was set up by Sean Murray - who funded the four-man studio by selling his own house - with sales of the bike racing game revealed to have made the project break-even in the first week after launch.

Elsewhere Unity Technologies were awarded the Grand Prix and Technical Innovation prizes for its work on the Unity middleware engine, while Rovio won Bext New Download IP for iPhone title Angry Birds.

Andrew and Paul Gower, founders of Jagex, were recognised with a Development Legends award, while Quantic Dream and Rocksteady Studios picked up the Independent Studio and Best New IP respectively, with the latter also being awarded the In-House Studio prize as well.

Channel 4 was given the Publishing Hero prize, for "massive investments in the UK indie development industry."

The full list is as follows:

• Best New IP: Heavy Rain (Quantic Dream)
• Best New Download IP: Angry Birds  (Rovio)
• Best Use of a Licence or IP: Batman: Arkham Asylum (Rocksteady Studios)
• Visual Arts: Split/Second (Black Rock Studio)
• Audio Accomplishment: DJ Hero  (FreeStyleGames)
• Publishing Hero: Channel 4
• Technical Innovation: Unity Engine (Unity Technologies)
• Tools Provider: Hansoft
• Engine: Unreal Engine 3
• Services: Testology
• Audio Outsourcer: Side
• Visual Outsourcer: Axis Animation
• Recruitment Company: Amiqus
• Best New Studio: Hello Games
• Micro Studio: Hello Games
• Handheld Studio: SCE Cambridge
• Business Development: Sony XDev
• In-House Studio: Rocksteady Studios
• Independent Studio: Quantic Dream
• Development Legend: Andrew Gower & Paul Gower (Jagex)
• Grand Prix: Unity Technologies