Rebellion picks up Tiga's game of the year award

Rebellion has picked up the award for best PC/console game developed by a Tiga member for Sniper Elite at the developer association's annual awards ceremony.

According to Tiga, Sniper Elite faced tough competition in the shape of THQ racer Juiced and music quiz Buzz. The award for best handheld game went to Exient for FIFA 06, with Blitz's Pac-Man a strong runner up, while best mobile game was awarded to Championship Manager 5 Solo from Dundee studio Dynamo games.

Blitz received the award for making the biggest contribution to the development sector, and the individual contribution award went to Tiga's current chairman, Ian Baverstock, of Kuju Games.

Tiga CEO Fred Hasson, who handed out the prizes, stated: "This is the 3rd year of the Tiga awards. The numbers of members nominating and voting grows every year so that this year we had a genuine hard fought contest."

"These awards we are sure one day will become the equivalent to the 'professional footballers awards'. The Tiga awards are about developers voting for their peer group (and competitors), which has to be the ultimate accolade - and a sign that the sector is maturing."

Tiga was established to represent independent development studios at the start of 2001, and now has 113 member companies. The association says that many independents who have been bought up by publishers have asked to remain members, such as Infospace and Swordfish - recently acquired by Vivendi.

As a result, Tiga's AGM voted unanimously to allow up to four publisher-developers to be represented on the board. The board's independent studios will retain their voting majority.