GAMES TALENT RECOGNISED AT PRESTIGIOUS DEVELOPMENT AWARDS EVENT
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, Ubisoft and Crytek Amongst the Winners - Top Names in Interactive Entertainment Gather in London
Wednesday 1 September 2004/... The cream of UK and European video and computer game development talent flocked to London last night to attend the eagerly awaited Develop Industry Excellence Awards 2004. Run by the developers own industry bible, Develop, and now in the second year, they are the first awards to recognise both creative and technical innovation within the industry.
Ubisoft and Crytek picked up two categories each whilst Sony Computer Entertainment Europe scooped three awards for its new EyeToy and SingStar games as well as the prestigious Grand Prix title.
Industy veteran, Peter Molyneux collected the newly created Development Legend category, designed to acknowledge the UK or European individual who has made the most impressive impact on game development during their lifetime.
His first studio, Bullfrog, gave many of today's developers their big break back in the late 1980s and early 1990s and he is still at the forefront of the development community with his latest studio Lionhead. Best selling titles along the way have included Populous, Syndicate, Magic Carpet, Theme Park, and Black and White.
The sell-out evening played host to over 300 of Europe's leading developers and technical games talent. Held at London's Royal Garden Hotel the event was hosted by award-winning TV and radio broadcaster and journalist, Krishnan Guru Murthy.
There were 19 awards in all. The categories and winners in full were:
STUDIO TALENT CATEGORY - SPONSORED BY ELECTRONIC ARTS PARTNERS
New UK Studio
Winner: Swordfish Studios
New European Studio
Winner: Crytek
Mobile/Handheld Studio
Winner: IOMO
In-house Development
Winner: Ubisoft
Independent Developer
Winner: Crytek
Most Improved Studio
Winner: Starbreeze Studios
Business Development
Winner: Creative Assembly
INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY CATEGORY - SPONSORED BY NVIDIA
New Console IP
Winner: EyeToy (Sony Computer Entertainment Europe)
New PC IP
Winner: Far Cry (Crytek)
Use of Online
Winner: Bizarre Creations (Project Gotham Racing 2)
Art and Sound
Winner: Ubisoft (Beyond Good & Evil/XIII)
Innovation
Winner:Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (EyeToy)
Tools Provider
Winner:Criterion Software
Services and Outsourcing
Winner: Audiomotion
PEOPLE CATEGORY
Recruitment
Winner: Aardvark Swift
Development Team - Sponsored by TAPWAVE
Winner: EyeToy Team (London Studio, SCEE)
Publishing Hero - Sponsored by Macrovision
Microsoft
Development Legend
Winner: Peter Molyneux
Grand Prix - Sponsored by SEGA
Sony London Studios, SCEE
The Develop Industry Excellence Awards were designed to seek excellence in every facet of the UK and European development business, from new start-up studios to multi-team in-house developers, as well as tools providers, service providers and publishers. Judged in secret by a jury of 50 independent industry experts they single out those companies who keep this part of the globe at the very forefront of game development.
The Develop Industry Excellence Awards are managed and produced by Intent Media and Barrington Harvey.
For further information visit www.mcvuk.com or contact:
KATHRYN HUMPHREY
BARRINGTON HARVEY
Tel: 01462 456780
Fax: 01462 456781
Email: Kathryn@bhpr.co.uk
Issued by: Barrington Harvey, Troopers Yard, Bancroft, Hitchin SG5 1JW