Golden Joystick Awards – it's a sell out!

08/10/07 - Future, the UK's leading video games media company, is teaming up with the Entertainment Software Charity (ESC) to auction the final pair of tickets for the eagerly anticipated Golden Joystick Awards.

Both ticket sales and votes from UK gamers have been brisk in 2007, and organisers are promising the biggest year ever for the world's longest serving games ceremony, celebrating its 25th anniversary.

With more than 700 industry guests attending the sold-out awards ceremony, the only way to get into the Golden Joystick Awards on Friday, 26th October - is to bid for the final pair of tickets, being sold on eBay for the ESC.

Founded in 2000, the ESC was created to use the popularity of gaming to help give back to those less fortunate. The not-for-profit charity was established by prominent members of the gaming community to create a dedicated initiative programme to advance young people through play, training and education.

The charity auction sees the final pair of tickets being sold to the highest bidder. The winner will receive two seats at the infamous Golden Joysticks - from the morning champagne reception, through to the aftershow party.

This year, the Golden Joystick Awards are hosted by Peep Show's David Mitchell. The ceremony will be broadcast live on CVG ( www.cvg.co.uk), GamesRadar ( www.gamesradar.com) and NextGen ( www.next-gen.biz).

Organiser of the Golden Joystick Awards, James Ashton-Tyler, said:

"There has been overwhelming interest from the industry, press and UK gamers for this years Golden Joysticks and we are delighted to have sold-out in record time. If you don't have a ticket and want to celebrate with the biggest names in the UK, you'll need to dig deep for the ESC."

Mark Strachan, CEO of the Entertainment Software Charity, said:

"The Golden Joysticks are the awards ceremony for the UK Games industry and have been so for more than 20 years. The ESC is delighted to enjoy the proceeds of this auction and the funds generated will go to help the lives of disadvantaged children here in the UK."

For more information, visit www.goldenjoystick.co.uk or visit the eBay auction at: http://tinyurl.com/254r9z

ENDS

About Future

Future plc is an international special-interest media group with offices in the UK and USA. Founded in 1985 with one magazine, today it creates over 180 special-interest publications, websites and events, with strong portfolios in the technology, games, music, automotive and sports sectors. Over 130 international editions of Future's magazines are published under licence by publishing partners in 30 other countries around the world. Future employs around 1,300 people worldwide. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange (symbol FUTR).

For more information

Will Guyatt, Media Relations Manager, 01225 822517

About the ESC:

Founded in 2000, the Entertainment Software Charity was created to use the popularity of gaming to help give back to children less fortunate. The not-for-profit charity No: 1081706 was established by prominent members of the gaming community to create a dedicated initiative programme to advance young people through play, training and education.

The entertainment software charity works with hardware vendors, developers, software publishers, magazine publishers, retailers, distributors and logistics providers, all of whom give their time, input, resources and intellectual properties to help support charities committed to improving the future of young people. The charity is also committed to providing funding for a new City Academy in Paddington, London.

For further information please contact:

MARK STRACHAN

ESC

Tel: 07802 408133

Email: mark@strachans.org