Blitz and Rebellion win top trophies at TIGA awards

Blitz Games CEO Philip Oliver picked up Best Player trophy at the fourth annual TIGA Awards ceremony, which took place earlier this week.

"I am delighted and honoured to have won this year's Best Player Award, particularly as it is voted for by my competitors and peers in the industry," Oliver said.

"However, running a successful video game company isn't a one-man job and I'd like to thank everyone at Blitz for their continued hard work and enthusiasm."

The award for Best Developer went to Rebellion, which also scooped Best Handheld or Console Game for Miami Vice.

"This year we've grown into one of the biggest independent studios in Europe with the integration of the famous Core Design and Strangelite studios, launched our second 2000 AD-based and double BAFTA-Nominated game Rogue Trooper, completed GUN: Showdown with Activision and most importantly Miami Vice with Vivendi, so it's been a very exciting time to say the least," commented chief executive Jason Kingsley.

CTO Chris Kingsley added, "We've grown significantly over the past 12 months, with many internal changes, but weâve been continually focused on product quality, and especially on product innovation.

"2006 has been an excellent year and to win the TIGA awards is a great vote of confidence from our peers."

Other awards handed out at the ceremony included Best Console and PC game, which went to Revolution Studios for Broken Sword - Angel of Death. The trophy for Best Mobile Game went to Scottish developer Dynamo Games for Championship Manager 2006.

"TIGA has a community of developers who have grown to know each other and respect each other," said CEO Fred Hasson.

"It's one of the benefits of membership, and although in the early years we had to bully and cajole people into getting their forms and votes in, that part of the effort gets less and the number of votes goes up."