GAMES INDUSTRY EXCELLENCE RECOGNISED AS TRADE MAGAZINE UNVEILS AWARDS SHORTLIST

Wednesday 1st March 2006/... Games industry trade bible MCV has this week unveiled the finalists for the MCV Industry Excellence Awards 2006.

The MCV Industry Excellence Awards, which recognise the most impressive performers across all sectors of the computer and video games business, will be handed out at on April 6th 2006, at a gala evening attended by 570 top industry executives. With just six weeks to go, the Awards Panel - which comprises 65 senior industry figureheads - has retired for its final deliberations, with this year proving tougher to call than any.

50 different companies have made it onto the shortlist, which spans 20 categories covering all areas of games publishing, marketing, development, retail and distribution. Electronic Arts scoop the most nominations, with eight in total - but THQ and Ubisoft, who have also enjoyed stellar years, are close behind with five each.

In the retail sector, Virgin Megastore's triumphant revitalisation throughout the last 12 months is rewarded with three nominations, equalling those for specialist retailers GAME and Gamestation.

"This year's shortlist reveals no-one can rest on their laurels," says Stuart Dinsey, managing director, Intent Media, publisher of MCV. "There's a dark horse candidate in almost every category - and, as last year's event showed, the Judging Panel, which comprises 65 of the industry's most influential executives, can be difficult to call. There'll be a few surprises on the night, of that you can be sure."

All will be revealed at the MCV Industry Excellence Awards at the Brewery on the night of April 6th 2006. The event is sponsored by In Game Advertising, RedOctane, Eidos, Play It, Nvidia, ELSPA and KISS FM.

The full shortlist is as follows:

Independent Retailer

Action Replay/Gameshop

Virtual Games

Ninja Games

Chips

ePlay

Entertainment Retailer

GAME

Gamestation

Virgin Megastores

HMV

Woolworths

General Retailer

Comet

Argos

Asda

Tesco

Sainsbury's

Online Experience

Amazon

Play.com

Game.net

Gamestation

Simply Games

Most Improved Retailer

Woolworths

HMV

Virgin Megastores

Play.com

CHIPS

Retail Buying Team

GAME

Gamestation

Virgin Megastores

Andromeda

EUK

Trade Marketing

Sony

Microsoft

Nintendo

Ubisoft

Sega

TV Campaign

Sony - Party

Nintendo - DS/Nintendogs

Pro Evolution 5 (Konami)

EA (FIFA)

Ubisoft (King Kong)

Marketing Team

Electronic Arts

Sony

THQ

Nintendo

Microsoft Xbox

New Game Brand

Buzz (Sony)

Nintendogs (Nintendo)

FIFA Street (Electronic Arts)

Juiced (THQ)

F.E.A.R. (VU Games)

Game Brand

Need for Speed

(Electronic Arts)

Pro Evolution (Konami)

FIFA (Electronic Arts)

World Of Warcraft (Blizzard/VUG)

Football Manager (SI/Sega)

PR Team

Ubisoft

Electronic Arts

Nintendo

Sony

Microsoft

Sales Team

Electronic Arts

Activision

THQ

Ubisoft

Sony

UK Development Team

Sports Interactive

Traveller's Tales

Bizarre Creations

Lionhead

Magazine Team

Edge (Future)

Xbox 360 (Future)

OPM 2 (Future)

360 (Imagine)

Pure PSP (Evolve)

Distribution Team

Gem

Centresoft

Pinnacle

Koch

Just

Games Industry Newcomer

Imagine Publishing

Black Bean Games

Buena Vista Games

In2Games

Giant/TT Games

Unsung Hero

Rockstar Leeds

(GTA: Liberty City Stories)

Team PlayStation (support and service to indie retail)

Capcom (Resident Evil)

SCI (Eidos acquisition)

Channel Advantage

(retail support services)

Most Improved Company

THQ

Codemasters

Capcom

NCSoft

Sega

Games Publisher

Electronic Arts

THQ

Sega

Ubisoft

Activision

Grand Prix Award

This award is presented to a company that has achieved outstanding success in the past 12 months, with the highest levels of innovation, ambition and service.

The MCV Industry Excellence Awards will take place on April 6th, 2006, at the Brewery, Barbican, London. Gold tables are already sold out - for other tables, please contact Kathryn Humphrey at BHPR (Kathryn.Humphrey@bhpr.co.uk Kathryn.Humphrey@bhpr.co.uk> ). Limited sponsorship opportunities remain - please contact Martin Defries at BHPR (martin.defries@bhpr.co.uk martin.defries@bhpr.co.uk> )

Ends

For further information, please contact:

KATHRYN HUMPHREY

BARRINGTON HARVEY

Tel: 01462 456780

Fax: 01462 456781

Email: kathryn@bhpr.co.uk kathryn@bhpr.co.uk>

STUART DINSEY

INTENT MEDIA

Tel: 01992 535646

Fax: 01992 535648

Email: Stuart.Dinsey@intentmedia.co.uk

Issued by: Barrington Harvey, Troopers Yard, Bancroft, Hitchin, Herts, SG5 1JW

Ref: MCV IEAW2006

MCV: The Market for Home Computing & Video Games is the weekly trade publication for all sectors of the interactive entertainment market. It is a member of the ABC (Audit Bureau of Circulations) and PPA (Periodical Publishers Association).