Games Industry Hails Best Performers

Friday 7 April 2006/... The UK games industry this week applauded its hardest working and best performing companies at the fourth annual MCV Industry Excellence Awards.

Following on from its successes at the event 12 months earlier, Nintendo won the most individual awards on the night - namely PR Team, New Games Brand (Nintendogs), TV Campaign (DS) and Marketing Team.

Another big winner was THQ, which capped a fantastic 12 months in the UK by picking up Most Improved Company and the much sought after Best Sales Team award.

Sony Computer Entertainment, meanwhile, won the most prestigious award of all, the Grand Prix, in recognition of its commercial success, innovation and business management. Over the course of 12 months, SCE UK has overseen the launch of the PSP and taken it to a million unit installed base, whilst pushing the PS2 console up to historic UK sales of eight million. SCE UK also introduced innovative new brands such as Buzz! and further developed the Singstar and EyeToy lines into ranges, with a number one via God of War to boot.

Amongst the retail awards, GameStation just pipped GAME to Entertainment Retailer of the Year, with accolades also going to fast-growing indie ePlay, ever improving HMV, Argos and EUK.

SCI was a popular winner of the Unsung Hero for keeping a famous games publishing name British with its acquisition last year of Eidos.

Future's Edge magazine comfortably won Magazine Team of the Year following increased sales and strong editorial.

"The UK games industry is at the very cutting edge of gaming as well as being a commercial success with a worth to the UK economy of around £2 billion each year. We lead the world at marketing, retail, development and media within the sector. This year's winners should be very proud," commented Stuart Dinsey, publisher of MCV and managing director of Intent Media. "And with around 600 people in attendance, what a night! We're looking forward to next year's event already."

2006 MCV INDUSTRY EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS

RETAIL

Independent Retailer - ePlay

Entertainment Retailer - GameStation

General Retailer - Argos

Online Experience - Play.com

Most Improved Retailer - HMV

Retail Buying Team - EUK

PEOPLE & INDUSTRY

PR Team - Nintendo

Sales Team - THQ

UK Development Team - Bizarre Creations

Magazine Team - Edge

Distribution Team - Centresoft

Newcomer - Buena Vista Games

Unsung Hero - SCI

Most Improved Company - THQ

MARKETING

New Games Brand - Nintendogs (Nintendo)

Trade Marketing - Microsoft (Xbox 360)

TV Campaign - Nintendo DS (Nintendo)

Games Brand - Pro Evolution (Konami)

Games Publisher - Electronic Arts

Marketing Team - Nintendo

Grand Prix Award - Sony Computer Entertainment

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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).

For further information, please contact:

STUART DINSEY

INTENT MEDIA

Tel: 01992 535646

Fax: 01992 535648

Email: Stuart.Dinsey@intentmedia.co.uk

KATHRYN HUMPHREY

BARRINGTON HARVEY

Tel: 01462 456780

Fax: 01462 456781

Email: kathryn@bhpr.co.uk