GAMES TALENT RECOGNISED AT PRESTIGIOUS DEVELOPMENT AWARDS EVENT

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