Lego Batman scoops Children's BAFTA

Traveller's Tales' Lego Batman picked up the prestigious videogame prize at the EA British Academy Children’s Award last night, at a star-studded event in London.

The UK-developed title beat off stiff competition from Nintendo's Mario Kart Wii and Professor Layton and the Curious Village, and Warner's Guinness World Records: The Videogame.

"We're absolutely delighted; it's a very special night for us and the whole team," said TT head of production Jonathan Smith, speaking to GamesIndustry.biz at the ceremony.

"To get this acknowledgement, here in our home country of the UK, to be acknowledged by the British Academy for the work that everyone's done on Lego Batman, was really thrilling for everyone."

Smith also confirmed that the studio plans to release a new Lego title in 2009. Pressed on what it would be, TT Games managing director Tom Stone revealed it would be a brand new property rather than a continuation of the existing Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Batman lines.

Smith added: "I would love to be able to tell you exactly what we have in our plans for the years ahead. All I can say is we really are working on exciting new things that I think everyone will be very pleased to hear about when we announce them."

Snapped up by Warner last year, the BAFTA caps off a hugely successful year for Traveller's Tales, with Indiana Jones and Batman Lego titles racking up impressive sales.

Elsewhere at the BAFTAs, hosted by veteran broadcaster Keith Chegwin, Nintendo's Wii Fit missed out in the Kids' Vote category, which was won by TV smash hit Hannah Montana.

Speaking after the ceremony, a senior BAFTA source said the body plans to increase the presence of videogames in the Children's Awards in the future.

The British Academy Video Game Awards will take place on March 10, 2009.