The British Academy Calls For Entries & Announces Categories For Its British Academy Video Games Awards

The British Academy announced today the call for entries for The British Academy Video Games Awards. There are 13 awards categories and any game is eligible as long as it has been or will be released in the UK between 6 October 2006 and 31 December 2007.

Included in the awards categories - which have fast become the most recognised and coveted international games awards - are Action and Adventure, Sports, Innovation, Best Original Score and Multiplayer.

"The two new consoles, plus the continued growth in technology and homes connected to broadband have fuelled a further growth in games sales. The market has never been as innovative or dynamic," says Paul Jackson, Chair of BAFTA's video games committee.

This year, the Awards have been streamlined and the Children's Game category has been put into the separate BAFTA Children's Awards*. Last year the Academy almost doubled its previous year's 350 game submissions. This year, despite fewer categories, with increased global awareness and understanding of the importance and value of winning a BAFTA, the organisation is anticipating record entries.

All entries will be grouped into categories and voted on by the industry and BAFTA members. The highest-scoring titles will then go to a jury that will be chaired by a member of the BAFTA video games committee. BAFTA juries will judge the entries and decide on the nominated games and winners. The nominations will be announced on Tuesday 25 September and the winners on Tuesday 23 October at The British Academy Video Games Awards at Battersea Evolution, in London.

Entry forms and information on how to become a voter are available from the BAFTA website www.bafta.org/games. The entry deadline is Friday 6 July.

In addition to the 13 categories, this year will see the first Fellowship being awarded at the Video Games Awards. This is the highest accolade the Academy can bestow on an individual for outstanding achievement and contribution to the industry through a body of work. The recipient of this prestigious Award will be announced shortly.

The categories for 2007 are:

Action and Adventure

For games that are predominantly Action, Adventure or a combination of the two genres. This category includes RPGs.

Strategy & Simulation

For games that have a high degree of strategic elements where gameplay is centered around decision-making skills, and/or attempted simulations of real world scenarios. The kind of games covered includes management simulations, life simulations, flight simulations, and real-time strategy games.

Sports

For games that emulate the playing of traditional or fictional sports.

Multiplayer

For games or game modes that enable two or more players to interact simultaneously in a game world, either co-operatively or competitively (includes MMOs and small-number multiplayer modes of single-player games).

Casual

For games which are played casually, or on a more social basis. This would include puzzle games, music games, DVD games, social-networking games, card games and board games playable on a home computer or console.

Use of Audio

Rewarding excellence in the design and creative application of sound, dialogue, licensed music tracks and original score, combined to deliver an exceptional audio experience.

Original score

Rewarding excellence in original composition and production for a music score that significantly enhances the gaming experience.

Technical Achievement

For games that use the abilities of their platform's technology to maximum effect.

Artistic Achievement

For games that are delivering exceptional visual art and animation.

Gameplay

The ability of a game to captivate and engage a user's attention and provide a truly compelling experience.

Innovation

For technical or artistic innovation; games that have introduced groundbreaking techniques or creativity to enhance the user's experience.

Story and Character

For achievement in conveying compelling and original storylines and characterisation.

Best Game

For the year's best game.

The following Awards will also be presented by the Academy on the night:-

The BAFTA 'Ones To Watch' Award in association with Dare To be Digital

Dare to be Digital is the UK's premier computer games design competition for students. This year, the three winning student teams of games designers from this year's Dare to be Digital competition will comprise the shortlist for the new BAFTA Ones to Watch Award.

The Fellowship

The highest accolade the Academy can bestow for outstanding achievement and contribution to the industry through a body of work.

Further information from:

Amanda Slayton-Joslin or Laura Wilkinson

Trilogy Communications:

Tel: 0207 581 9255

Amanda@trilogycomms.co.uk laura@trilogycomms.co.uk

Notes to editors:

The Academy exists to support, develop and promote the art forms of the moving image, by identifying and rewarding excellence, inspiring practitioners, and benefiting the public. With an expert industry membership of more than 6000 individuals globally, the Academy focuses attention on the highest achievements of films, video games and television programmes shown in the UK each year in order to motivate and inspire those who make them, and to educate and develop the taste of those who watch or play them.

*BAFTA also recognises excellence in the fields of children's entertainment at its annual British Academy Children's Awards in association with EA. These Awards recognise excellence in film, television, video games and new media entertainment created specifically for children. The content is predominantly aimed at the core audience of 5-12 year olds, but there are also categories for pre-schoolers and some learning categories reach up to young adult level. Entry deadline is 12 July. The British Academy Children's Awards will take place on Sunday November 25 2007 at the London Hilton on Park Lane.

The following categories are open to the Games industry:-

VIDEO GAME

For video games specifically aimed at children. This category is not open to online games.

In the following categories, online games will compete with television programmes, DVD Rom, CD Rom, interactive TV, websites and DVD:-

INTERACTIVE

The primary purpose of entries should be to both entertain and inform.

LEARNING PRIMARY

The primary purpose of all entries should be to educate children aged 4-11 and support or complement the curriculum.

LEARNING SECONDARY

The primary purpose of all entries should be to educate children aged 11+ and support or complement the curriculum.

For further details on the British Academy Children's Awards visit the BAFTA website on www.bafta.org or call the Children's Awards Officer Lisa Prime on 0207 292 5820 lisap@bafta.org for an entry form.