A new, very special category has been added to The Games Media Awards night – the Games Media Legend Award, sponsored by System 3.

This is one for the real pioneers of video games journalism. The winner will be drawn from the ranks of those who were laid the foundations for the modern video games magazine, at a time when the rules were unwritten and creativity was king.

Modern day writers, wild-eyed iconoclasts with challenging haircuts though they may be, still hold the early generation of video games journalists in high regard, and the Games Media Legend Award gives them a chance to hail their forefathers in a suitable setting.

The winner will be chosen by a panel consisting of some of Intent Media’s finest minds (the old ‘uns, essentially), and select members of today’s media elite.

System 3 boss Mark Cale commented: “I’ve probably had a few quite spiky arguments with all the names that will be up for consideration, but that’s because what they wrote mattered – even if it wasn’t what we wanted to read.

“What we had in common was the belief that it was all about the product. That generation was as passionate about gaming as I was – and still am. I look forward to bestowing this prestigious award on a writer who deserves to be called a Games Media Legend.”

Intent Media boss Stuart Dinsey added: “The Games Media Awards is all about hailing the very best in today’s market. But it feels right to acknowledge the names that still loom large over games journalism and who have inspired the current crop.”

The Games Media Awards take place on the evening of October 11th at the Soho Revue Bar. Gold Sponsors are Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony, Electronic Arts, Take 2 and Vivendi. Silver Sponsors are EA Sports, Koch Media, Guitar Hero III and 1C.