Nintendo scoops four awards at biggest ever industry shindig
A dozen different companies picked up awards at last night’s trade awards, but the event was still dominated by Nintendo.
The Japanese giant’s impact on the booming UK games industry over the past 12 months pushed it to victory across four award categories.
Nintendo won prizes for PR Team, Marketing Team and Games Publisher and then capped a very good night's work by becoming the first ever company to win the prestigious Grand Prix two years on the trot.
Another multi-winner was Ubisoft. It wrestled the Sales Team award from THQ, which had won this competitive and much coveted category on the previous two occasions.
Ubi’s Assassin’s Creed also just pipped Sega’s Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games to win New Games Brand.
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There were some familiar names amongst the winners, such as GAME winning Specialist Retailer for the second year running, Microsoft picking up Game Campaign with Halo 3 and Electronic Arts beating its rivals to Best Trade Marketing Team.
But there were also plenty of new names being handed awards by special guest comedian Simon Amstell.
Amongst these were Independent Retailer of the year Grainger Games, which has become a growing force on the High Street.
Zavvi, previously Virgin, won Star Store for the fine retail experience offered by its Oxford Street outlet.
Codemasters beat off stiff competition to win UK Development Team and 505 Games was a highly popular winner of the Sales Triumph award thanks to the stunning success of Cooking Mama.
A judging panel of 89 senior figures from all sectors of the industry chose the winners from a set of Finalists announced earlier in the year.
Photos and tales from last night, plus another full review of all the winners, will appear in MCV next week.
The winners in full:
RETAIL CATEGORY
Independent Retailer:
Grainger Games
Specialist Retailer:
GAME
Entertainment Retailer:
HMV
Online Retailer:
Play.com
Star Store:
Zavvi, Oxford Street
PR & MARKETING CATEGORY
PR Team:
Nintendo
Game Campaign:
Halo 3 (Microsoft)
New Games Brand:
Assassin’s Creed (Ubisoft)
Trade Marketing Team:
Electronic Arts
Marketing Team:
Nintendo
PEOPLE & INDUSTRY CATEGORY
UK Development Team:
Codemasters
Distribution Team:
Centresoft
Sales Triumph:
Cooking Mama (505 Games)
Sales Team:
Ubisoft
Games Publisher:
Nintendo
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Paul Donnelly (Gem)
GRAND PRIX
Nintendo
Comments
Ah nice of you to join us
MCV - how is your hangover this morning?
Re: Ah nice of you to join us
A great night was had by all. We'll leave it there!
Re: Ah nice of you to join us
Judging by mine, not great.
Re: Ah nice of you to join us
Nintendo, you are the greatest dancer.
Do your feet ache more than your head?
Re: Ah nice of you to join us
Are you YouTubing that fantastic opening video, or putting it up here later? :)
Re: Ah nice of you to join us
Hi mate. We certainly will be - should be online later today.
Re: Ah nice of you to join us
That video was a work of pure genius. Alongside the Amstell on Gamesmaster clip http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ezCSYdWFTKY" onclick="window.open ( this.href ); return false;" class="comment_url" >http://uk.youtube....WFTKY
and the uncomfortable silence that followed a back handed compliment towards a certain publisher's owner. God bless whoever put that in Amstells script.
Congratulations Grainger Games
Congratulations to Grainger Games.
I just hope that MCVs record of giving this award and the company closing down shortly afterwards, does not continue.
Awards video
that video's up online now...glad you all liked it :)
Re: Awards video
I remember the essex all stars, i was there at gamesmaster team championships in london when they were there. simon amstell lol..
Awards
Well done Grainger Games
Re: Awards
grainger games and game? wtf? is someone being paid?lol
and just to illustrate a point....went into game this morning to buy assassins creed...was 19.99 pre-owned last week, this week £29.99! i also went to see how much my £24.99 advance wars 2 ds would get...£6! lol....i think i would rather get £15-20 off ebay for it and then buy assasins for about £21 off ebay...lol....
game are so outdated!
Coincidence?
It was very impressive how well the award's sponsors did.
Re: Coincidence?
Erm, Bruce. SouthPeak Games. No nomination. Even after Two Worlds did so well (Sales Triumph award?). Gem. didn't get an award - an employee of theirs did.
However, you're right to an extent - Nintendo must have only won because they sponsored the retail awards (which my firm missed out on, btw). It's DEFINITELY got nothing to do with all that revenue they've sorted us out with. Or those 2.5 million+ Wiis they've sold. Or the continuing retail magic of DS.
It's a disgrace!
Re: Coincidence?
Bruce,
Thanks, as ever, for your post. Hope this helps give you a better flavour of a very successful night...
Aside from the Grand Prix Award – this year won by a very deserving Nintendo – all of the the MCV Awards above are voted for by a large independent judging panel of key industry members from across all sectors.
These votes simply couldn’t be massaged, tweaked or fiddled without hordes of industry members knowing about it – and getting very, very upset with us...
The Retail Advisory Board Special Recognition Award is the only other exception; chosen by a handful of UK retail’s leading games buyers.
All of this is a painstakingly transparent process, which we feel really sets these Awards apart. Actually, we're incredibly proud of it.
Thankfully, the trade recognises this fact – it’s actually a major reason WHY companies want their name associated with the evening.
Makes sense when you think about it.
Oh, and bravo whoever posted above under 'Nominated' - I echo your comments. Sorry to hear you missed out. Best of luck next year!
Long live Grainger games!
And the best dressed male award goes to...
Well done guys, truly deserving.
RE: And the best dressed male award goes to...
Best dressed male undoubtedly went to that very handsome chap going by the name of James... you know who you are... thanks for making our day :)
Re: RE: And the best dressed male award goes to...
THQ's James 'industry hunk' Dixon?
Re: RE: And the best dressed male award goes to...
Well done Grainger Games. No doubt their success has been greatly helped by the fact that they consistently ignore every release date for every major game, scooping up massive additional sales in the process by selling in advance of official launches. Case in point? I was playing Mario Kart all Thursday afternoon.
Re: RE: And the best dressed male award goes to...
Hi all - if you haven't yet relived the wonder fo the 'MCV Arms' video that introduced proceedings last night, you can find it on YouTube here. It's provided quite a few laughs already...
Re: RE: And the best dressed male award goes to...
Apologies - you'll have to copy and paste the above link in your URL bar. Happy viewing...
MCV Awards video on You Tube
Or just go to You Tube and search 'MCV Awards 2008'. Easier than all that copy and pasting malarkey.
You're all invited to the pub next year...
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MCV is the leading trade news and community site for all professionals working within the UK and international video games market. It reaches everyone from store manager to CEO, covering the entire industry. MCV is published by Intent Media, which specialises in entertainment, leisure and technology markets