These awards can be great for the industry but it would be good to perhaps run questionaires to ensure objectivity. For example, GAME comes up trumps all the time in the awards yet they have a falling share price now down to 80p from 2.23 a year ago and now 43 stores are closing with 247 job losses (MCV 25.02.10). With these issues how can they consistently receive top awards? with respect to GAME, they are following a set business model so unless new innovations are coming into play that we are not aware of surely nothing is changing so how are these awards judged? Further, the Oxford street constant nominations seem highly unfair. These large companies are in a priviledged poisition to afford these rents and many are not doing particularly well in these extortionate expensive locations but remain a focall point in the flagship sense but personally i do not feel this reflects the gaming/entertainment industry correctly. Many of Oxford Streets shoppers are tourists anyway not the true gamers as found in more non-tourist and general attraction areas such as Oxford Street.

Because Game are still the largest Specialist Games retailer in the UK. It'd be odd if they didn't get nominated for most categories.

Yes they've closed a few stores but thats only natural for a business in the current down turn. Costs must be looked at and reduced where ever possible. As many have pointed out, they have several stores in the same area's. It makes sense to streamline does it not?

Its nice to see the new accessories category this year as they do play a big part in this industry good luck all..!!

It does yes. But from an independant view, you have to remember there are 300 ish indies out there, that's equivalent to the whole of the Gamestation group, as we know, now owned by GAME.

With too much dominance by GAME, Tesco, etc we risk getting too much of one type of service when the indies are better placed to give a diversity of service due to each outlets differing nature. A lot of indies are driving new ideas forward-they have to to survive. It is these indies that should be looked perhaps rewarded- a little more.

We all look to up to the market leader(s) but being the biggest does not always mean "the best".

All i am saying is we seem to see HMV, Asda and GAME, for example, constantly rewarded when there are 300 ish indies out there that must be offering superb services and innovative ideas that are not being recognised or rewarded.

I know of several indies that i deal with and none of them are approached by any magazines for research into services and general info so they are struck off the list already arent they?

Which I believe, proves my point.

What you have to remember, Gary, is that we invite lobbying for a reason. We're not able to trace and contact each indie individually and grill them about their business model. We announce when lobbying is open and consider all nominations that we receive. It's not a surprise that the larger chains either lobby for themselves or are nominated by one of their business partners.

We'd love to run more coverage about innovative indies, but that's not possible if we're not aware of it. You, of course, would be an exception Gary - and I think your coverage in the mag has been pretty decent. If more indies made as much effort as yourself to get noticed then perhaps the profile of the independent sector would indeed be lifted.

Sure, not an easy thing to moderate no doubt. It would jsut be great to see and hear more from these indies and i know from my own experience coverage in MCV certainly helps raise profile.

Also, with my phone unlocking tech-support service ive been able to network with other indies that i wouldnt normally know of. This has created some friendships and has led to exchange of ideas and it is interesting to see and hear what these indies are up to.

Some ideas have been unique and paint an interesting picture on how the strong have survived and what they have done to do so. From selling bongo's yes thats bongo's real ones not gamecube ones! (JS you know who you are lol) to introducing phone unlocking these indies are sadly overlooked.

However, i do see your point though perhaps some kind of system to recognise the wider community could possibly help, such a feedback system of sorts. A leaflet could be placed in store for customers to leave their own feedback which then could easily be used to judge who truly is offering the best services and innovations.

Finally, as mentioned, and i cant stress enough how much good being featured in MCV can be and i still have close ties with several key suppliers i would not have either known about or been able to deal with had i not had this exposure.

So... get lobbying all you indies!

Sure, i do take that on board.

How about a feedback system for customers to leave opinions on a website that would be a sure way to vote for the best.

MCV has been good exposure for me and has helped with some key contacts i still deal with today. This would raise the profile of other indies too perhaps in the same way. :)