MCV AWARDS 2011: Finalists unveiled

Nearly 60 companies from across the games industry are nominated for prizes at this year’s MCV Industry Excellence Awards. Microsoft and Ubisoft lead the pack, with 11 and nine finalist places respectively.

From physical retail to digital distribution, via publishers and peripherals brands, the nominated firms from across the trade have been recognised for their work during the last 12 months.

No part of the trade is left untouched, with rewards for store-level staff right over to global games franchises. Key awards include prizes for Games Publisher, New Game Brand, Game Campaign, Specialist Retail and Star Store. New awards this year include Digital Retail Innovation, Best Use of Social Media and Digital Distribution Team – with

A diverse mix of finalists, from core established games businesses through to super-fresh brands and digital firms, reflects a strong and vibrant games industry,” said MCV Editor-in-Chief Michael French.

Such an array of finalists proves that for many it is still all to play for on the night. Congratulations to all that made it this far – you’ve deserved it.”

Here are the finalists in full:

RETAIL – Sponsored by Nintendo

INDEPENDENT RETAILER
Console Connections
Games Centre
MyMemory.co.uk
Seedee Jons
ShopTo.net
X Bite

STAR STORE
Barkman Computers
GAME Oxford Street
GameStation Hull
Grainger Liverpool
HMV Oxford Circus

DIGITAL RETAIL INNOVATION
GAME in-store DLC sales
Green Man Gaming
Dead Rising 2 DLC (Capcom)
HMV Pure
InComm Cards
Zavvi app

SPECIALIST RETAILER
GAME
GameStation
Grainger Games
HMV
Play.com
Zavvi.com

GENERAL RETAILER
Amazon
Asda
Tesco
Argos
Sainsbury’s

PR & MARKETING

PERIPHERALS & ACCESSORIES BRAND
A4T
Blue Ocean
Gioteck
Hubb
Pinpoint
Thrustmaster
Venom

NEW GAME BRAND – Sponsored by Premier PR
Alan Wake (Microsoft)
Art Academy (Nintendo)
Bulletstorm (Electronic Arts)
Dance Central (Microsoft)
Dance on Broadway (Ubisoft)
Homefront (THQ)
Kinect Sports (Microsoft)
uDraw (THQ)

TRADE MARKETING TEAM
Electronic Arts
Microsoft
Nintendo
SCE UK
Sega
Ubisoft
Warner Bros

BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
F1 2010 (Codemasters)
Fable III Kingmaker app (Microsoft)
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (Warner Bros.)
Just Cause 2/YouTube integration (Square Enix)
Just Dance 2 (Ubisoft)
Kinect Galleries (Microsoft)
PlayStation Access (SCE UK)

PR TEAM
Electronic Arts
Microsoft
Namco Bandai
Nintendo
Premier PR
Sega
Sony
Ubisoft

GAME CAMPAIGN
Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood (Ubisoft)
Call of Duty: Black Ops (Activision)
Dead Space 2 (EA)
Football Manager 2011 (Sega)
Halo: Reach (Microsoft)
Mario 25th Anniversary (Nintendo)
Red Dead Redemption (Rockstar Games)

MARKETING TEAM
Activision
Electronic Arts
Microsoft
Nintendo UK
SCE UK
Sega
Rockstar Games
Ubisoft

PEOPLE & INDUSTRY

DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION TEAM
Direct2Drive
Get Games
Good Old Games
Green Man Gaming
Kalypso Media
Sega
TripleACodes

HIGH STREET DISTRIBUTION TEAM
Advantage
Antigrav
Centresoft
Creative Distribution
Gem
Koch Media
Realtime Distribution

SALES TRIUMPH
Art Academy (Nintendo)
Deathsmiles (Rising Star)
F1 2010 (Codemasters)
Sniper: Ghost Warrior (City Interactive/Mastertronic)
Zumba Fitness (505 Games)
Mafia II (Take-Two)

SALES TEAM
Activision
Electronic Arts
Gem
Microsoft
Nintendo
Sega
Take-Two
Ubisoft

GAMES PUBLISHER – Sponsored by The Hut Group
Activision
Electronic Arts
Microsoft Game Studios
Nintendo
Sega
SCE UK
Take-Two/Rockstar
Ubisoft

SPECIAL AWARDS

MCV RETAIL ADVISORY BOARD: SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Dorian Bloch, Chart-Track
Darren Bowen, Ubisoft
Rosemary Buahin, Warner Bros
Darren Houghton, Gem
Penny Humphrey, EA
Paul Nicholls, Koch Media

GRAND PRIX
Our highest accolade, this special award is chosen by the MCV team. It rewards a UK brand or company that has seen commercial or critical success while supporting the trade.

The awards take place at The Brewery, Chiswell St, London on the evening of April 7th. To attend the event or enquire about sponsorship, contact Kathryn.Humphrey@intentmedia.co.uk or call her on 01992 535646. Ticket and table prices have been reduced for 2011.