Develop Awards: How to enter – Studio

Perhaps the most hotly contested prizes at the annual Develop Awards are those that reward the studios themselves.

Covering developers of all sizes, the re-organised Studio category gives companies the chance to celebrate their creative and hard-working teams, regardless of how many games they have worked on over the past year. There are even awards for brand new studios and smaller teams, as well as the leading firms that help such companies bring their games to market.

Below you’ll find the categories and criteria for the Studio awards. Alternatively, you can find the full guide on how to enter here.

Nominating couldn’t be simpler. In fact, we’ve boiled it down into four simple steps. 

• Write a short pitch of 350 words – remember to mention which award you’re nominating for.
• Provide five bullet points highlighting any relevant features or accomplishments.
• Add a list of links to any videos, images, music, websites and so on that support your nomination.
• Email your nominations to developawards@nbmedia.com before 5pm UK time on Tuesday, April 21st.

Once submissions are sent in, they will be vetted by the Develop Team and the finalists will be announced in a few months.

The Develop Awards 2015 are supported by Gold Partners UKIE, Amiqus and Unity, Table Gift Partner OPM and Event Partner Aardvark Swift. Unity is also partner for Micro Studio Award. 

The awards ceremony will be held at the Brighton Hilton Metropole on Wednesday, July 15th during Develop: Brighton 2015. To book your ticket now, contact Kathryn via khumphrey@nbmedia.com.

Contact aboucher@nbmedia.com or cnangle@nbmedia.com to find out about the opportunities available, both at the event and in editorial coverage before, during and after the Awards. 

The Studio category includes the following awards:

• Publishing Hero

• Micro Studio

• Independent Studio

• In-House Studio

• New Studio

And here is the criteria for each one:

Publishing Hero

Who’s eligible?

Any games publisher, developer, hardware manufacturer, platform holder or investor – from any country – that has supported UK and European games developers during the past year via the publishing, funding, distribution and/or co-development of new games.

Previous Winners

2014: SCE Strategic Content
2013: Kickstarter UK
2012: Valve
2011: Valve
2010: Channel 4
2009: Apple
2008: Nintendo

Micro Studio

Who’s eligible?

Any UK or European games developer – consisting of an individual or small collective of people up to a maximum of ten at the time of nomination – who have had significant original output in the past year.

Previous Winners

2014: Vlambeer
2013: Fireproof Games
2012: The Chinese Room
2011: Mojang Specifications
2010: Hello Games

Independent Studio

Who’s eligible?

Any UK or European games development company, staffed by 11 people or more, and which is not owned or managed by a publisher working on any available game platform. Applying studios should have had some significant output 
in the last year.

Previous Winners

2014: Bohemia Interactive
2013: Supercell
2012: CCP
2011: Crytek
2010: Quantic Dream
2009: Media Molecule
2008: Splash Damage 

In-House Studio

Who’s eligible?

Any UK or European publisher-owned games development company or in-house games development resource – including those acquired recently – with title(s) released for any games platform in the past year.

Previous Winners

2014: Rockstar North
2013: Boss Alien
2012: Creative Assembly
2011: Media Molecule
2010: Rocksteady Studios
2009: Rockstar North
2008: Rockstar North
2007: Ubisoft France

New Studio

Who’s eligible?

Any new UK or European studio that has had its first game commercially released – either via retail or digital distribution – during the past 12 months. Companies do not need to have been founded during that period to qualify.

Previous Winners

2014: Space Ape Games
2013: Playground Games
2012: Bossa Studios
2011: Mojang Specifications
2010: Hello Games
2009: Media Molecule
2008: Doublesix
2007: Realtime Worlds

You can find the full guide on how to enter here. Remember to send your nominations to developawards@nbmedia.com before 5pm UK time on Tuesday, April 21st.