UK games press honoured at best GMAs yet

The UK games press honoured its most talented writers at last night’s Games Media Awards. 

The hugely popular event returned to Vinopolis near London’s Borough Market last night, with more than 50 online and print publications and 30 journalists all competiting for the top prizes. Awards were collected before an audience of 350 people, including more than 200 media professionals.

Industry veteran Kieron Gillen was named Games Media Legend. Gillen was recognised for his long career, having written for a range of publications such as PC Gamer, Amiga Power, Edge, The Guardian, GamesMaster, and co-founding Rock Paper Shotgun. He was also championed for the respect he commands from peers, and his notable piece The New Games Journalism Manifesto. 

Other major winners on the night (see the complete list below) were voted for by a panel of judges that includes key media, games industry execs and PR professionals.

Edge was once again named Best Games Magazine, while Eurogamer retained its title as Best Games Website. Hookshot, Inc took home the award for Best Games Blog, while Digital Spy won top honours for Coverage by a Mainstream Website.

On the broadcast side of things, OXM Breakdown and The VideoGamer.com Podcast won the prizes for Games Video and Games Radio and Podcast respectively.

Top talent was recognised with Christian Donlan once again named the best specialist print writer and Simon Parkin honoured for his online talents. T3’s Matt Hill won best writer for a mainstream magazine, while The Guardian’s Keith Stuart took home the same prize for national newspaper.

IGN’s Keza MacDonald was named Games Writer of the Year, while NetworkN’s Steve Hogarty won Top Tweeter.

Gold Partners supporting the event included Xbox 360, Need For Speed Most Wanted, PlayStation, Wii U, Codemasters Racing, Metal Gear Rising Revengeance and NCsoft.

Deep Silver signed up as Media Transport Partner, Trion’s Defiance was Pre-Drinks Party Host, Hitman Absolution hosted the After Show Party and Nordic’s Wii Sing 80s ran the popular rockaoke entertainment after the ceremony. Far Cry 3 was reception partner. 

Meanwhile Gamescom and Indigo Pearl were event partners, with other sponsors including Green Man Gaming (Top Tweeter category), Precise (Coverage by a Mainstream Website), Sega (Games Writer of the Year), OnLive (Games Website) and THQ (Games Blog).

GAMES MEDIA AWARDS 2012: The Winners In Full

Games Magazine 
Edge

Games Site (sponsored by OnLive)
Eurogamer

Games Blog (sponsored by THQ)
Hookshot, Inc.

Games Radio and Podcast 
Videogamer.com

Games Video 
OXM Breakdown

Coverage by a Mainstream Website (sponsored by Precise) 
Digital Spy

Specialist Writer – Print 
Christian Donlan

Specialist Writer – Online 
Simon Parkin

Mainstream Magazine – Writer
Matt Hill

National Newspaper – Writer
Keith Stuart

Top Tweeter (sponsored by Green Man Gaming)
Steve Hogarty (@misterbrilliant)

Rising Star 
Matthew Reynolds

Games Writer of the Year (sponsored by Sega)
Keza MacDonald

Games Media Legend 
Kieron Gillen

This story was originally published on our sister-site, MCV.