MCV Awards 2014: Lobbying guide

The MCV Awards return on Thursday, April 10th. But the journey towards a prize starts with making your achievments known to us.

Here, we detail the criteria for each accolade and explain how you can get involved.

KEY DATES

Lobbying is open NOW.
Friday, January 24th: Lobbying closes
Friday, January 31st: Finalists announced in MCV
Thursday, April 10th: MCV Awards 2014 night

THE AWARDS

• Special Recognition
• Grand Prix
• Retail Concept
• Mainstream Retailer
• Independent Retailer
• Specialist Retailer
• Digital Retailer
• Digital Strategy– NEW
• Publishing Partner– NEW
• High Street Distribution Team
• Sales Triumph
• UK Sales Team
• Export Sales Team
• Marketing Team
• PR Team
• Games Studio
• Peripherals & Accessories Brand
• Events Team– NEW
• New Game Brand
• Creative Agency Team– NEW
• Media Sales Team
• Digital Campaign– NEW
• Trade Marketing Team
• Game Campaign
• Games Publisher

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

MCV hands out two special awards at the end of the night. The first, Special Recognition, is given to an individual.

Who is eligible?

Any UK-based person active in the games industry that has made a serious contribution and supported the trade. Important criteria include long-term vision and performance, attitude and efficiency and innovation.

How is this award won?

The winner is chosen by the MCV team, taking soundings from the industry. The winner is announced on the night of April 10th.

PREVIOUS WINNERS

2013: Martyn Gibbs (GAME)
2012: Rosemary Buahin (SCEE)
2011: Darren Bowen (Ubisoft)
2010: Roy Stackhouse (Activision)
2009: Andy Yates (Nintendo)
2008: Paul Donnelly (Gem)
2007: Margaret Pearson (CentreSoft)

GRAND PRIX AWARD

The second of these special awards, Grand Prix, is given to an exceptional games business or brand.

Who is eligible?

Any UK-based company active within the games industry that has enjoyed commercial, critical and innovation success, whilst showing highest levels of support and efficiency at trade level.

How is this award won?

The winner of this award is chosen by the MCV team. Nothing will be revealed until the awards night on April 10th.

PREVIOUS WINNERS

2013: CentreSoft
2012: Activision
2011: Ubisoft
2010: Microsoft
2009: EA Sports
2008: Nintendo
2007: Nintendo
2006: Sony
2005: Nintendo
2004: Electronic Arts
2003: Microsoft

RETAIL CONCEPT

Who is eligible?

This award is open to a single branch of any games retailer or a website that has created new ways to showcase and promote new and existing releases.

Judging criteria:
• Innovation and design
• Product presentation
• Sales performance
• Customer service
• Merchandising and compliance
• Marketing activity

How do I make my opinion heard?

All MCV readers can put forward a store by emailing a nomination toMCVlobbying@intentmedia.co.uk by Friday, January 24th with a brief summary of why you think it has had an outstanding 12 months.

PREVIOUS WINNER

2013: HMV Oxford Street

MAINSTREAM RETAILER

Who is eligible?

This award is for any large retailer – High Street, grocer chain or online – that sells video games, hardware and accessories as part of a wider product mix.

Judging criteria:
• Customer service
• Range and merchandising design and layout
• Commitment to street dates
• Games-specific marketing and promotional activity

How do I make my opinion heard?

All MCV readers can put forward a company by emailing a nomination toMCVlobbying@intentmedia.co.uk by Friday, January 24th with a brief summary of why you think it has had an outstanding 12 months.

PREVIOUS WINNERS
2013: Amazon.co.uk
2012: Amazon.co.uk
2011: Amazon.co.uk

INDEPENDENT RETAILER

Who is eligible?

All independent-oriented retailers – be they individual stores, chains (up to 20 stores) or online indies (up to 10m turnover) – that specialise in selling games.

Judging criteria:
• Customer service
• Product knowledge
• Range and merchandising
• Commitment to street dates
• Marketing activity

How do I make my opinion heard?

All MCV readers can put forward a company by emailing a nomination toMCVlobbying@intentmedia.co.uk by Friday, January 24th with a brief summary of why you think it has had an outstanding 12 months.

PREVIOUS WINNERS
2013: Games Centre (High Street) Simply Games (Online)
2012: Games Centre

SPECIALIST RETAILER

Who is eligible?

This award is for any large retail chain or online store (21 stores or more, or over 10m in turnover) that specialises in selling video games, hardware and accessories.

Judging criteria:
• Customer service
• Product knowledge
• Range and merchandising
• Commitment to street dates
• Marketing activity
• Vision & strategy

How do I make my opinion heard?

All MCV readers can put forward a company by emailing a nomination toMCVlobbying@intentmedia.co.uk by Friday, January 24th with a brief summary of why you think it has had an outstanding 12 months.

PREVIOUS WINNERS
2013: GAME
2012: ShopTo.net
2011: GAME
2010: HMV
2009: GAME

DIGITAL RETAILER

Who is eligible?

This award is for any digital store that sells software direct to consumers.

Judging criteria:
• Customer service
• Range and marketing
• Use of technology
• Ease of use
• Industry relations (including developer support)

How do I make my opinion heard?

All MCV readers can put forward a company by emailing a nomination toMCVlobbying@intentmedia.co.uk by Friday, January 24th with a brief summary of why you think it has had an outstanding 12 months.

PREVIOUS WINNER
2013: Steam

DIGITAL STRATEGY

THIS IS A NEW AWARD FOR 2014

Who is eligible?

Any UK-based games business – publisher, developer or retailer – that has executed on an innovative and commercially rewarding digital stategy.

Judging criteria:
• Commercial success
• Long-term vision
• Variety of range/offer
• Choice of business model
• Responsiveness

How do I make my opinion heard?

All MCV readers can put forward a company by emailing a nomination toMCVlobbying@intentmedia.co.uk by Friday, January 24th with a brief summary of why you think it has had an outstanding 12 months.

PUBLISHING PARTNER

THIS IS A NEW AWARD FOR 2014

Who is eligible?

This award is for any games business helping partner content creators, foreign publishers or developers successfully deliver their games into the market, digital or physical. Emphasis on UK market successes.

Judging criteria:
• Trade relations
• Maintaining partner vision
• Territorial reach
• Marketing strategy
• Reach and responsiveness
• Brand management

How do I make my opinion heard?

All MCV readers can put forward a company by emailing a nomination toMCVlobbying@intentmedia.co.uk by Friday, January 24th with a brief summary of why you think it has had an outstanding 12 months.

HIGH STREET DISTRIBUTION TEAM

Who is eligible?

Any distributor active within the interactive entertainment industry serving outlets large and small across the UK.

Judging criteria:
• Speed of service
• Order fulfilment
• Customer service
• Product condition
• Commitment to an orderly market

How do I make my opinion heard?

All MCV readers can put forward a team by emailing a nomination toMCVlobbying@intentmedia.co.uk by Friday, January 24th with a brief summary of why you think it has had an outstanding 12 months.

PREVIOUS WINNERS
2013: CentreSoft
2012: CentreSoft
2011: Exertis Gem
2010: CentreSoft
2009: CentreSoft
2008: CentreSoft
2007: Koch Media

SALES TRIUMPH

Who is eligible?

Any publisher – big or small – has the chance to snap up this award, which will highlight a new product that has achieved better than expected sales in the UK.

Judging criteria:
• Sales performance
• Product expectations
• Over-achievement
• Impact versus budget

How do I make my opinion heard?

All MCV readers can put forward a product by emailing a nomination toMCVlobbying@intentmedia.co.uk by Friday, January 24th with a brief summary of why you think it has had an outstanding 12 months.

PREVIOUS WINNERS
2013: Minecraft 360
2012: Zumba Fitness
2011: F1 2010
2010: Just Dance
2009: Fallout 3
2008: Cooking Mama
2007: World of Warcraft

UK SALES TEAM

Who is eligible?

Any UK-based sales team or specialist sales force, including in-house staff and outsourced service companies, that focus on sales inside of the UK.

Judging criteria:
• Product knowledge
• Depth of advance information
• Telesales customer care
• Trade relations
• Field sales reliability
• Sales performance

How do I make my opinion heard?

All MCV readers can put forward a team by emailing a nomination toMCVlobbying@intentmedia.co.uk by Friday, January 24th with a brief summary of why you think it has had an outstanding 12 months.

PREVIOUS WINNERS
2013: EA
2012: Ubisoft
2011: Nintendo
2010: Microsoft
2009: Sega
2008: Ubisoft
2007: THQ

EXPORT SALES TEAM

Who is eligible?

Any UK-based sales team or specialist sales force, including in-house staff and outsourced service companies, that focus on sales outside of the UK.

Judging criteria:
• Product knowledge
• Depth of advance information
• Telesales customer care
• Trade relations
• Field sales reliability
• Sales performance

How do I make my opinion heard?

All MCV readers can put forward a team by emailing a nomination toMCVlobbying@intentmedia.co.uk by Friday, January 24th with a brief summary of why you think it has had an outstanding 12 months.

PREVIOUS WINNER
2013: Ubisoft

MARKETING TEAM

Who is eligible?

Any UK-based marketing team or specialist company that has worked on more than one product or project within the interactive entertainment market over the past 12 months.

Judging criteria:
• Effective communication of product or brand messages
• Creativity
• Influence on sales performance
• Impact vs budget and resource level

How do I make my opinion heard?

All MCV readers can put forward a team by emailing a nomination toMCVlobbying@intentmedia.co.uk by Friday, January 24th with a brief summary of why you think it has had an outstanding 12 months.

PREVIOUS WINNERS
2013: Ubisoft
2012: Activision
2011: Nintendo
2010: Nintendo
2009: Nintendo
2008: Nintendo

PR TEAM

Who is eligible?

This award is open to all PR staff who worked on UK games campaigns during the past 12 months. Inclusive of in-house teams and retained or project-based agencies. Please name two or three key projects when lobbying.

Judging criteria:
• Originality and imagination
• Effective use of assets and creation of new materials
• Responsiveness and relations with the media
(Note: this prize is voted for by a panel of over 100 UK games media)

How do I make my opinion heard?

All MCV readers can put forward a team by emailing a nomination toMCVlobbying@intentmedia.co.uk by Friday, January 24th with a brief summary of why you think it has had an outstanding 12 months.

PREVIOUS WINNERS
2013: 2K Games
2012: Ubisoft
2011: EA
2010: Sega
2009: Nintendo
2008: Nintendo

GAMES STUDIO

Who is eligible?

This award is open to any UK-based team or studio (irrespective of ownership) making games for any format.

Judging criteria:
• Consistency of product quality
• Innovation
• Sales performance and use of business model
• Critical acclaim

How do I make my opinion heard?

All MCV readers can put forward a company by emailing a nomination toMCVlobbying@intentmedia.co.uk by Friday, January 24th with a brief summary of why you think it has had an outstanding 12 months.

PREVIOUS WINNER
2013: Traveller’s Tales

PERIPHERALS & ACCESSORIES BRAND

Who is eligible?

This award is for any company that designs, distributes and/or manufactures its own brand of peripherals and accessories for use with home consoles, handhelds or PC games.

Judging criteria:
• Innovation
• Quality of products
• Marketing
• Retail strategy
• Sales success

How do I make my opinion heard?

All MCV readers can put forward a brand by emailing a nomination toMCVlobbying@intentmedia.co.uk by Friday, January 24th with a brief summary of why you think it has had an outstanding 12 months.

PREVIOUS WINNERS
2013: Skylanders Giants
2012: Turtle Beach
2011: Gioteck
2010: Mad Catz

EVENTS TEAM

THIS IS A NEW AWARD FOR 2014

Who is eligible?

Any UK-based agency, internal publishing team or event organiser that has devised wholly new or expanded existing D2C/outdoor activity.

Judging criteria:
• Innovation & originality
• Reach and impact
• Marketing support
• Impact vs budget
• Influence on sales performance
• Influence on audience

How do I make my opinion heard?

All MCV readers can put forward a team by emailing a nomination toMCVlobbying@intentmedia.co.uk by Friday, January 24th with a brief summary of why you think it has had an outstanding 12 months.

NEW GAME BRAND

Who is eligible?

A new game brand introduced over the past 12 months that has made a significant impact at consumer level within the UK marketplace.

Judging criteria:
• Commercial success
• Long-term brand potential
• Innovation and creativity
• Marketing support and impact

How do I make my opinion heard?

All MCV readers can put forward a brand by emailing a nomination toMCVlobbying@intentmedia.co.uk by Friday, January 24th with a brief summary of why you think it has had an outstanding 12 months.

PREVIOUS WINNERS
2013: Dishonored
2012: Skylanders
2011: Dance Central
2010: Just Dance
2009: LittleBigPlanet
2008: Assassin’s Creed

CREATIVE AGENCY TEAM

THIS IS A NEW AWARD FOR 2014

Who is eligible?

Any UK-based agency or external contributor that has worked for a UK games business to deliver striking creatives and influential marketing activity that raise brand awareness and help achieve commercial goals.

Judging criteria:
• Creativity and innovation
• Effective communication of brand’s messages
• Influence on sales performance
• Influence on audience
• Impact vs budget

How do I make my opinion heard?

All MCV readers can put forward a team by emailing a nomination toMCVlobbying@intentmedia.co.uk by Friday, January 24th with a brief summary of why you think it has had an outstanding 12 months.

MEDIA SALES TEAM

Who is eligible?

The team behind any media product or brand that has raised awareness of key releases, worked with trade partners and innovated in promoting games.

Judging criteria:
• Effective communication of brand’s messages
• Creativity
• Industry collaboration
• Impact vs budget

How do I make my opinion heard?

All MCV readers can put forward a team by emailing a nomination toMCVlobbying@intentmedia.co.uk by Friday, January 24th with a brief summary of why you think it has had an outstanding 12 months.

PREVIOUS WINNER
2013: IGN

DIGITAL CAMPAIGN

THIS IS A NEW AWARD FOR 2014

Who is eligible?

Any game that was promoted via video, online display, social networks and/or community with strong messaging and commercial impact. Emphasis given to projects that primarily used digital.

Judging criteria:
• Choice of channels
• Effective communication of product or brand messages
• Creativity and execution
• Influence on sales performance
• Impact vs budget available
• Media strategy

How do I make my opinion heard?

All MCV readers can put forward a campaign by emailing a nomination toMCVlobbying@intentmedia.co.uk by Friday, January 24th with a brief summary of why you think it has had an outstanding 12 months.

TRADE MARKETING TEAM

Who is eligible?

This award is for any company or team that worked on campaigns dedicated to in-store and retail support, inclusive of trade advertising, POS, distribution and merchandising.

Judging criteria:
• Effective communication of product or brand messages
• Creativity
• Influence on sales performance
• Efficiency and customer service

How do I make my opinion heard?

All MCV readers can put forward a team by emailing a nomination toMCVlobbying@intentmedia.co.uk by Friday, January 24th with a brief summary of why you think it has had an outstanding 12 months.

PREVIOUS WINNERS
2013: Activision
2012: Bethesda
2011: Microsoft
2010: Nintendo
2008: EA
2007: Ubisoft

GAME CAMPAIGN

Who is eligible?

Any company that ran a significant marketing campaign in the UK supporting products or services within games. Media considered includes TV, online, radio, outdoor and print, plus trade.

Judging criteria:
• Effective communication of product or brand messages
• Creativity and execution
• Influence on sales performance
• Impact vs budget available
• Media strategy

How do I make my opinion heard?

All MCV readers can put forward a campaign by emailing a nomination toMCVlobbying@intentmedia.co.uk by Friday, January 24th with a brief summary of why you think it has had an outstanding 12 months.

PREVIOUS WINNERS
2013: Assassin’s Creed III
2012: Battlefield 3
2011: Read Dead Redemption
2010: Modern Warfare 2
2009: Wii Fit

GAMES PUBLISHER

Who is eligible?

Any company publishing games in the UK market that has achieved notable commercial or critical success and generally high levels of performance over the last 12 months.

Judging criteria:
• Sales development
• Product quality
• Trade relations
• Customer service
• Marketing agility

How do I make my opinion heard?

All MCV readers can put forward a company by emailing a nomination toMCVlobbying@intentmedia.co.uk by Friday, January 24th with a brief summary of why you think it has had an outstanding 12 months.

PREVIOUS WINNERS
2013: EA
2012: EA
2011: EA
2010: Activision
2009: Activision
2008: Nintendo

TICKETS & SPONSORSHIP

This year’s MCV Awards ceremony takes place on Thursday, April 10th at the Lancaster London Hotel. Over 600 games industry executives will attend this prestigious event. Guests are advised to purchase tickets or tables early, as this event always sells out in March. Prices start at 2,699 + VAT for a table and 275 + VAT for a single seat. A wide range of sponsorship opportunities are also available.

BOOK NOW AT WWW.MCVAWARDS.COM

Contact Kathryn.Humphrey@intentmedia.co.uk, 01992 535646 for more details on attendance and sponsorship.