Blitz scoop Tiga award
2005 Dec 15 Blitz Games Studios last night received the prestigious Tiga (The Independent Game Developers Association) Award for the Greatest Contribution to Games Development.
The Award, organised by Tiga and now in its third year is held in high regard and is growing in significance within the game development community. With votes being cast by an increasing number of fellow game developers, the Award clearly demonstrates a level of respect for the contributions made by Blitz Games Studios since its formation 15 years ago.
Andrew Oliver, CTO of Blitz Games Studios commented: "Whilst Philip and I are very proud to have received this reward, we do it on behalf of all our loyal and talented staff who are the real stars behind the scenes. It is only because of their efforts that we stand here today."
Blitz Games Studios has to date developed and released over 100 games and is currently working on a number of new titles for both current and next generation consoles, including the critically acclaimed Pac-Man World 3 which is due for release in Europe in early 2006.
Fred Hasson, CEO of Tiga added, "We hope that these awards will become the industry's equivalent to the footballer's awards where players vote for each other. Our members really value these awards precisely because votes come from their peers - people who understand exactly what it takes to be a successful developer." He continued, "We're delighted that Blitz has won - they are one of the truly great British development studios and we wish them continuing success."
For further information please contact:
Alison Beasley, Lincoln Beasley PR
T: +44 (0) 1608 645756
E: Alison@lincolnbeasley.co.uk
M: +44(0)7966 449130
www.lincolnbeasley.co.uk
_________________________________________________________
TIGA rounded off a hectic year with its AGM and Awards on Wednesday 14th December.
The AGM marked the 5th year of TIGAs existence, with membership standing at 113 companies – the highest yet.
The AGM debated and approved a motion to give statutory board representation to publisher owned studios. This is a departure for TIGA who were set up at the beginning of 2001 to represent independent development studios.
Since 2001 there has been a 40% reduction in the number of studios and many who have been bought by publishers have expressed a wish to remain members of TIGA – two good examples are IOMO who were acquired by Infospace and Swordfish who were recently acquired by Vivendi.
Moreover the work TIGA is doing on best practice has attracted the likes of Pivotal Studios owned by Eidos, Sony London and Cambridge Studios, and Codemasters to join recently.
The AGM voted unanimously to allow up to 4 publisher developers to be represented on the board The other board places are 10 Full and 2 Associate places for independent developers who retain a voting majority (nb there has never been a contested vote at TIGA boards).
The main attraction of the annual Xmas dinner were the 5 awards given to members and voted on by members.
The five award categories and winners were:
1. Best PC/Console Game developed by a TIGA member was a close call between Juiced, Buzz The music quiz and Rebellion's Sniper Elite which took the prize.
2. Best Handheld Console Game by a Tiga member was won by Exient's FIFA 06 who pipped Blitz's PacMan for the award.
3. Best mobile game developed by a Tiga member was the closest fought result with Championship Manager 5 Solo from Dundee outfit Dynamo Games, beating off Sensible Soccer by Kuju and Fast and Furious 3D by Juice.
4. The Tiga member Company to make the biggest contribution to the development sector, was won by the evergreen Blitz Games.
5. And the final Award for the Individual who has made the greatest contribution to the development sector went to TIGA's popular current Chairman Ian Baverstock of Kuju
Giving the prizes away, Tiga CEO Fred Hasson said:
"This is the 3rd year of the Tiga awards. The numbers of members nominating and voting grows every year so that this year we had a genuine hard fought contest. These awards we are sure one day will become the equivalent to the 'professional footballers awards'. The Tiga awards are about developers voting for their peer group (and competitors), which has to be the ultimate accolade – and a sign that the sector is maturing!"
The Award, organised by Tiga and now in its third year is held in high regard and is growing in significance within the game development community. With votes being cast by an increasing number of fellow game developers, the Award clearly demonstrates a level of respect for the contributions made by Blitz Games Studios since its formation 15 years ago.
Andrew Oliver, CTO of Blitz Games Studios commented: "Whilst Philip and I are very proud to have received this reward, we do it on behalf of all our loyal and talented staff who are the real stars behind the scenes. It is only because of their efforts that we stand here today."
Blitz Games Studios has to date developed and released over 100 games and is currently working on a number of new titles for both current and next generation consoles, including the critically acclaimed Pac-Man World 3 which is due for release in Europe in early 2006.
Fred Hasson, CEO of Tiga added, "We hope that these awards will become the industry's equivalent to the footballer's awards where players vote for each other. Our members really value these awards precisely because votes come from their peers - people who understand exactly what it takes to be a successful developer." He continued, "We're delighted that Blitz has won - they are one of the truly great British development studios and we wish them continuing success."
For further information please contact:
Alison Beasley, Lincoln Beasley PR
T: +44 (0) 1608 645756
E: Alison@lincolnbeasley.co.uk
M: +44(0)7966 449130
www.lincolnbeasley.co.uk
_________________________________________________________
TIGA rounded off a hectic year with its AGM and Awards on Wednesday 14th December.
The AGM marked the 5th year of TIGAs existence, with membership standing at 113 companies – the highest yet.
The AGM debated and approved a motion to give statutory board representation to publisher owned studios. This is a departure for TIGA who were set up at the beginning of 2001 to represent independent development studios.
Since 2001 there has been a 40% reduction in the number of studios and many who have been bought by publishers have expressed a wish to remain members of TIGA – two good examples are IOMO who were acquired by Infospace and Swordfish who were recently acquired by Vivendi.
Moreover the work TIGA is doing on best practice has attracted the likes of Pivotal Studios owned by Eidos, Sony London and Cambridge Studios, and Codemasters to join recently.
The AGM voted unanimously to allow up to 4 publisher developers to be represented on the board The other board places are 10 Full and 2 Associate places for independent developers who retain a voting majority (nb there has never been a contested vote at TIGA boards).
The main attraction of the annual Xmas dinner were the 5 awards given to members and voted on by members.
The five award categories and winners were:
1. Best PC/Console Game developed by a TIGA member was a close call between Juiced, Buzz The music quiz and Rebellion's Sniper Elite which took the prize.
2. Best Handheld Console Game by a Tiga member was won by Exient's FIFA 06 who pipped Blitz's PacMan for the award.
3. Best mobile game developed by a Tiga member was the closest fought result with Championship Manager 5 Solo from Dundee outfit Dynamo Games, beating off Sensible Soccer by Kuju and Fast and Furious 3D by Juice.
4. The Tiga member Company to make the biggest contribution to the development sector, was won by the evergreen Blitz Games.
5. And the final Award for the Individual who has made the greatest contribution to the development sector went to TIGA's popular current Chairman Ian Baverstock of Kuju
Giving the prizes away, Tiga CEO Fred Hasson said:
"This is the 3rd year of the Tiga awards. The numbers of members nominating and voting grows every year so that this year we had a genuine hard fought contest. These awards we are sure one day will become the equivalent to the 'professional footballers awards'. The Tiga awards are about developers voting for their peer group (and competitors), which has to be the ultimate accolade – and a sign that the sector is maturing!"
