Scottish games companies nominated for prestigious international awards
Scotland’s games sector has received a significant boost after three of its leading companies have been shortlisted for different awards in the forthcoming Develop Industry Excellence Awards 2010.
The companies, all based in Dundee, have been shortlisted for the prestigious international awards, which recognise the most talented UK and European games developers for their creativity, teamwork, and innovation.
Realtime Worlds has been nominated for Best New IP for All Points Bulletin (APB), its latest online title, as well as Best Independent Studio. Tag Games has been nominated in the Best Micro Studio category and Digital Goldfish for Best Handheld Studio.
The nominations will act as a major boost for the games sector in both Dundee and Scotland, where the gaming industry is still seeing signs of growth, despite the global economic recession. The industry currently employs around 1,000 people in Scotland but with some of the world’s leading talent based here, there is huge potential for rapid growth in the sector and for Scotland to capture a larger share of the £55 billion global games market.
Terry Hurley, Scottish Enterprise’s head of digital markets said: “Scotland has long been at the heart of the international games sector, developing highly innovative and creative content. Having three of our leading companies nominated for these awards is a major achievement and will help to raise the profile of the talent that exists in Scotland.
“The games industry is growing on a massive scale worldwide and changing rapidly as technology develops for mobile phones as well as online platforms such as Facebook and Web 2.0. One of the biggest challenges is keeping up with the pace of change but all three companies have demonstrated their ability to do just that and keep ahead of the competition and I want to wish them all the best of luck at the awards ceremony next month.”
Dave Jones, Creative Director of Realtime Worlds added: “It’s extremely gratifying to be nominated for a Develop Award, and testament to the creative talent that exists in Dundee when you have not-one-but-three studios amongst the nominees.”
Paul Farley, Managing Director of Tag Games added “We are delighted with our first ever Develop Award nomination in the micro-studio category. It’s fantastic that our industry peers have recognized the forwarding thinking approach to game development and self-publishing that Tag have championed over the past couple of years. The fact that Dundee has three nominees in the awards further strengthens our position as one of the best locations in the world to create games.”
Barry Petrie, Studio Director of Digital Goldfish said "To be nominated for the best Handheld Studio alongside some of Europes finest games developers is a fantastic achievement for Digital Goldfish and is a real testament to the hard work and determination we have put into building this studio. Dundee is a real gaming hub and having three companies nominated at one of the biggest award ceremonies in Europe solidifies this".
More information about the Develop Conference 2010 and the Develop Industry Excellence Awards can be found at www.develop-online.net.
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About Realtime Worlds
Realtime Worlds is one of the largest and most successful independent game developers in the world. Founded in 2002 by Creative Director David Jones with gaming industry veterans Ian Hetherington and Tony Harman, and joined by CEO Gary Dale in April 2009, the company has grown to more than 300 exceptionally talented staff. Realtime Worlds’ experienced teams have a tremendous history of creating some of the world’s bestselling video games, including the global hit franchises ‘Lemmings’ and ‘Grand Theft Auto’.
Realtime Worlds launched its first title, Crackdown, on Xbox 360 in early 2007. The debut game broke records for demo downloads, sold approximately 1.5 million copies, and won multiple awards including prestigious BAFTA and Develop Industry Excellence awards. Realtime Worlds is currently working on All Points Bulletin (http://www.apb.com), a persistent, online action game with a contemporary urban setting and themed around celebrity, conflict, competition and creativity. In June 2009 Realtime Worlds entered into an exclusive marketing and distribution agreement with EA Partners to bring APB to PC in Summer 2010.
About Tag Games
Tag Games is an independent game developer and publisher based in Dundee, Scotland. Tag has quickly established itself as a leader in the creation of games for mobile and digital download platforms. We have earned critical acclaim and commercial success with a number of varied titles including AAA iPhone titles Astro Ranch and Car Jack Streets and have extensive experience of game development for the most important digital platforms including iPhone, iPad, Android, PSP, Playstation 3, Nintendo DSi™, Blackberry, J2ME and BREW.
Tag’s reputation for flexibility, innovation and delivery is second to none, successfully balancing the creation of original IP alongside development of licensed and commission titles. Tag Games partners include Namco Bandai, Endemol, BBC, Connect2Media, Channel 4, I-play, Big Fish Games, and Virgin Atlantic.
About Digital Goldfish
Established in 2005, Digital Goldfish is an independent games development studio, formed in order to create original content for mobile platforms. Based at the heart of games development in Dundee, Scotland, we are a young and highly motivated company with a determination to provide only the highest quality games across iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Sony PSP, Nintendo DS and mobile J2ME platforms.
With an ever expanding portfolio of original IP and licensed content, combined with a network of key relationships with publishing partners and other development studios, we are perfectly positioned to fully take advantage of the rapid growth of the handheld market.
Games have included the number one hit in America Bloons iPhone, Bloons TD iPhone, Award winning Reach For The Starz and much loved mobile game Babygrow.
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