*The Develop Awards are open to all organisations working in video games development with staff based in the UK or European developers who can demonstrate a strong connection to the UK (such as a UK-based publisher or strong UK sales).
Please read the full criteria for each category below before starting your entry. Entries must be written based around the criteria below. Entering is FREE of charge and you can enter as many categories as you see fit.
STUDIO CATEGORY
Major Studio
Any UK or European development studio with at least one standalone title released in the past year, or a highly significant update(s) to an on-going live game. The title(s) should have enjoyed both commercial and critical success over the eligibility period.
A major studio is one with more than 100 development staff, regardless of its ownership.
Entry submissions must address the following criteria:
- How many development staff work at your studio?
- Please provide a short summary of your recent title(s)
- Tell us about the ideas behind your game(s)?
- Why could your game ony have come out of your studio- how does it reflect your values and skills?
- Explain what’s innovative about your title(s)?
- What was the most unique or ground breaking aspect of the development proess of your latest title(s)? (new technology, production process, community engagement, speedy development)?
- Tell us about the critical and/or commercial reaction to your title(s)
New Studio
Any UK or European games development studio that released its first standalone title in the qualifying period. Its title(s) should have enjoyed both commercial and critical success over the qualifying period.
- How many development staff work at your studio, and how many of those worked on your key product(s) during the eligibility period?
- What’s the elevator pitch for your title?
- Tell us about more about the ideas behind your game(s)?
- How does your game(s) reflect your studio today?
- Explain what’s innovative about your title(s)?
- What was the most unique or ground breaking aspect of the development process of your latest title(s)? (new technology, production process, community engagement, speedy development)?
- Tell us about the critical and/or commercial reaction to your title(s)
Indie Studio
Any UK or European development studio with at least one standalone title released in the past year, or a highly significant update(s) to an on-going live game. The title(s) should have enjoyed both commercial and critical success over the eligibility period.
For our purposes, an Indie studio is one with less than 100 development staff, regardless of ownership. Providing it is not receiving significant external development support from a parent organisation – in which case please apply in the Major category.
Entry submissions must address the following criteria:
- How many development staff work at your studio?
- Please provide a short summary of your recent title
- Tell us about the ideas behind your game(s)?
- Why could your game only have come out of your studio – how does it reflect your values and skills?
- Explain what’s innovative about your title(s)?
- What was the most unique or ground breaking aspect of the development process of your latest title(s)? (new technology, production process, community engagement, speedy development)?
- Tell us about the critical and/or commercial reaction to your title(s)
Studio of the Year
Any UK or European development studio with at least one standalone title released in the past year. Its title(s) should have enjoyed huge commercial and/or critical success, and be seen as one of the standout titles of the qualifying period.
Entry submissions must address the following criteria:
- How many development staff work at your studio, and how many of those worked on your key product(s) during the eligibility period?
- What’s the elevator pitch for your title?
- Tell us about more about the ideas behind your game(s)?
- How does your game(s) reflect your studio today?
- Explain what’s innovative about your title(s)?
- What was the most unique or ground breaking aspect of the development process of your latest title(s)? (new technology, production process, community engagement, speedy development)?
- Tell us about the critical and/or commercial reaction to your title(s)
CREATIVE CATEGORY
Animation
Any UK or European development studio that has demonstrated particularly impressive use of 2D or 3D animation – keyframed, motion captured, or a mixture of the two – in a game it has released during the past year.
Entry submissions must address the following criteria:
- Please confirm the name of the title that you are entering as you would like it to be listed on the Develop Awards shortlist
- What is the elevator pitch for your title?
- How many staff worked on the animation of the title?
- How did your work support the overall objectives of the title?
- What inspired your team when approaching this title?
- What is particularly outstanding or innovative about your work in this title?
Music Design
Any UK or European development studio that has demonstrated remarkable use of music in their game(s) released in the last twelve months. Use of licensed and original tracks can be taken into account. Music design will be judged on consistency, integration with a game’s tone/setting and memorability.
Entry submissions must address the following criteria:
- Please confirm the name of the title that you are entering as you would like it to be listed on the Develop Awards shortlist
- What is the elevator pitch for your title?
- How many staff worked on the music design of the title?
- How did your work support the overall objectives of the title?
- What inspired your team when approaching this title?
- What is particularly outstanding or innovative about your work in this title?
Writing and Narrative Design
Any UK or European development studio that has made clear efforts to further, or experiment with, storytelling in games. Examples of excellent dialogue as well as other narrative design elements, including story arcs and environmental storytelling, are all worthy of nomination.
- Please confirm the name of the title that you are entering as you would like it to be listed on the Develop Awards shortlist
- What is the elevator pitch for your title?
- How many staff worked on the writing & narrative design of the title?
- How did your work support the overall objectives of the title?
- What inspired your team when approaching this title?
- What is particularly outstanding or innovative about your work in this title?
Visual Design
Any UK or European development studio that has demonstrated impressive graphical and/or distinct, iconic design work in a game it has released during the past year. A striking art style, commitment to realism or technical proficiency are all worthy of nomination.
Entry submissions must address the following criteria:
- Please confirm the name of the title that you are entering as you would like it to be listed on the Develop Awards shortlist
- What is the elevator pitch for your title?
- How many staff worked on the visual design of the title?
- How did your work support the overall objectives of the title?
- What inspired your team when approaching this title?
- What is particularly outstanding or innovative about your work in this title?
Sound Design
Any UK or European development studio that has demonstrated pitch-perfect audio design in its games released during the past year. This refers to all non-musical audio design in the game. We’re looking for notable use of foley to enhance atmosphere, character and player experience.
Entry submissiosn must address the following criteria:
- Please confirm the name of the title that you are entering as you would like it to be listed on the Develop Awards shortlist
- What is the elevator pitch for your title?
- How many staff worked on the sound design of the title?
- How did your work support the overall objectives of the title?
- What inspired your team when approaching this title?
- What is particularly outstanding or innovative about your work in this title?
Gameplay Innovation
Any UK or European development studio that has devised a ground-breaking gameplay experience, either within the structure of an existing genre or something more experimental. Ingenious mechanics, new ways to exploit technology or fresh approaches to multiplayer, would all be worthy of nomination.
Entry submissions must address the following criteria:
- Please confirm the name of the title that you are entering as you would like it to be listed on the Develop Awards shortlist
- What is the elevator pitch for your title?
- How many staff worked on the writing & narrative design of the title?
- How did your work support the overall objectives of the title?
- What inspired your team when approaching this title?
- What is particularly outstanding or innovative about your work in this title?
BUSINESS CATEGORY
Recruitment Agency
Any UK or European development company working in the field of recruitment that has demonstrably served the needs of the development community over the last 12 months. This is for external agencies only, not internal HR departments.
Entry submissions must address the following criteria:
- Tell us about your core business during the eligibility period
- Tell us about any new initiatives you’ve undertaken during the eligibility period
- Share with us an anecdote about your best placement during the eligibility period
- Please provide up to three studio/client testimonials from clients you’ve worked with during the eligibility period
Publishing Hero
Any games publisher or platform-holder – that has supported UK and European games developers during the past year via the publishing, funding and distribution of new games.
Entry submissions must address the following criteria:
- Please give us an overview of your core publishing activities this year
- Tell us about any new initiatives or innovations you made use of this year, in any aspect of your business
- How do you go about choosing the games that you publish?
- Please describe in depth one title that you’re particularly proud of bringing to market, and why
- Please provide up to three developer testimonials
THE SERVICES CATEGORY
QA and Localisation
This award is open to any UK or European company that has contributed significantly to usability, testing and localisation of games, providing these have been released or actively developed in the past 12 months
Entry submissions must address the following criteria:
- Tell us about your core business during the eligibility period
- Tell us about any new initiatives or innovations you made use of this year, in any aspect of your business
- How have your relationships with new and established clients evolved over the last year
- Please describe in depth one title that you’re particularly proud of helping bring to market, and why
- Please provide up to three developer or publisher testimonials
Creative Outsourcer- Audio
Any creative outsourcer or studio – including individual external contractors – that has provided audio assets for an individual project released in the last 12 months or contributed to the game’s development. For example, with voice acting, music or sound effects.
Entry submissions must address the following criteria:
- Tell us about your core business during the eligibility period
- Tell us about any new initiatives or innovations you made use of this year, in any aspect of your business
- How have your relationships with new and established clients evolved over the last year
- Please describe in depth one title that you’re particularly proud of helping bring to market, and why
- Please provide up to three developer or publisher testimonials
Technology Provider
This award is open to any company, of any nationality, that provides hardware and technological support to UK and European developers, whether in the form of motion capture tools and dev kits or microprocessors and server infrastructure.
Entry submissions must address the following criteria:
- Tell us about your core business during the eligibility period
- How has your product and services range grown over the last year
- How have your relationships with new and established clients evolved over the last year
- Please describe in depth one title that you’re particularly proud of helping bring to market, and why
- Please provide up to three developer testimonials
Engine
This is an award for the best third-party engines. It’s open to any engine, regardless of where it is made, that has enhanced the work of UK or European games development teams in the past year. Weight is given to new versions or significant upgrades.
Entry submissions must address the following criteria:
- Tell us about your core business during the eligibility period
- Tell us about any new initiatives or innovations that have impacted your developer community over the last year
- How has the development community’s interest in your engine changed over the last year
- Please describe in depth one title built in your engine that you’re particularly proud of, and why
- Please provide up to three developer testimonials
Creative Outsourcer- Visual + Development
Any creative outsourcer or studio – including individual external contractors – that has provided visual or game assets for an individual project released in the last 12 months or contributed to the game’s development. For example, by porting or creating select sections of the game.
Entry submissions must address the following criteria:
- Tell us about your core business during the eligibility period
- Tell us about any new initiatives or innovations you made use of this year, in any aspect of your business
- How have your relationships with new and established clients evolved over the last year
- Please describe in depth one title that you’re particularly proud of helping bring to market, and why
- Please provide up to three developer or publisher testimonials
THE INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
The awards below are not to be entered. Winners will be chosen by the MCV team.
Develop Legend
The winner of this award is an individual who has made a significant impact on games development – in a commercial, creative or technological sense – during their lifetime and career. This award is chosen by the MCV team.
Vanguard Award
The winner of this award is an individual who has blazed a trail in games development in recent years that will inspire others to follow them – be that in a commercial, creative or technological sense. This award is chosen by the MCV team.
The award below is not to be entered. Winners will be chosen by the MCV team and Aardvark Swift .
Rising Star
Working with recruitment agency Aardvark Swift, this award recognises the next-generation of undergraduate games talent. This award is chosen by MCV and Aardvark Swift.
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