GAMES INDUSTRY EXCELLENCE RECOGNISED AS TRADE MAGAZINE UNVEILS AWARDS SHORTLIST
MCV Reveals Companies Contesting Ultimate Industry Accolades
Wednesday 1st March 2006/... Games industry trade bible MCV has this week unveiled the finalists for the MCV Industry Excellence Awards 2006.

The MCV Industry Excellence Awards, which recognise the most impressive performers across all sectors of the computer and video games business, will be handed out at on April 6th 2006, at a gala evening attended by 570 top industry executives. With just six weeks to go, the Awards Panel – which comprises 65 senior industry figureheads – has retired for its final deliberations, with this year proving tougher to call than any.

50 different companies have made it onto the shortlist, which spans 20 categories covering all areas of games publishing, marketing, development, retail and distribution. Electronic Arts scoop the most nominations, with eight in total – but THQ and Ubisoft, who have also enjoyed stellar years, are close behind with five each.

In the retail sector, Virgin Megastore's triumphant revitalisation throughout the last 12 months is rewarded with three nominations, equalling those for specialist retailers GAME and Gamestation.

"This year's shortlist reveals no-one can rest on their laurels," says Stuart Dinsey, managing director, Intent Media, publisher of MCV. "There's a dark horse candidate in almost every category – and, as last year's event showed, the Judging Panel, which comprises 65 of the industry's most influential executives, can be difficult to call. There'll be a few surprises on the night, of that you can be sure."

All will be revealed at the MCV Industry Excellence Awards at the Brewery on the night of April 6th 2006. The event is sponsored by In Game Advertising, RedOctane, Eidos, Play It, Nvidia, ELSPA and KISS FM.

The full shortlist is as follows:

Independent Retailer
Action Replay/Gameshop
Virtual Games
Ninja Games
Chips
ePlay

Entertainment Retailer
GAME
Gamestation
Virgin Megastores
HMV
Woolworths

General Retailer
Comet
Argos
Asda
Tesco
Sainsbury's

Online Experience
Amazon
Play.com
Game.net
Gamestation
Simply Games

Most Improved Retailer
Woolworths
HMV
Virgin Megastores
Play.com
CHIPS

Retail Buying Team
GAME
Gamestation
Virgin Megastores
Andromeda
EUK

Trade Marketing
Sony
Microsoft
Nintendo
Ubisoft
Sega

TV Campaign
Sony – Party
Nintendo - DS/Nintendogs
Pro Evolution 5 (Konami)
EA (FIFA)
Ubisoft (King Kong)

Marketing Team
Electronic Arts
Sony
THQ
Nintendo
Microsoft Xbox

New Game Brand
Buzz (Sony)
Nintendogs (Nintendo)
FIFA Street (Electronic Arts)
Juiced (THQ)
F.E.A.R. (VU Games)

Game Brand
Need for Speed
(Electronic Arts)
Pro Evolution (Konami)
FIFA (Electronic Arts)
World Of Warcraft (Blizzard/VUG)
Football Manager (SI/Sega)

PR Team
Ubisoft
Electronic Arts
Nintendo
Sony
Microsoft

Sales Team
Electronic Arts
Activision
THQ
Ubisoft
Sony

UK Development Team
Sports Interactive
Traveller's Tales
Bizarre Creations
Lionhead

Magazine Team
Edge (Future)
Xbox 360 (Future)
OPM 2 (Future)
360 (Imagine)
Pure PSP (Evolve)

Distribution Team
Gem
Centresoft
Pinnacle
Koch
Just

Games Industry Newcomer
Imagine Publishing
Black Bean Games
Buena Vista Games
In2Games
Giant/TT Games

Unsung Hero
Rockstar Leeds
(GTA: Liberty City Stories)
Team PlayStation (support and service to indie retail)
Capcom (Resident Evil)
SCI (Eidos acquisition)
Channel Advantage
(retail support services)

Most Improved Company
THQ
Codemasters
Capcom
NCsoft
Sega

Games Publisher
Electronic Arts
THQ
Sega
Ubisoft
Activision

Grand Prix Award
This award is presented to a company that has achieved outstanding success in the past 12 months, with the highest levels of innovation, ambition and service.

The MCV Industry Excellence Awards will take place on April 6th, 2006, at the Brewery, Barbican, London. Gold tables are already sold out