Developers ‘vital’ to video game BAFTAs

The organisers of this year’s BAFTA Video Games have told Develop that it is key for the British Academy to make sure that the creatives in the games industry – the developers – are on hand to receive their prizes during the October event.

Taking place on October 23rd, this year’s games BAFTAs are set to be bigger then ever with a big venue chosen for the night – Battersea Evolution.

However, the leaders of the awards want to make sure that developers are properly rewarded and want to make sure that the prize winning developers are amongst those in attendance.

"We want to make sure that as many of the actual creative elements of the industry – the developers – are there on the night," said Anne-Marie Flynn, head of awards at BAFTA. "The Awards wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for the studios that are at the core of the industry, and we want to ensure that they are not ignored. We want developers to know that the BAFTAs are just as much their Awards as anyone’s."

Added Paul Jackson, chair of the BAFTA games committee and director general, ELSPA: "It’s vital that the development sector are honoured by BAFTA and this year that’s something we want to make sure we get right. That’s not just in terms of the winners, but of the number of studios that attend on the night. This event rewards creativity and artistry – and studios embody those values perhaps more than any other sector of the industry."