All hail the MCV Awards finalists

With just five weeks to go, the Finalists of the MCV Industry Excellence Awards

have been revealed

.

Retailers, publishers, distributors and developers are doing battle. Over 40 companies are still in with a shout of winning something on the night.

Apart from our Advisory Board Award, voted for exclusively by retail, the five Finalists per category are chosen by the MCV team, based on achievements in the preceding 12 months. We take trade soundings and invite lobbying, either from those who think they should be considered, or from those putting in a good word for a customer or supplier.

Not everyone can make it to the Finalists stage, but we would like to share some of the highlights that came up along the way.

Distributors Ideal and Creative, for example, both came within a whisker of going to the next phase. Both mobilised a hefty level of support from indies.

Well respected indie group (and Finalist) Grainger praised Ideal for providing competition to the likes of Gem, Centresoft and Koch. Several times.

Another dealer praising Creative added that: They extend credit. What more can you ask from a distributor?” Which reveals rather a lot about the current harsh realities of running an indie games store in the UK.

With just five weeks to go, the Finalists of the MCV Industry Excellence Awards

have been revealed.

Meanwhile, two members of staff at NCsoft felt the need to tell us how great Geoff Heath is. And he is. We know that. But sadly there isn’t a Best Boss category. Maybe next year.

And let’s hear it for the store that pushed hard for Creative’s Matt Brabbs to be recognised for his very fine work over the past year. Or maybe it was because of his dreamy eyes” that he scored so well.

Most heartfelt comment had to be from Sony: In a turbulent year, when we faced a relatively light release schedule and a hostile internet-driven backlash, the UK PR team kept their heads.” Those fanboys can hurt, you know.

So who will emerge victorious from a set of Finalists ranging from Ninja Games to Nintendo and Cooking Mama to Codemasters?

Don’t ask us. Well, not until Thursday April 10th at the Brewery, anyway. MCV is just part of a much wider Judging Panel – featuring retailers, suppliers, media and more. For now, the Finalists should bask in their achievement. In such a competitive community, any recognition deserves merit.

Good luck to you all. See you on the night.