The MCV Awards return on Thursday, March 3rd 2016. But the journey towards a prize starts with making your achievements known to us.
Here, we detail the criteria for each accolade and explain how you can get involved. And read carefully – we’ve changed a number of categories, how they are judged and what materials you need to submit. For even more details, visit www.mcvawards.com.
THE AWARDS
Specialist Retailer
Mainstream Retailer
Independent Retailer
New Games Brand
Sales Triumph
Buying Team
Peripherals and Accessories Brand
Marketing Team
Digital Marketing Team
Trade Marketing Team
PR Team
Agency Team
Community Team
Distribution Team
Events Team
Export Team
Media Team
Sales Team
Indie Games Label
Game Campaign
Games Publisher
SPECIAL AWARDS
Store Manager of the Year
Unsung Hero
Person of the Year
KEY DATES
Lobbying is open NOW
Wednesday, December 16th: Lobbying closes
Thursday, January 7th: Finalists announced in MCV
Thursday, March 3rd: MCV Awards 2016 night
HOW ARE THE AWARDS JUDGED?
For the 21 main awards we will be assembling specific panels with specialism/interest in key fields – retail, marketing, publishing, development and so on – to judge groups of awards either via email or face-to-face (schedules depending).
All judges will be invited to read the supplied lobbying/entry documents, so please mark up if any confidential information MUST NOT be passed on.
Store Manager of the Year, Unsung Hero and Person of the Year are selected by MCV after soundings from the games industry. Please put forward any recommended person for these prizes.
SPECIALIST RETAILER
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Any specialist games retailer – digital, online or physical, or a combination thereof – which champions video games and offers a wide range of products.
JUDGING CRITERIA
HOW DO I ENTER?
You can enter by emailing MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com with ‘Games Retailer: [YOUR NAME]’ in the subject. We require information on how your brand excelled in the listed criteria in the last year. Please provide any relevant commentary, timeline, images/assets, and/or stats and figures you feel necessary to support this nomination.
HOW DO I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION?
We will also take on board any lobbying or recommendations you want to make for a partner, competitor – or someone you just admire. Email your suggestion to MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com. Make sure the subject says ‘Games Retailer’.
DEADLINE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16th.
MAINSTREAM RETAILER – NEW AWARD
Who is eligible?
This award is for any large retailer – High Street, grocer chain or online – that sells video games, hardware and accessories as part of a wider product mix.
JUDGING CRITERIA
• Customer service
• Range and merchandising design and layout
• Commitment to street dates
• Games-specific marketing and promotional activity
• Innovation
HOW DO I ENTER?
You can enter by emailing MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com with ‘Mainstream Retailer: [YOUR NAME]’ in the subject. We require information on how your brand excelled in the listed criteria in the last year. Please provide any relevant commentary, timeline, images/assets, and/or stats and figures you feel necessary to support this nomination.
HOW DO I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION?
We will also take on board any lobbying or recommendations you want to make for a partner, competitor – or someone you just admire. Email your suggestion to MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com. Make sure the subject says ‘Mainstream Retailer’.
DEADLINE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16th.
INDEPENDENT RETAILER
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Any independent retailer – mainstream or specialist, digital, online or physical, or a combination thereof – which sells games and prominently features them in its product range.
JUDGING CRITERIA
HOW DO I ENTER?
You can enter your store by emailing MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com with ‘Independent Retailer: [YOUR NAME]’ in the subject. We require information on how your brand excelled in the listed criteria in the last year. Please provide any commentary, timeline, relevant images/assets, and/or stats and figures you feel necessary to support this nomination.
HOW DO I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION?
We will also take on board any lobbying or recommendations you want to make for a partner, competitor – or someone you just admire. Email your suggestion to MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com. Make sure the subject says ‘Independent Retailer’.
DEADLINE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16th.
NEW GAMES BRAND
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
A new video game brand introduced over the past 12 months that has made a significant impact at consumer level within the UK marketplace – regardless of whether the game is a physical release, digital release, hardware brand, or even company brand.
JUDGING CRITERIA
HOW DO I ENTER?
You can enter your new games brand by emailing MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com with ‘New Games Brand: [NAME]’ in the subject. We require information on how your brand excelled in the listed criteria. We recommend some commentary plus a timeline of brand milestones from the last year. Feel free to supply any relevant images/assets, and/or stats and figures that support this nomination.
HOW DO I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION?
We will also take on board any lobbying or recommendations you want to make for a partner, competitor – or someone you just admire. Email your suggestion to MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com. Make sure the subject says ‘New Games Brand’.
DEADLINE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16th.
SALES TRIUMPH
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Any publisher – big or small – has the chance to snap up this award, which will highlight a game or piece of hardware that has achieved better than expected sales in the UK.
JUDGING CRITERIA
• Sales performance vs product expectations
• Over-achievement
• Impact versus budget
HOW DO I ENTER?
You can enter your new games brand by emailing MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com with ‘Sales Triumph: [NAME]’ in the subject. We require information on how your game excelled in the listed criteria. We recommend some commentary plus a timeline of brand milestones from the last year. Feel free to supply any relevant images/assets, and/or stats and figures that support this nomination.
HOW DO I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION?
We will also take on board any lobbying or recommendations you want to make for a partner, competitor – or someone you just admire. Email your suggestion to MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com. Make sure the subject says ‘Sales Triumph.
DEADLINE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16th.
BUYING TEAM
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
This award was introduced last year, and it is for any team that manages buying and procurement for retail operations in the UK serving video games – be that for physical games or digital games across any format.
JUDGING CRITERIA
HOW DO I ENTER?
You can enter your buying team by emailing MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com with ‘Buying Team: [NAME]’ in the subject. For team awards we require:
HOW DO I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION?
Email any suggestions – be it a partner, competitor or someone you admire – to MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com. Make sure the subject says ‘Buying Team’.
DEADLINE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16th.
PERIPHERALS AND ACCESSORIES BRAND
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
This award is for any company that designs, distributes and/or manufactures its own brand of peripherals and accessories for use with home consoles, handhelds or PC games.
JUDGING CRITERIA
HOW DO I ENTER?
You can enter your peripherals and accessories brand by emailing MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com with ‘Peripherals Brand: [NAME]’ in the subject. We require information on how your brand excelled in the listed criteria. We recommend some commentary plus a timeline of product(s) milestones from the last year. Feel free to supply any relevant images/assets, and/or stats and figures that support this nomination.
HOW DO I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION?
We will also take on board any lobbying or recommendations you want to make for a partner, competitor – or someone you just admire. Email your suggestion to MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com. Make sure the subject says ‘Peripherals Brand’.
DEADLINE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16th.
MARKETING TEAM
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Any UK-based marketing team or specialist company that has worked on more than one product or project within the interactive entertainment market over the past 12 months.
JUDGING CRITERIA
HOW DO I ENTER?
Email MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com with ‘Marketing Team: [NAME]’ in the subject. For all team awards we require:
HOW DO I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION?
We will also take on board lobbying for a partner, competitor – or someone you just admire. Email your suggestion to MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com with the subject ‘Marketing Team’.
DEADLINE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16th.
DIGITAL MARKETING TEAM
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
This award was introduced for the first time last year. It is for any UK-based digital marketing team or specialist company that has worked on more than one project within the games market over the past 12 months. This award focuses solely on achievements in digital marketing (not marketing of digital-only or digital-first games).
JUDGING CRITERIA
HOW DO I ENTER?
Email MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com with the subject ‘Digital Marketing Team: [NAME]’. For all team awards we require:
HOW DO I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION?
We will also take on board any lobbying you want to make for a partner, competitor – or someone you just admire. Email your suggestion to MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com with the subject ‘Digital Marketing Team’.
DEADLINE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16TH
TRADE MARKETING TEAM
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
This award is for any company or team that worked on campaigns dedicated to in-store and retail support, inclusive of trade advertising, POS, distribution and merchandising.
JUDGING CRITERIA
HOW DO I ENTER?
Email MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com with ‘Trade Marketing Team: [NAME]’ in the subject. For all team awards we require:
HOW DO I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION?
We will also take on board any lobbying you want to make for a partner, competitor – or someone you just admire. Email your suggestion to MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com. The subject should say ‘Trade Marketing Team’.
DEADLINE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16TH
PR TEAM
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
This award is open to all PR staff who worked on UK games campaigns during the past 12 months. Inclusive of in-house teams and retained or project-based agencies’ below the line activity.
JUDGING CRITERIA
HOW DO I ENTER?
Email MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com with ‘PR Team: [NAME]’ in the subject. For all team awards we require:
HOW DO I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION?
We will also take on board any lobbying for partners, competitors – or someone you just admire. Email your suggestion to MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com with the subject ‘PR Team’.
DEADLINE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16TH
AGENCY TEAM
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Any UK-based agency or external contributor that has worked for a UK games business to deliver influential marketing activity that raised brand awareness and help achieve commercial goals. Above the line activity handled by third-party firms will also be considered.
JUDGING CRITERIA
HOW DO I ENTER?
Email MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com with ‘Agency Team: [NAME]’ in the subject. For all team awards we require:
HOW DO I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION?
We will also take on board any lobbying for a partner, competitor – or someone you just admire. Email your suggestion to MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com with the subject ‘Agency Team’.
DEADLINE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16TH
COMMUNITY TEAM
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Any UK-based community relations/engagement team working for a UK games business. You can be internal or external, but we expect you have kept in regular contact with the audience to raise brand awareness and help achieve commercial goals.
JUDGING CRITERIA
HOW DO I ENTER?
Email MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com with the subject ‘Community Team: [NAME]’. For all team awards we require:
HOW DO I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION?
We will also take on board any lobbying for a partner, competitor – or someone you just admire. Email your suggestion to MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com with the subject ‘Community Team’.
DEADLINE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16TH
DISTRIBUTION TEAM
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Any distributor active within the interactive entertainment industry serving outlets large and small across the UK.
JUDGING CRITERIA
HOW DO I ENTER?
Email MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com with ‘Distribution Team: [NAME]’ in the subject. For all team awards we require:
HOW DO I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION?
We will also take on board any lobbying for a partner, competitor – or someone you just admire. Email your suggestion to MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com with the subject ‘Distribution Team’.
DEADLINE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16TH
SALES TEAM
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Any UK-based sales team or specialist sales force, including in-house staff and outsourced service companies, that focus on sales inside of the UK.
JUDGING CRITERIA
HOW DO I ENTER?
Email MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com with the subject ‘Sales Team: [NAME]’. For this team award we require:
HOW DO I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION?
We will also take on board any lobbying or recommendations you want to make for a partner, competitor – or someone you just admire. Email your suggestion to MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com. Make sure the subject says ‘Sales Team’.
DEADLINE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16TH
EXPORT TEAM – NEW AWARD
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Any UK-based export team, including in-house staff and outsourced service companies, that focus on sales outside of the UK.
JUDGING CRITERIA
HOW DO I ENTER?
Email MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com with the subject ‘Export Team: [NAME]’. For this team award we require:
HOW DO I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION?
We will also take on board any lobbying or recommendations you want to make for a partner, competitor – or someone you just admire. Email your suggestion to MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com. Make sure the subject says ‘Export Team’.
DEADLINE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16TH
MEDIA TEAM
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Any UK-based specialist games media team, including print, online, social and broadcast media.
JUDGING CRITERIA
HOW DO I ENTER?
Email MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com with the subject ‘Media Team: [NAME]’. For this team award we require:
HOW DO I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION?
We will also take on board any lobbying or recommendations you want to make for a partner, competitor – or someone you just admire. Email your suggestion to MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com. Make sure the subject says ‘Media Team’.
DEADLINE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16TH
INDIE GAMES LABEL
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Any company publishing games in the UK on behalf of a smaller development partner – and achieved notable commercial or critical success over the last 12 months.
JUDGING CRITERIA
HOW DO I ENTER?
Enter your team by emailing MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com with the subject ‘Indie Label: [NAME]’. We recommend you send us:
HOW DO I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION?
We will take on board any lobbying you want to make for a partner, competitor – or someone you just admire. Email your suggestion to MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com. Make sure the subject says ‘Indie Label’.
DEADLINE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16TH
GAME CAMPAIGN
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Any company that ran a significant marketing campaign in the UK supporting products or services within games. This is for an overall campaign covering TV, online, radio, outdoor and print, plus trade. You can enter as many campaigns as you like.
JUDGING CRITERIA
HOW DO I ENTER?
Enter by emailing MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com with the subject ‘Game Campaign: [NAME]’. We recommend you send us:
HOW DO I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION?
We will take on board any lobbying you want to make for a partner, competitor – or someone you just admire. Email your suggestion to MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com. Make sure the subject says ‘Game Campaign’.
DEADLINE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16TH
GAMES PUBLISHER
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Any company publishing games in the UK market that has achieved notable commercial or critical success and generally high levels of performance over the last 12 months.
JUDGING CRITERIA
HOW DO I ENTER?
You can enter your team by emailing MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com with ‘Games Publisher: [NAME]’ in the subject. We recommend you send us:
HOW DO I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION?
We will take on board any lobbying or recommendations you want to make for a partner, competitor – or someone you just admire. Email your suggestion to MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com. Make sure the subject says Game Publisher’.
DEADLINE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16TH
EVENTS TEAM – NEW AWARD
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Any UK-based events team, including in-house staff and outsourced service companies, that focus on organising games-related events.
JUDGING CRITERIA
HOW DO I ENTER?
Email MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com with the subject ‘Events Team: [NAME]’. For this team award we require:
HOW DO I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION?
We will also take on board any lobbying or recommendations you want to make for a partner, competitor – or someone you just admire. Email your suggestion to MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com. Make sure the subject says ‘Events Team’.
DEADLINE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16TH
STORE MANAGER OF THE YEAR
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
This new award will honour any store managers running key games outlets across the UK. You must have been a manager for at least 18 months by the time of the awards ceremony on April 16th.
JUDGING CRITERIA
HOW DO I ENTER?
Email MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com with ‘Store Manager of the Year: [NAME]’ in the subject. We recommend you send us:
HOW DO I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION?
We will take on board any lobbying for a partner, competitor, colleague, boss – or someone you just admire. Email MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com. Make sure the subject says ‘Store Manager of the Year’.
HOW IS THIS AWARD JUDGED?
The MCV team will pick the winner based on lobbying and soundings from the games business.
DEADLINE FOR ALL ENTRIES IS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16TH
UNSUNG HERO
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
This award will honour an individual from the UK games industry who, frankly, hasn’t had a moment in the spotlight but should have. This is your chance to put forward someone who has been instrumental in the success of a company, product or campaign, or the wider games industry, but simply hasn’t had the credit. Maybe they have been regularly nominated for an MCV Award but missed out – maybe they are low profile but deserve cheer and thanks. This is not specific to activity from the last year, and is ideal for those with committed long-service records in the games business.
HOW IS THE AWARD JUDGED?
The MCV team will pick the winner based on lobbying and soundings from the games business.
HOW DO I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION?
Email your suggestion to MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com. Make sure the subject says ‘Unsung Hero’. And tell us why this person deserves it.
DEADLINE FOR ALL ENTRIES AND LOBBYING IS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16TH
PERSON OF THE YEAR
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
This award will honour an individual from the UK games industry who in the last year has been a stand-out achiever – either in terms of driving forward a product, raising awareness about an issue or topic, influencing at all levels, or simply being a notable games industry professional. This is specifically for activity in the past year and key successes in 2014.
HOW IS THIS AWARD JUDGED?
The MCV team will pick the winner based on lobbying and soundings from the games business.
HOW DO I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION?
Email your suggestion to MCVlobbying@nbmedia.com. Make sure the subject says ‘Person of the year’. And tell us why this person deserves it.
DEADLINE FOR ALL ENTRIES AND LOBBYING IS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16TH