This award recognises a team responsible for exceptional and creative game design via the use of controls, level design, pacing and mechanics.

Entry Criteria:

Tell us why this game deserves the Best Game Design award and what is extraordinary about the team’s work. Give examples from the nominated game and how the team’s work supported the overall goals of the game. What makes this game design stand out? Judges will look for innovation, creativity and technical achievement.

Rewarding a game that demonstrates distinction in the use of sound or music to improve player experience.

Entry Criteria:

Tell us why this game deserves the Best Audio award and what is extraordinary about it. Give examples from the nominated game and how the team’s work supported the overall goals of the game. What makes the audio in this game stand out? Judges will look for innovation, creativity and technical achievement.

This award will recognise the creation of the best new intellectual property in a game.

Entry Criteria:

Tell us why your nominated game deserves the Best Original IP award and what is extraordinary about it. Give examples from the game, its inspirations and what the goals were. What makes this original IP stand out? Judges will look for innovation, creativity and technical achievement.

The award which recognises any game, studio or organisation that has created something ground-breaking within the games industry. This could be a technical advance, a pioneering gameplay experience or anything showing true innovation.

Entry Criteria:

Tell us why this team deserves the Best Innovation in Game Development award and what’s extraordinary about their work. Explain how they came up with the new idea, what makes it so ground-breaking and why it has been such a success. What makes this project and the achievements of the team stand out? Judges will look for a real departure from anything that has gone before, plus evidence of critical and/or commercial success.

This award celebrates an individual who has shown a commitment to promoting diversity and inclusivity within the games industry.

Entry Criteria:

Tell us why this person deserves the Diversity Ambassador award and what is extraordinary about what they’ve achieved. Give examples of how they’ve successfully promoted diversity and inclusion. What makes this person stand out? Include any supporting evidence and testimony within the qualifying period (1 May 2018 – 31 March 2019) Judges will look for a trailblazer who has gone above and beyond to further the cause of diversity in our industry.

Recognising the organisation that has provided the highest quality of service and contributed most to success within the game developer community – across any and all disciplines.

Entry Criteria:

Tell us why this organisation deserves the Best Supplier award. What is your core business and how has your product/service supported game developers? Give details of up to 3 specific success stories from within the qualifying period (1 May 2018 – 31 March 2019) and provide customer testimonials. Judges will look for excellence in service levels, delivery on brief and resulting critical and/or commercial success for the client.

Recognising an organisation that has shown outstanding support helping development studios successfully recruit and retain new team members.

Entry Criteria:

Tell us why your organisation deserves to be recognised as our Recruitment Star. Give us an example of your best placement within the qualifying period (1 May 2018 – 31 March 2019) and tell us how you contributed to your clients’ success. Please provide up to three testimonials from studios you’ve worked with. Judges will look for innovative approaches and the resulting success for the developer.

For this award a panel of game engine professionals will shortlist the games that they feel maximise the full potential of their engines.

Entry Criteria:

Tell us why this studio and game deserve the Best Use of a Game Engine award and what is extraordinary about their game. What were their objectives and why did they choose that specific engine? Give examples from the nominated game and how the engine supported the overall goals of the game. What makes this game and the team’s achievements stand out? Judges will look for innovation, creativity, technical achievement and how well the full potential of the engine was realised.

Recognising an organisation that has shown outstanding support helping developers get their game published. This can include via funding, discoverability, research or anything else that helped secure a successful route to market for new games.

Entry Criteria:

Tell us why your organisation deserves to be recognised as our Publishing Star. Give us examples of a game or games you’re really proud to have supported within the qualifying period (1 May 2018 – 31 March 2019) and tell us how you contributed to their success. Please provide up to three testimonials from developers you’ve worked with. Judges will look for innovative approaches and the resulting critical and/or commercial success for the developer.

This award will be given to the game that offers best overall player experience on a mobile phone or tablet.

Entry Criteria:

Tell us why this game deserves the Best Mobile Game award and what’s extraordinary about it. Give examples from the nominated game and explain what makes this game and the team’s achievements stand out? Judges will look for innovation, creativity and technical achievement.

Rewarding the game that stands out above all others in terms of gameplay, storytelling, art style, character development, creativity and overall player experience - across all genres and platforms.

Entry Criteria:

Tell us why this game deserves the Game of the Year award and what’s extraordinary about it. Give examples from the nominated game, their inspirations and what the goals were. What makes this game stand out as Game of the Year? Judges will look for innovation, creativity and technical achievement - not just commercial success.

This award will go to a studio with four or fewer employees who’ve achieved exceptional critical and commercial success during the qualifying period.

Entry Criteria:

Tell us why your studio deserves to win Best Micro Studio. What makes your studio and the achievements of your team stand out? Explain your company culture and team dynamic, what’s remarkable about your game(s), development and production process and community engagement? Link to examples of your latest game(s) from within the qualifying period (1 April 2018 – 31 March 2019) Judges will look for evidence of all-around outstanding achievement and individuality, as well as critical and commercial success.

This award celebrates any studio with five or more employees who’ve achieved exceptional critical and commercial success during the qualifying period.

Entry Criteria:

Tell us why your studio deserves to win Best Studio. What makes your studio and the achievements of your team stand out? Explain your company culture and team dynamic, what’s remarkable about your game(s), development and production process and community engagement? Link to examples of your latest game(s) from within the qualifying period (1 April 2018 – 31 March 2019) Judges will look for evidence of all-around outstanding achievement and individuality, as well as critical and commercial success.

This special award will be selected by the Develop:Brighton team to honour an extraordinary game developer for outstanding achievement and contribution to the industry.