The UK Games Fund Awards 2019 in association with DC Thomson Media and 4J Studios, took place at the stunning V&A Museum in Dundee last night at a colourful awards ceremony to mark the closing of a very successful Summer of Games across the city of Discovery.
The awards, run by DCT Media Events, is in its second year and recognises talent across the UK games development sector, celebrating and rewarding the achievements of the UK’s independent games development industry.
Judging took place at Develop in Brighton back in July, and judges included, Dr Jo Twist (CEO of Ukie), Richard Leinfellner (lecturer at Goldsmiths University), Haydn Taylor (writer for Games Industry Biz), Andy Williams (DC Thomson Media) and Paddy Burns (co-founder of 4J Studios).
The volume and quality of nominees were extremely high, making judging a hard process for the panel. However, after much deliberation, the winners on the night were;
Rising Star Winner:
Ranjani Natarajan of Six to Start
Best Audio in a UKGF Funded Game Winner:
Roll7
Best Visual Art in a UKGF Funded Game Winner:
Rekim Ltd
Best Design in a UKGF Funded Game Winner:
Roll7
UK Games Talent & Finance Community Spirit Award Winner:
Caoimhe Roddy
Best use of Platform in a UKGF Funded Game Winner:
Sensible Object
“They Delivered” Award Winner:
Miracle Tea
Showstopper Award Winner:
Rekim Ltd
Tranzfuser Local Hub of the Year Winner:
University of South Wales
Outstanding Contribution Winner:
Alex Fleetwood
Chris van der Kuyl, Chairman of 4J Studios, said,
“After the success of last year’s awards, it’s fantastic to see the diversity and growth of our indie games industry being celebrated at our second UK Games Fund Awards. These awards recognise the best in new British games development talent and are a great way to highlight the variety and depth of new games being made in the UK. The awards also complement the city’s vibrant games development community in demonstrating all that Dundee has to offer and what a great way to reward these amazing new and upcoming companies than to do it in style within the amazing V&A Museum and the Videogames Exhibition.”
Over 200 people were treated to a fabulous night at the V&A Dundee, which was full of colour as many chose to wear Hawaiian shirts and bright yellow sunglasses to complement the theme of #sunnydundee.
Paul Durrant, UK Games Fund founder, said,
“For the second year running Dundee provided the perfect location for the UK Games Fund Awards to celebrate the successes of early-stage independent games developers from across the UK. For UK Games Talent and Finance Community Interest Company to be able to do that from their Dundee base, against the backdrop of V&A Dundee and in the final week of the video games exhibition was an opportunity too good to miss”.
