Ceremony host confirmed as Torchwood’s Gareth David Lloyd
Cardiff, 11 May 2016: The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) in Wales, BAFTA Cymru, has today announced the nominations for the newly-titled British Academy Cymru Games Award along with the shortlists for the ceremony’s four commendations.
Having received a record number of entries for 2016, with a significant 25% increase on the 2015 figures, the industry jury has considered and agreed upon the nominees for Best Game and the shortlists for Artistic Achievement, Technical Achievement, Gameplay Design and Sound & Music. The British Academy Cymru Games Award ceremony will be held at the Tramshed as part of the fifth Wales Games Development Show on 18 June, 2016.
According to a NESTA report published in 2014, the UK gaming industry is worth £1.7 billion, growing 22% year on year. The games industry in Wales is one of its fastest developing creative industries, perfectly positioned to benefit from a generation of new jobs and directly contributing to the digital economy in Wales.
Wales Interactive, which was nominated for the award in 2015, joins Thud Media and Rantmedia as nominees for Best Game in 2016, for Toots Race and TV Sports Soccer respectively.
Thud Media is shortlisted for three commendations, for Boj Smoothies, with Cube Kids shortlisted for four commendations for its game, Teletubbies. BBC Cymru/BBC Digital Creativity and Aardman Animations are shortlisted for two commendations for Doctor Who Game Maker, as is Squarehead Studios who are shortlisted for two commendations for Star Ghost.
BAFTA Cymru has also announced that the host of the British Academy Cymru Game Award ceremony will be Gareth David Lloyd. Gareth rose to fame as Ianto Jones in the television series Torchwood, which celebrates its 10th anniversary since filming began this year. Gareth is also known for his games-related work on Dragon Age: Inquisition – Trespasser as the voice of Solas, Red Faction Armageddon as the voice of Adam Hale and was involved in the Torchwood Mission Game in 2008.
“I’m thrilled to have been asked to host the British Academy Cymru Games Award Ceremony on 18 June, as I’ve been providing voiceovers to the games industry in Wales and the UK since 2008.” said Gareth David Lloyd.
“I’ve seen a clear growth in the games industry here, over a very short time, and it is clear that there are more companies creating fantastic games across a variety of platforms every year. I’m looking forward to getting my hands on the games at the Wales Games Development Show and testing them out for myself. Good luck to everyone who is nominated this year!”
NOMINATIONS
Best Game Award, Sponsored by Games Dev at Wrexham Glyndŵr University
WALES INTERACTIVE for Soul Axiom
Thud Media / Toots Enterprises Ltd for Toots Race
RANTMEDIA for TV Sports Soccer
Artistic Achievement Commendation, sponsored by Ubisoft
Thud Media / Pesky Productions Ltd for Boj Smoothies
Squarehead Studios Ltd for Star Ghost
CUBE KIDS for Teletubbies
Technical Achievement Commendation, sponsored by SEGA
BBC Cymru/BBC Digital Creativity/Aardman Animations for Doctor Who Game Maker
Tell Player Limited for Mr Quin
Cube Kids for Teletubbies
Game Play Design Commendation
Thud Media / Pesky Productions Ltd for Boj Smoothies
Squarehead Studios Ltd for Star Ghost
Cube Kids for Teletubbies
Sound & Music Commendation, sponsored by Spiros
Thud Media / Pesky Productions Ltd for Boj Smoothies
BBC Cymru Wales, BBC Digital Creativity, Aardman Animations for Doctor Who Game Maker
Cube Kids for Teletubbies