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THEBRITISHACADEMYINTERACTI
The awards this year were dedicated to two stars
of the interactive entertainment community who unfortunately are no longer with us: Roy Stringer and Douglas Adams
The fourth BAFTA annual Interactive Entertainment Awards were held on October 25 at the Grosvenor House, glamorous home of the film and television awards. Hosted by comedian Phill Jupitus, with super- star DJ Goldie leading the after-show party, the evening was a virtual (no, make that a literal) who’s-who of the interactive industry.
The awards were a great success – the consensus being that in such a diffi- cult economic climate it was tremen- dously heartening to see the industry out in full force (and in such great spirits!).
Indeed, “these awards continue to go from strength to strength, despite the downturn in the technology sector over the last year”, said Lord Puttnam, Vice-President of BAFTA, in his intro- duction. “It’s hugely encouraging that the number of entries in all categories are up on last year. This can only mean that whilst some companies have sadly folded, other are springing up in their place, and word has spread that BAFTA Interactive’s work is making an invalu- able contribution to the sector.”
Black & White from Lionhead Studios, one of the most innovative games released over the past few years, led the way with nominations in a staggering six categories, and walked away with two masks, for Moving Images and Interactivity. The winner of the news category was BBC Online, and the BBC also won the Enhancement of Linear Media category for the superb interactive television production, Walking With Beasts.
The winner in the Console Games category was the heart-pounding Gran Turismo 3, published by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. Conker’s Bad Fur Day, the new game from Rare that sees a squirrel parody- ing such films as Saving Private Ryan, won the Sound category and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 won the Mobile Games category. The fun-filled CD-Rom Disney’s Tigger’s Honey Hunt won the Children’s category.
BAFTA partnered with leading online retailer Amazon.co.uk, sponsor
of the inaugural Audience Award. Unlike the other entries, which are judged by a jury, this winner was determined by the public, who voted from a shortlist of Amazon.co.uk’s 10 best-selling PC & Video games from September 1 2000 – August 31 2001. Thousands of votes later, crowd favourite Championship Manager 2001 from Sports Interactive walked away the victor.
Another first was our partnership with Channel 4, who webcast the awards live on www.channel4.com. Our reputation as the premier event of its kind can only be enhanced by this web- cast, which was available to viewers around the world.
The awards this year were dedicat- ed to two stars of the interactive enter- tainment community who unfortunately are no longer with us: Roy Stringer and Douglas Adams.
Roy Stringer, an incredibly enthu- siastic member of the BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Committee, died suddenly in February as a result of a brain haemorrhage.
Based in Liverpool, with an inter- national reputation for pioneering mul- timedia work, Roy was in the midst of a collaboration with Stephen Hawking on “Virtual Universe”, an online project to explain the principles of theoretical physics. His energy, imagination and vision were remarkable and an inspira- tion to us all.
Douglas Adams, who died in May, was likewise a visionary pioneer. Best known for The Hitch-Hikers Guide To The Galaxy, he went on to become a champion of the internet years before anyone outside a few universities and the US Defense Department had even heard of it.
His sudden death robbed us of a mind which combined constructive scepticism with tolerance, ambition and an enormous generosity of spirit.
Last but certainly not least, BAFTA would like to say a big thank you to our four individual category sponsors: Orange, Roux Fine Dining, Electric and the Department of Trade and Industry. ■ Joy Barrett, AWARDS OFFICER, INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT
PHOTOS: 1. Winners celebrate with masks (and bubbly) in hand 2. Interactive Committee Chair Sue Thexton with a smiling Simon Relph 3. Miles of Sports Interactive flashes the Amazon Audience Award for Championship Manager: 00/01 4. Paul Michael and the Pepper’s Ghost team celebrate their win for Tiny Planets (Entertainment Website)
5. Making an entrance at Grosvenor House 6. (and on Contents page 2) David Puttnam and the evening’s devilish host, Phill Jupitus 7. Peter Molyneux, double award winner for Black and White, in black & white 8. Goldie hits the decks at the post-awards party.
Interactive Awards 2001 photography by Richard Kendal
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