It’s been an incredible few months since we opened nominations for the Grads in Games Awards and we received an overwhelming amount of nominations!

As part of GamesEd2022 – The Grads in Games Award will be taking place on the 21st of April at the National Videogame Museum from 6.00 PM! We encourage all those to attend the conference and the Award ceremony in the evening.

These awards highlight the academics, universities, colleges & courses that are going the extra mile, not just by educating, but by actively helping students make the leap to becoming professional game developers.

The awards also bring attention to the progressive studios and collaborations, forging university connections & supporting graduates making their first steps into the games industry.

We also recognise the students and projects that are already firmly on this path, producing exemplary work and helping those around them to achieve more.

Congratulations to all of those who have been shortlisted below!

Inclusivity Champion Award 

The Inclusivity Champion is an individual that should be recognised for their efforts to help those from under-represented groups (including but not limited to gender identity, ethnicity, neurodiversity, LGBT+) to access and thrive in entry-level roles in the games industry. This person could be a current student helping their peers, somebody from the industry who gives back or an educator making a difference.

Daley Johnson – Game Designer at Playtonic

Ellouisa Wallace -Student at Nottingham Trent University

Hugo Bailey- Junior Software Engineer at Ballistic Moon

Rosie Taylor – Charity Officer at Safe in Our World 

Thom Kaczmarek – Lecturer in Games Design at London College of Communication, University of the Arts London

Student Game Award (Group) 

Student games published within the past 12 months that demonstrate a strong talent and aptitude from its developers. We want to showcase the group projects that go above and beyond expectations & highlight students making excellent preparation for life as professional developer.

Astreia’s Gift – Isart Digital 

Carma – Falmouth University

Curse of the Pyramid – Howest, University of Applied Science – Digital Arts and Entertainment (DAE)

Lysfangha – Isart Digital 

Swift – Rubika Supinfogame

Wayward Harbor – Howest – Digital Arts & Entertainment

Wild Dive – Objectif 3D

Student Game Award (Solo)

10 Zepto-Seconds – Amin Khan – Teeside University

Student Hero Award

Current games students who have demonstrated a positive impact with their fellow students over the past 12 months. We want to showcase the students who are doing the most to support, progress and inspire their peers through a range of proactive and supportive activities.

Anna Constable – Norwich University of the Arts

Ellouisa Wallace-O’Neill – Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies

Iz Green – De Montfort University

Tyler Oliver – Solent University 

Mike Dixon – Sheffield Hallam University

Graduate Impact Award

Recent graduates and junior staff that have exceeded expectations in a studio role. We want to showcase the staff that are making their first steps in the industry but are already having a hugely positive impact, not just within your studio but also towards the industry as a whole.

Bex Betton – NHS – Arts Fundraising Support Officer

George Williams – Gameplay Software Engineer (Previously Junior Engineer) at Playtonic

Liam van Bastelaere -Technical Artist at nDreams

Lucy Peters – Junior Character Artist at Jagex

Myleah Lofland – PR & Marketing Coordinator at Code Coven

Graduate Employer Award

These are the companies that are recognised as fantastic employers of entry-level talent. They demonstrate a positive and proactive approach in hiring and supporting graduates and interns and play an active role in mentoring, supporting and developing their junior staff.

d3t

Frontier 

Lucid Games

nDreams

Mediatonic

Playtonic

Rare

Industry Advocate Award

Games industry professionals that demonstrate a positive and proactive approach to supporting students and graduates. We want to highlight those individuals who are always looking for opportunities to help and give back alongside their day job.

Chris Sayers – Mediatonic

Joe Hobbs – Ubisoft

Tamsin O’Launaigh – nDreams

Sean Constantine Wade – Middlesex University

Daniel Woodward – nDreams

Industry Collaboration Award

Games industry professionals that demonstrate a positive and proactive approach to supporting students and graduates. We want to highlight those individuals who are always looking for opportunities to help and give back alongside their day job.

Creative Assembly Legacy Project

Rare + University of Portsmouth

London College of Communication + FINIFIGU Games

Tiny Rebel Games + University of South Wales

Education Institution Award (FE)

We want to recognise the institutions that actively implement initiatives or take positive actions to help students gain employment within the games industry. We want to showcase the departments and courses that are doing the most to help students, giving them the best opportunities to move into higher education or to employment into a games industry role, including high achievements in our Rising Star challenges.

Coleg Llandrillo

Motherwell New Lanarkshire College

The Game Assembly

Uxbridge College

Education Institution Award (HE)

Falmouth University

Howest Digital Arts & Entertainment

London College of Communication, University of the Arts London

Staffordshire University

University of Northampton

Games Academic Award (FE)

These are the educators that go beyond just the lessons, are often excellent student mentors, organise industry events and speakers, and can show wide-ranging beneficial results of their work. They are committed to giving their students the best opportunities to either progress on to higher education or to graduate straight into a games industry role.

Amanda Ford – West College Scotland

Lewis Challinor – Llandrillo Menai

Rob Griffiths – Grwp Llandrillo Menai

Steph Dunk – Cambridge Regional College

Games Academic Award (HE)

Thom Kaczmarek – Lecturer in Games Design at London College of Communication, University of the Arts London

Shiloh Ragins – Academic Tutor in Games Art-Advanced Modelling and Sculpting at Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies

Robin Sloan – Senior Lecturer; Division of Games and Arts at Abertay University

Mona Bozdog – Lecturer in Immersive Experience Design at Abertay University

Kevin Nally and Will Brosch – Tutors in The Art of Video Games at Escape Studios

Well done to all those nominated!

We will be posting more about our nominees in the coming week!