2005 AGD Awards Sponsored By

2005 Award Categories

• Career Achievement Award
• Award for Outstanding Innovation
• Award for Outstanding Industry Contribution
• Award for Best New Start-Up
• Award for Best Game of 2005
• Award for Best PC Game
• Award for Best Console Game
• Award for Best Handheld Game
• Award for Best Mobile Phone Game
• Award for Best Original Character Design
• Award for Best Game Audio
• Award for Best Game Design
• Award for Best Level Design
• Award for Programming Excellence
• Award for Outstanding Visual Arts
• Award for Best Unsigned Game (Professional)
• Award for Best Unsigned Game (Indie)

Career Achievement Award

This award is presented to an individual developer in recognition of exceptional accomplishments attained in a career in any area of the Australian or New Zealand computer game development industry. These areas may include (but are not limited to) management, art, programming, design or audio. These exceptional accomplishments must be:

1. recognised by third parties through independent reviews, awards or tangible evidence (eg the growth of a business from X to Y employees over X time etc) and
2. outlined in the nomination form in order to qualify.

Award for Outstanding Innovation

This award recognises an individual Australian or New Zealand developer or company who has demonstrated innovation in design, technology, business operations etc. The nominee must highlight the impact this cutting edge approach has made on their business or how it has inspired the industry.

Award for Outstanding Industry Contribution

This award is presented to an individual developer, company, organisation or government body in recognition of an outstanding contribution to the growth of the Australian or New Zealand Games Industry and for strengthening the reputation of the Australian or New Zealand Games Industry internationally. To be eligible the nominee's efforts should be recognised as being over and above what is expected of their role within the Australian or New Zealand Game Development Community. This contribution(s) must be:

1. recognised by third parties through independent reviews, awards or tangible evidence; and
2. outlined in the nomination form in order to qualify.

Award for Best New Start-Up

A Start-Up is defined as a newly formed company who:

1. has their first game title in production that is financed to completion; or
2. released its first publicly available game between 5 November 2004 and 30 October 2005 as the company's first title.

This award is presented to the start-up game development studio based in Australia or New Zealand in recognition of their outstanding achievement(s). The nomination must include:

1. the current game title (financed to completion) the company is currently working on or the title of its first publicly available game released between 5 November 2004 and 2 December 2005, as the company's first title;
2. a 100 word summary of their business including date of establishment, number of employees etc;
3. a 100 word supporting statement outlining why they should win; and
4. reference to media exposure, awards and/or achievements.

Award for Best Game of 2005

This award recognises the best Australian or New Zealand developed game on any platform, released between 5 November 2004 and 30 October 2005 . The winning entrants from the Award for Best PC Game, Best Console Game, Best Handheld Game and Best Mobile Phone Game are automatically entered into this category . To qualify for this category, a nomination must be received for one of the aforementioned categories. This award is presented to the company who developed the game.

Award for Best PC Game

This award recognises the best Australian or New Zealand developed game, released for PC between 5 November 2004 and 30 October 2005 . The nomination must be supported by independent external reviews. This award is presented to the company who developed the game.

Award for Best Console Game

This award recognises the best Australian or New Zealand developed game, released for a console between 5 November 2004 and 30 October 2005 . The nomination must be supported by independent external reviews. This award is presented to the company who developed the game.

Award for Best Handheld Game

This award recognises the best Australian or New Zealand developed game, released for a handheld platform between 5 November 2004 and 30 October 2005 . The nomination must be supported by independent external reviews. This award is presented to the company who developed the game.

Award for Best Mobile Phone Game

This award recognises the best Australian or New Zealand developed game, released for a mobile phone between 5 November 2004 and 30 October 2005 . Nokia N-gage nominations should be entered into the “Award for Best Handheld Game”, and will not be accepted for this category. The nomination must be supported by independent external reviews. This award is presented to the company who developed the game.

Award for Best Original Character Design

Presented to the creator(s) of the character (individual or company), this award recognises excellence in original character design for a specific game developed in Australia or New Zealand . This design must be recognised by third parties through independent reviews, tangible evidence etc. Nominations must be accompanied by:

1. reference to media exposure, awards etc;
2. a 100 word supporting statement outlining why the design should win; and
3. an 800x600 pixel RGB JPEG file of the design.

Award for Best Game Audio

Presented to the individual developer or company, this award recognises excellence in game audio for a specific game developed in Australia or New Zealand and released between 5 November 2004 and 30 October 2005 . Nominations must be accompanied by:

1. reference to media exposure, awards etc;
2. a 100 word supporting statement outlining why the nomination should win; and
3. a thirty (30) second audio file (mp3 or wav format) that provides an overview of the nominated audio.

Award for Best Game Design

This award recognises excellence in the area of game design in a specific Australian or New Zealand developed game, released between 5 November 2004 and 30 October 2005 . This design must be recognised by third parties through independent reviews, tangible evidence etc. Nominations must be accompanied by:

1. reference to media exposure, awards, achievements etc; and
2. a 100 word supporting statement outlining why the nomination should win.

This award is presented to an individual developer or company.

Award for Best Level Design

Presented to an individual developer or company, this award recognises excellence in the area of level design for a specific game developed in Australia or New Zealand and publicly available between 5 November 2004 and 30 October 2005 . This design must be recognised by third parties through independent reviews, tangible evidence etc. Nominations must be accompanied by:

1. reference to media exposure, awards, achievements etc; and
2. a 100 word supporting statement outlining why the nomination should win.

Award for Programming Excellence

Presented to an individual developer or company, this award recognises excellence in the area of programming for a specific game developed in Australia or New Zealand and publicly available between 5 November 2004 and 30 October 2005 . This nominee must be recognised by third parties through independent reviews, awards, tangible evidence etc. Nominations must be accompanied by:

1. reference to media exposure, awards, achievements etc; and
2. a 100 word supporting statement outlining why the nomination should win.

Award for Outstanding Visual Arts

Presented to an individual developer or company, this award recognises excellence in the area of visual arts for a specific game developed in Australia or New Zealand and publicly available between 5 November 2004 and 30 October 2005 . This nominee must be recognised by third parties through independent reviews, awards, tangible evidence etc. Nominations must be accompanied by:

1. reference to media exposure, awards, achievements etc;
2. a 100 word supporting statement outlining why the nomination should win; and
3. an 800x600 pixel RGB JPEG file of an example of the artwork.

Award for Best Unsigned Game (Professional)

This award recognises the best unsigned game or playable game prototype developed within a professional (paid) environment in Australia or New Zealand . The game/playable prototype is displayed within the AGDC Expo from 1-3 December 2005 and the winner is voted on by AGDC delegates. The game/playable prototype must not be signed to a publishing contract. This award is presented to the team that developed the game. Entries for this category which are not in a playable format at the commencement of the AGDC Expo on Thursday, 1 December, 2005 will not be accepted.

Award for Best Unsigned Game (Indie)

This award recognises the best unsigned game or playable game prototype developed within an independent unpaid environment in Australia or New Zealand . The game/playable prototype is displayed within the AGDC Expo from 1-3 December 2005 and the winner is voted on by AGDC delegates. The game/playable prototype must not be signed to a publishing contract and the team must never have released a publicly available game title. Entries for this category which are not in a playable format at the commencement of the AGDC Expo on Thursday, 1 December, 2005 will not be accepted.

Students are encouraged to nominate for this award. Other nominees could include individuals or teams working independently from professional game development studios.