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About the Develop:Star Awards

Bringing together the game dev community to celebrate the very best games and talent.

Taking place on the evening of Wednesday 10 July during Develop:Brighton, the Develop:Star Awards 2024 will recognise the very best games and talent within the industry with categories that enable studios of every size to shine.

These awards are all about the game dev community celebrating the creative excellence of the game makers behind the best games of the previous 12 months. 

Entry for the Develop:Star Awards closes at midday on Weds 3 April 2024.

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    How to Enter

    How it works:

    • The qualifying period for entries is from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.
    • Entry to the Develop:Star Awards is open to any companies working in the game dev industry with teams based in the UK, or Europe if they have a strong connection to the UK (e.g. a UK-based publisher or strong UK sales).
    • You can enter yourself or your own organisation, or you can nominate a third party.
    • Entries must be submitted via our online entry form. Any entries submitted via any other medium will not be considered.
    • When reviewing entries for the shortlist, judges will only use the information provided by you on the submission form within the deadline period.
    • To give yourself or whoever you are nominating the best possible chance, please follow our criteria instructions on the form carefully and provide your information exactly as requested – this will help provide the judges with entries of a consistent standard and make it a fairer judging process.
    • Entry for the Develop:Star Awards closes at midday on Weds 3 April 2024.

    Shortlist selection:

    • All entries will be evaluated by panels of games industry professionals appointed by the Develop: Star Awards team. The judging panel for each awards category will review entries and select a shortlist of 5 finalists for that award.
    • The shortlisted entries will be announced on 13 May 2024.

    Selection of the winners:

    The Develop:Star Awards are all about game devs recognising the achievements of other game devs. So winners will be independently selected by the game dev community – anyone who has attended Develop:Brighton in the last three years or has registered for this year’s event will be able to vote online for their favourite finalists.

    • Voting will take place from 13 to 29 May 2024.
    • Winners will be announced at the Develop:Star Awards ceremony on Wednesday 10 July 2024.
    • View the Develop:Star Awards terms and conditions here

    Top Tips Before You Start Your Entry

    • Have a Clear Objective
      Tell us why you or your nominee deserves to win. Be clear with your message - what sets the nominee apart from the other entrants?
    • Be Different
      Judges and voters want to see nominees that stand out from the crowd, so make your entry engaging and inspirational - show us how excited you are about your entry.
      • Forward Planning
        Draft an outline plan of what you want to get across before you start writing and talk to other team members to get their input.
        • Create a Story
          Judges and voters like a clear narrative. Think about the 5 W’s – Who, What, Why, Where and When.
          • Answer the Questions Succinctly
            Try not to waffle – think about what is being asked and answer thoroughly but concisely.
            • Put Yourself in the Judges Shoes
              The judges will be reading lots of entries while whittling the nominees down to our final shortlist – make it an easy and enjoyable read and back up any claims with real-life examples and facts and figures where appropriate.
              • Supporting Materials
                Only use evidence that really backs-up what you’re saying. Videos are a great way to show off a project and if you’re entering a game category then share game codes so the judges can play your game - if they haven’t already!

              ENTER NOW

              The Stars Schedule 

              • 31 January - Nominations open
              • Midday 3 April - Entry deadline
              • 8 April to 3 May - Judging for the shortlist
              • 13 May - Shortlist announced and online voting for the winners opens
              • 29 May - Voting closes
              • Early Bird Deadline - 5 June
              • 10 July - Winners announced at the awards ceremony

              Categories

              The awards are split into 22 different categories, focusing on the achievements of development teams and the success of great games over the previous 12 months. In addition to these categories, one ultimate ‘Develop Star’ will be awarded to honour an extraordinary studio or game developer for outstanding achievement and contribution to the industry.
               

              Best Game Design

              This award recognises a team responsible for exceptional and creative game design via the use of controls, level design, pacing and mechanics - across all genres and platforms.

              Entry Requirements:
              Tell us why this game deserves the Best Game Design award and what is extraordinary about the team’s work. Give examples from the nominated game and how the team’s work supported the overall goals of the game. What makes this game design stand out?

              Judges will look for innovation, creativity and technical achievement.

              Best Audio

              Rewarding a game that demonstrates distinction in the use of sound or music to improve player experience - across all genres and platforms.

              Entry Requirements:
              Tell us why this game deserves the Best Audio award and what is extraordinary about it. Give examples from the nominated game and how the team’s work supported the overall goals of the game. What makes the audio in this game stand out?

              Judges will look for innovation, creativity and technical achievement.

              Best Original IP

              This award will recognise the creation of the best new intellectual property - across all genres and platforms.

              Entry Requirements:
              Tell us why your nominated game deserves the Best Original IP award and what is extraordinary about it. Give examples from the game, its inspirations and what the goals were. What makes this original IP stand out?

              Judges will look for innovation, creativity and technical achievement.

              Best Visual Art

              Recognising a game which demonstrates exceptional achievement in visual art and/or animation - across all genres and platforms.

              Entry Requirements:
              Tell us why this game deserves the Best Visual Art award and what is extraordinary about the team’s work. Give examples from the nominated game and how the team’s work supported the overall goals of the game. What makes the visual art in this game stand out?

              Judges will look for innovation, creativity and technical achievement.

              Best Narrative

              Rewarding a team who have far exceeded expectation in their storytelling to create an outstanding player experience – through innovative or ground-breaking writing, and across all genres and platforms.

              Entry Requirements:
              Tell us why this game deserves the Best Narrative award and what is extraordinary about the team’s work. Give examples from the nominated game and how the team’s work supported the overall goals of the game. What makes this narrative stand out?

              Judges will look for innovation, creativity and technical achievement in dialogue and narrative design.

              Best Technical Innovation

              The award which recognises technological innovation in the video game space, across all genres and platforms. This could be a pioneering gameplay experience, a breakthrough new development technique, inventive hardware or anything showing true innovation.

              Entry Requirements:
              Tell us why the team responsible for this innovation deserves the Best Technical Innovation award and what’s extraordinary about their work. Explain how they came up with the new idea, what makes it so ground-breaking and why it has been such a success. What makes this project and the achievements of the team stand out?

              Judges will look for a real departure from anything that has gone before, plus evidence of critical and/or commercial success.

              Sustainability Star

              As we all move towards our net zero carbon targets, the Sustainability Star award recognises an individual, team or company that has passionately embraced the cause and put in place significant changes to the way their studio or company works to reduce impact and be more sustainable.

              Entry Requirements:

              Please submit an overview of the person or group detailing the relevant initiatives and the changes they have achieved within the qualifying period (1 April 2023 - 31 March 2024). Please limit your entry to 500 words.

              Judges are particularly interested in studios who are involving their players within these initiatives. They may ask more questions after submission.

              Diversity Star

              This award celebrates an individual who has shown a commitment to promoting diversity and inclusivity within the games industry.

              Entry Requirements:
              Tell us why this person deserves the Diversity award and what is extraordinary about what they’ve achieved. Give examples of how they’ve successfully promoted diversity and inclusion. What makes this person stand out? Include any supporting evidence and testimony within the qualifying period (1 April 2023 - 31 March 2024)

              Judges will look for a trailblazer who has gone above and beyond to further the cause of diversity in our industry.

              Marketing Star

              Recognising a UK-based individual, in-house team or external agency that has shown outstanding achievement in promoting a game – including marketing, PR, influencer relations and community development.

              Entry Requirements:
              Tell us why you, your team or organisation deserves to be recognised as our Marketing Star. Give us an overview of your strategy, goals and successful execution for a campaign which launched within the qualifying period (1 April 2023 - 31 March 2024) including details of the brief, objectives, strategy, tactics, outputs, outcomes and budget.

              Please include one testimonial regarding your work on this campaign from another function within your business or from your client.

              Judges will look for creativity, innovative approaches, delivery on brief and within budget, plus the resulting commercial success.

              NEW - Supporting Star

              Recognising the work done by companies in law, accountancy, communications, banking and production that help developers thrive.

              These companies have chosen to focus on the developer community and have a deep understanding of the sector and its needs. This award recognises the very best and salutes the efforts they’ve made to help developers and publishers achieve commercial success.

              Entry requirements:
              Companies must be UK or EU-based with a proven track record of successfully working with development studios.

              Judges will be looking for companies that can demonstrate a deep understanding of the sector and who have provided exceptional support to studios enabling them to thrive and prosper.

              Best QA and Localisation Provider

              Recognising the organisation that has provided the highest quality of service and contributed the most to usability, testing and localisation within the game developer community.

              Entry Requirements:
              Tell us why your organisation deserves the Best QA and Localisation award. What is your core business and how has your product/service supported game developers? Please describe in depth one title that you’re especially proud of helping bring to market within the qualifying period (1 April 2023 - 31 March 2024) and why. You may provide up to three customer testimonials.

              Judges will look for excellence in service levels, delivery on brief and resulting critical and/or commercial success for the client.

              NEW - Best Creative Lead

              Recognising the achievements of an outstanding individual working as a Creative Director or equivalent creative leadership position within a game development team.

              Entry Requirements:
              The individual must be UK or EU-based and have worked in a Creative Director or equivalent creative leadership position leadership position on a video game launched between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024.

              Please limit your entry to 500 words, telling us why the individual deserves to be recognised for exceptional performance, having displayed leadership qualities that go above and beyond in driving their fellow developers to realising a creative vision for their project.

              Judges are particularly interested in individuals that have led teams and projects to outstanding success, whether that is commercial or critical, within the UK and EU.

              Best Creative Provider

              This award recognises the organisation that has provided exceptional audio assets (voice acting, music or sound effects) or visual assets (porting or creating sections of the game) for the game developer community.

              Entry Requirements:
              Tell us why your organisation deserves the Best Creative Provider award. What is your core business and how has your product/service supported game developers? Please describe in depth one title that you’re especially proud of helping bring to market within the qualifying period (1 April 2023 - 31 March 2024) and why. Please provide up to three customer testimonials.

              Judges will look for innovation, creativity, excellence in service levels, delivery on brief and resulting critical and/or commercial success for the client.

              Best Technology Provider

              For this award we’ll be rewarding the organisation that has provided outstanding hardware and/or technological support for UK game developers. This could include third party engines, motion capture tools, dev kits or microprocessors.

              Entry Requirements:
              Tell us why your organisation deserve the Best Technology Provider award. Please describe in depth one title that you’re especially proud of helping bring to market within the qualifying period (1 April 2023 - 31 March 2024) and why. Please provide up to three customer testimonials.

              Judges will look for innovation, excellence in service levels, delivery on brief and resulting critical and/or commercial success for the client.

              Talent Development Star

              Recognising an in-house team that has shown outstanding policies and initiatives, and produced impressive results in successfully recruiting, retaining and developing talent within their team.

              Entry Requirements:
              Tell us why your team deserves to be recognised as our Talent Development Star. Give us an example of your achievements within the qualifying period (1 April 2023 - 31 March 2024) and tell us how you contributed to your company's success. 

              Judges will look for innovative, inclusive approaches and the resulting success.

              Recruitment Star

              Recognising an external organisation that has shown outstanding policies and initiatives, and produced impressive results in successfully recruiting new team members for development studios.

              Entry Requirements:
              Tell us why your organisation deserves to be recognised as our Recruitment Star. Give us an example of your best placement within the qualifying period (1 April 2023 - 31 March 2024) and tell us how you contributed to your client's success. Please provide up to three client testimonials.

              Judges will look for innovative approaches and the resulting success.

              Tomorrow's Star

              The Tomorrow's Star award will recognise the achievements of new talent in the games industry. Nominees should be below senior management or director level.

              Entry Requirements:
              Tell us why this person deserves the Tomorrow's Star award and what is extraordinary about what they’ve achieved. Give examples of how they’ve successfully contributed to your organisation. What makes this person stand out? Include any supporting evidence and testimony within the qualifying period (1 April 2023 - 31 March 2024)

              Judges will look for an individual who strives to achieve success and results, inspires others and has the potential to become a future leader in our industry.

              Publishing Star

              Recognising an organisation that has shown outstanding support helping developers get their game published. This can include via funding, discoverability, research or anything else that helped secure a successful route to market for new games.

              Entry Requirements:
              Tell us why your organisation deserves to be recognised as our Publishing Star. Give us examples of a game or games you’re really proud to have supported within the qualifying period (1 April 2023 - 31 March 2024) and tell us how you contributed to their success. Please provide up to three testimonials from developers you’ve worked with.

              Judges will look for innovative approaches and the resulting critical and/or commercial success for the developer.

              Best Mobile Game

              This award will be given to the game that offers best overall player experience on a mobile phone or tablet.

              Entry Requirements:
              Tell us why this game deserves the Best Mobile Game award and what’s extraordinary about it. Give examples from the nominated game & explain what makes this game and the team’s achievements stand out?

              Judges will look for innovation, creativity and technical achievement.

              Best Game

              Rewarding the game that stands out above all others in terms of gameplay, storytelling, art style, character development, creativity and overall player experience - across all genres and platforms.

              Entry Requirements:
              Tell us why this game deserves the Best Game award and what’s extraordinary about it. Give examples from the nominated game, their inspirations and what the goals were. What makes this game stand out as the Best Game?

              Judges will look for innovation, creativity and technical achievement not just commercial success.

              Best Small Studio

              This award will go to a studio with ten or fewer employees who’ve achieved exceptional critical and commercial success during the qualifying period.

              Entry Requirements:
              Tell us why your studio deserves to win Best Small Studio. What makes your studio and the achievements of your team stand out? Explain your company culture and team dynamic, what’s remarkable about your game(s), development and production process and community engagement?
              Link to examples of your latest game(s) from within the qualifying period (1 April 2023 - 31 March 2024)

              Judges will look for evidence of all round outstanding achievement and individuality as well as critical and commercial success.

              Best Studio

              This award celebrates any studio with ten or more employees who’ve achieved exceptional critical and commercial success during the qualifying period.

              Entry Requirements:
              Tell us why your studio deserves to win Best Studio. What makes your studio and the achievements of your team stand out? Explain your company culture and team dynamic, what’s remarkable about your game(s), development and production process and community engagement?
              Link to examples of your latest game(s) from within the qualifying period (1 April 2023 - 31 March 2024)

              Judges will look for evidence of all round outstanding achievement and individuality as well as critical and commercial success.

              Develop:Star Awards Party

              The Develop:Star Awards winners will be announced at a ceremony on the evening of Wednesday 12 July during Develop:Brighton.

              Party Timings

              • 19:00 Drinks and Canapes
              • 20:00 Awards Presentation
              • 21:00 Dinner
              • 22:00 Awards Presentation
              • 22:30 After Party
              • Late bar with dessert stations, a live DJ and some surprises..

              Party Tickets

              • Premium Table of 10

                Ticket includes premium drinks package, prime table location, your logo displayed on your table, dinner and access to the drinks reception and after party.

                • Standard Table of 10

                Ticket includes standard drinks package, dinner and access to the drinks reception and after party.

                • Single Seat at a Table

                Ticket includes drinks, dinner and access to the drinks reception and after party.

                • Single Seat at a Table Micro Indie Rate
                  (Dev studios with 4 or fewer employees only)

                Ticket includes drinks, dinner and access to the drinks reception and after party.

                Please note: If you've booked a ticket for the Awards you'll need a wristband to get in, which you can collect from the Develop:Brighton Registration desk between 2pm and 7pm on that Wednesday.

                Sponsorship

                The Develop:Star Awards offer a range of sponsorship opportunities to help you achieve your marketing & promotional goals. Whatever your aims, there’s something to suit every pocket - all designed to maximise your exposure.

                To find out how you can get involved contact us at:

                E: [email protected]
                T: +44 (0)20 3927 6440

                The Develop:Star Award 2023


                Guerrilla were the recipient of the 2023 Develop Star Award which recognises outstanding achievements and contributions to the games industry. This is the first time a development studio has received the award rather than an individual - congratulations to the Guerrilla team!


                The 2023 Develop:Star Awards Winners:

                • Best Studio: Roll7
                • Best Small Studio: Black Salt Games
                • Best Game: God of War Ragnarök – Santa Monica Studio | Sony Interactive Entertainment
                • Publishing Star: Team17 Digital
                • Best Mobile Game: Desta: The Memories Between – ustwo games | Netflix
                • Best Game Design: Vampire Survivors – poncle
                • Best Original IP: Hi-Fi Rush – Tango Gameworks | Bethesda Softworks
                • Best Narrative: God of War Ragnarök – Santa Monica Studio | Sony Interactive Entertainment
                • Best Visual Art: Horizon Call of the Mountain – Guerrilla Games | Sony Interactive Entertainment
                • Best Audio: God of War Ragnarök – Santa Monica Studio | Sony Interactive Entertainment
                • Best QA & Localisation: Keywords Studios
                • Best Technical Innovation: Horizon Call of the Mountain – Guerrilla Games | Sony Interactive Entertainment
                • Best Technology Provider: Unreal Engine
                • Best Creative Provider: Atomhawk
                • Diversity Star: Dom Shaw – Ukie
                • Sustainability Star: ustwo games
                • Recruitment Star: Amiqus
                • Talent Development Star: Sumo Group
                • Marketing Star: nDreams
                • Tomorrow’s Star: Shaye Poulton Richards – INTERIOR/NIGHT
                • The Develop Star Award: Guerrilla
                • Special Recognition Award: Dr Jo Twist OBE
                Highlights from the Develop:Star Awards 2023