
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts in Wales, BAFTA Cymru, has today announced that A Mechanical Story has won the 2015 British Academy Cymru Award for Games & Interactive Experience. The ceremony was hosted by Welsh comedian and broadcaster Chris Corcoran at Cardiff’s City Hall.
A Mechanical Story, from Skyfish Studios Ltd, is a challenging, physics-based puzzle game that sees mechanical contraptions meet real time game-play, with players having to correctly solve a puzzle by building working contraptions across 48 carefully crafted levels. Skyfish Studios Ltd was founded in June 2014 by Mel Wah, Lucy White-Lewis and Yucel Karamanli and A Mechanical Story is their first collaboration.
The game beat competition from The Doctor and the Dalek (BBC Cymru Wales Online & Learning / Somethin’ Else) and Infinity Runner (Wales Interactive) to win the award.
Commendations to acknowledge excellence in four categories were also presented: the Artistic Achievement Commendation went to Madron (Cube / Glasshead / S4C); the Gameplay Design Commendation was awarded to Thud Media for Boj Digs, who were also commended in the Sound and Music category for Toot’s Harbour; and the Technical Achievement Commendation went to Neilson 360 VR Project from Atticus Digital Ltd.
Rebecca Hardy, Awards Manager at BAFTA Cymru, said: “This year's nominees and winners highlight the talented gaming sector and reflect the strength and growth of this exciting industry in Wales.”
First established in 2013, the British Academy Cymru Award for Games and Interactive Experience recognises, honours and rewards individuals for outstanding creative achievement in their field.
The award ceremony for Games & Interactive Experience is just one of the highlights of the Wales Games Development Show, the highly regarded creative industries event that attracts around 500 industry and games enthusiasts every year.
BAFTA Cymru’s inaugural Games & Interactive Experience Nominees Party was held on 5 June, at the Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff Bay.
The British Academy Cymru Award for Games and Interactive Experience is supported by Glyndwr University, The .cymru .wales campaign, Just Perfect Catering, First Great Western, Ethos, The Wales Games Development Show, Grolsch, Mint Motion, Gorilla and Elin Rees PR.
FULL LIST OF NOMINEES AND WINNERS
BRITISH ACADEMY CYMRU AWARD FOR GAMES & INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE
sponsored by Glyndwr University and The .cymru .wales Campaign
Winner: A MECHANICAL STORY Skyfish Studios Ltd
THE DOCTOR AND THE DALEK BBC Cymru Wales Online & Learning / Somethin’ Else
INFINITY RUNNER Wales Interactive
ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT COMMENDATION
Winner: MADRON Cube / Glasshead / S4C
BOJ DIGS Thud Media
TOOT’S HARBOUR Thud Media
GAMEPLAY DESIGN COMMENDATION
Winner: BOJ DIGS Thud Media
CHICKEN COOP FRACTIONS eChalk Ltd
PYRAMID Boom Kids & Thud Media
SOUND & MUSIC COMMENDATION
Winner: TOOT’S HARBOUR Thud Media
BOJ DIGS Thud Media
MADRON Cube / Glasshead / S4C
TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT COMMENDATION
Winner: NEILSON 360 VR PROJECT Atticus Digital Ltd
MADRON Cube / Glasshead / S4C