Games Media Brit List 2018 - The Winners In Full

Keza MacDonald named Most Influential

Eurogamer, Gamespot, Radio 5 Live, IGN and more amongst the winners

Games Media Brit List will return on Thursday, May 16th 2019

The winners of the first Games Media Brit List Awards were revealed last night at a fun-filled ceremony in Shoreditch, London.

The new awards event celebrated the very best in games writing and broadcasting, and attracted nominations from across the spectrum of the games media – from specialist consumer journalists, B2B reporters, eSports presenters, YouTubers, streamers, media brands, national media reviewers and more.

The winners were:

BEST CRITIC
Christian Donlan – Eurogamer

BEST REPORTER
Ben Barrett - Freelance

BEST FEATURES WRITER
Tamoor Hussain – Gamespot

BEST VIDEO PRESENTER
Chris Bratt – Eurogamer

BEST STREAMER
Eurogamer

PODCAST/RADIO SHOW
Adam Rosser – Radio 5Live Game On

BEST PRINT EDITORIAL TEAM
Edge

BEST ONLINE EDITORIAL TEAM
Eurogamer

BEST VIDEO PRODUCTION TEAM
IGN

EMERGING TALENT
Vic Hood – Freelance

An award for the MOST INFLUENTIAL was also announced, with The Guardian’s Games Editor Keza MacDonald picking up the prestigious trophy.

The awards were hosted by writer, editor, producer, and trainee pro wrestler Simon Miller and hosted at the Rich Mix venue in Shoreditch.

Supporting the very first Games Media Brit List Awards were Trailblazers from Rising Star Games, Belong by GAME, Reality Clash, Bossa Studios, Hitman Definitive Edition from Warner Bros, Vuelio, Jägermeister, plus industry bodies Ukie, TIGA and ERA.

The next Games Media Brit List will take place on Thursday, May 16th 2019 - More details will be announed soon at www.gamesmediabritlist.com.

Alternatively, follow the Games Media Brit List on Twitter or sign up to the GMBL email newsletter to receive updates.

Lisa Carter, Event Director at Games Media Brit List, said: “We’re absolutely delighted with the response we’ve had to the first Games Media Brit List Awards. To see such positivity in the room, with friends, peers and rivals cheering each other was absolutely brilliant.

“A huge congratulations to all the winners, a big thank you to our partners who helped make it happen, and apologies for any sore heads. See you all again in 2019!”

For more information about the Games Media Brit List, contact Lisa Carter on +44 (0)7970 164 201 or email lisa.carter@gamesmediabritlist.com.

The Games Media Brit List 2018 is this Thursday – are you coming along?

Here’s all you need to know before the big night

After an avalanche of nominations, a lot of diligent reading by our panel of judges, and a fair bit more besides, the very first Games Media Brit List will take place this Thursday, May 17th at Rich Mix in Shoreditch.  

The Games Media Brit List was launched as a showcase of UK games media talent, open to anyone engaged in reporting, reviewing or commentating on video games and esports.

The award ceremony provides the spine of the evening, but it’s also a platform for the games media and the wider industry to network ahead of the announcement flurry of E3, to take part in gaming tournaments, to catch up with industry friends, and generally to bring everyone together for a night of celebration.

Oh, and drink cocktails and enjoy pizza.

We’re delighted with the feedback we’ve had and we’re really happy that so many of you will be joining us on Thursday.

We’ll have journalists, presenters and editors from across the spectrum, with representatives from:

5Live Game On, BBC Newsbeat, Cane & Rinse, Daily Star, Edge, Eurogamer, Forbes, Games Radar, Games Radar, Gamesindustry.biz, Gamesmaster, Gamespot, GamesTM, Digital Play, Ginx TV, GQ Magazine, IGN, IGN Podcast, Influencerupdate.biz, Kotaku, MCV, Network-N, Official Xbox Magazine, One Life Left, OnScreen, PCGamesInsider.biz, PCGamesN, Playstation Access, Pocketgamer.co.uk, Red Bull, Resero Network, Retro Gamer, RPS, RPS Electronic Wireless Show, Sky, Staying In, Steel Media, Stuff, Team VVV, The Computer Game Show, The Guardian, Toxic, ToyNews, VG247, Videogamer, and VR Focus.

If you want to be there too, we still have a few tickets available here.

On the night, as well as the free bar and pizza, Jägermeister has put together a series of gaming themed cocktails for guests. They are:

Ice Cold Shot 

• Ice Cold shot of Jägermeister

Jägermeister Mule 

• Jägermeister, ginger beer, Lime & Cucumber

 It’s a Jäger Trailblazer ting..

• Jägermeister, Grapefruit soda (ting)

 Floating Island Punch 

• Jagermeister, passion fruit, cloudy apple juice, cinnamon & fruit cider)

 Reality Clash berry tea smash 

• Jägermeister, berry tea, blackcurrent jam, maple syrup & lemon

Taking the helm as host is Simon Miller – AKA; ‘The Miller Report’, AKA; ‘YouTube Sensation Milibob’ AKA; ‘Indie dev Brian Cranst’, AKA; ‘down in the dumps Gerald Winesworth’.

Having worked in and around the games industry for the last 12 years, Simon is not only a writer, editor, producer and host - there are four different versions of him too... at least. Also currently training to be a pro-wrestler, Simon is ready to grab the Games Media Brit List Awards by the hand, and ‘walk it to somewhere beautiful.’

Ahead of the event, he recorded this message for you:

As well as the gaming consoles scattered around the venue, entertainment will be provided by Plug n Play – the UK’s only video game covers band.

The band will bring to life favourites from the 8-bit era and beyond – performing live medleys from games such as Pokémon, Sonic, Mario, Final Fantasy and much more.

You can check them out in action below:

A huge thanks to the companies and brands who are helping us to host this event – namely Trailblazers by Rising Star Games, Belong by GAME, Reality Clash, Vuelio, Bossa Studios, Warner Bros and Jaegermeister.

It’s going to be a hell of a night, and we can’t wait to see you all on Thursday.  

To find out more about the event, visit: https://www.gamesmediabritlist.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GamesMediaBL #GMBL18

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gamesmediabritlist

About the Games Media Brit List

The Games Media Brit List recognises excellence in games reporting and commentary, celebrating journalists, podcasters, vloggers, media brands, and more in a who’s who of the UK games media talent pool. For more information, visit https://www.gamesmediabritlist.com

For further information contact:

Lisa Carter

+44 (0)7970 164201

lisa.carter@gamesmediabritlist.com

Belong by Game joins Games Media Brit List 2018 partners as After Show Party and Emerging Talent Category Sponsor

And will also be bringing PS4 gaming stations to the event on May 17th at Rich Mix, Shoreditch

Belong by Game, a gaming arena and tournament organiser owned by the specialist retailer, is sponsoring the After Show Party and Emerging Talent Category at the Games Media Brit List 2018.  

Belong will also be providing PS4 gaming stations on the night, loaded with FIFA 18 and Overwatch.

The emerging talent category highlights the up-and-coming stars of the UK’s games media.

The Games Media Brit List takes place on Thursday, May 17th 2018 at Shoreditch’s uber-cool community arts hub, Rich Mix.

The Awards celebrate the very best in games writing and broadcasting and are open to anyone involved in video games and eSports media – specialist consumer journalists, B2B reporters, vloggers, streamers, media brands, national media reviewers and more.

The Games Media Brit List’s partners also include Reality Clash, Trailblazers, Bossa Studios, Vuelio, Jägermeister, Ukie, TIGA, and ERA.

As well as the awards themselves, the Games Media Brit List will bring together the games media community and the wider industry for an evening of entertainment and networking in the build up to E3, the global industry’s leading trade event in LA.

The finalists have been announced -  and the winners will be picked by a named panel of independent judges.

To find out more about the event, visit https://www.gamesmediabritlist.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GamesMediaBL #GMBL18

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gamesmediabritlist

About Belong by Game

Each Belong Gaming Arena is a bespoke space, designed to cater for all, from the ultimate hard core gamer to the newest and freshest faces in the world of gaming! With custom high-powered gaming PCs, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 consoles readily available throughout the arena, every game and gamer is catered for.
Play the latest and greatest titles next to your friends, compete in your favourite game against some of the country’s best players and experience the latest in VR gaming under one roof at Belong.

About The Games Media Brit List

The Games Media Brit List recognises excellence in games reporting and commentary, celebrating journalists, podcasters, vloggers, media brands, and more in a who’s who of the UK games media talent pool. For more information, visit https://www.gamesmediabritlist.com

For further information contact:

Lisa Carter

+44 (0)7970 164201

lisa.carter@mimrammedia.co.uk

Bossa Studios joins Games Media Brit List 2018 partners as Video Production Team Category Sponsor

Developer and publisher joins roster of sponsors for the inaugural event, held on May 17th at Rich Mix, Shoreditch

Bossa Studios has signed up as Video Production Team Category Sponsor at the inaugural Games Media Brit List awards. The developer and publisher is behind such titles as World’s Adrift, Purrfect Date, Surgeon Simulator and I am Bread.  

The Games Media Brit List takes place on Thursday, May 17th 2018 at Shoreditch’s uber-cool community arts hub, Rich Mix.

The Awards celebrate the very best in games writing and broadcasting and are open to anyone involved in video games and eSports media – specialist consumer journalists, B2B reporters, vloggers, streamers, media brands, national media reviewers and more.

The Video Production Team category highlights the leading lights behind editorially-led video content in the games media.

Bossa Studios is a BAFTA-winning independent games developer and publisher based in London and Seattle. Driven by creativity, charm and flair, they make games that champion innovation and originality, including the critically-acclaimed Surgeon Simulator, I am Bread and Monstermind. Their community is integral to their ethos, as best represented by Worlds Adrift - a truly ambitious undertaking that's redefining the genre through its use of crowdsourced content, introducing the world's first Community-Crafted MMO. 

The Games Media Brit List’s partners also include Vuelio, Reality Clash, Trailblazers, Ukie, TIGA, ERA, and Jägermeister.

As well as the awards themselves, the Games Media Brit List will bring together the games media community and the wider industry for an evening of entertainment and networking in the build up to E3, the global industry’s leading trade event in LA.

The finalists have been announced and the winners will be picked by a named panel of independent judges.

To find out more about the event, visit https://www.gamesmediabritlist.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GamesMediaBL #GMBL18

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gamesmediabritlist

About Bossa Studios

Bossa Studios is a BAFTA award winning independent games developer and publisher based in London. We make games for fun's sake and are driven by doing things differently with creativity, charm, and flair. Our titles are loved by millions of gamers worldwide including Surgeon Simulator and I am Bread. We're also completely in love with our players, and are excited to see what they are creating and contributing to our ambitious new open dev project Worlds Adrift, a truly unique sandbox that is redefining the MMO genre.

About The Games Media Brit List

The Games Media Brit List recognises excellence in games reporting and commentary, celebrating journalists, podcasters, vloggers, media brands, and more in a who’s who of the UK games media talent pool. For more information, visit https://www.gamesmediabritlist.com

For further information contact:

Lisa Carter

+44 (0)7970 164201

lisa.carter@mimrammedia.co.uk

Games Media Brit List 2018: Everything you need to know about the entertainment, the venue, the host, and more

We are around a month away from the inaugural Games Media Brit List awards - so here’s some more details about the entertainment on the night and the Uber cool venue where we’ll be celebrating the best of the best in the UK’s games media...     

We’re delighted to announce that Plug n Play – the UK’s only video game covers band – will be providing the tunes at the after party.

The band will bring to life favourites from the 8-bit era and beyond – performing live medleys from games such as Pokémon, Sonic, Mario, Final Fantasy and much more.

You can check them out in action below:

Taking the helm as host is Simon Miller – AKA; ‘The Miller Report’, AKA; ‘YouTube Sensation Milibob’ AKA; ‘Indie dev Brian Cranst’, AKA; ‘down in the dumps Gerald Winesworth’.

Having worked in and around the games industry for the last 12 years, Simon is not only a writer, editor, producer and host - there are four different versions of him too... at least. Also currently training to be a pro-wrestler, Simon is ready to grab the Games Media Brit List Awards by the hand, and ‘walk it to somewhere beautiful.’

He has this message for you:

The venue, Rich Mix, is East London’s independent arts centre. Once a vast leather factory, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road was transformed into a multi-arts venue, all 62,000 feet of it. Stretched over five floors it has a three screen cinema showing the latest releases and takes part in a number of independent film festivals.

The venue says it’s aim ‘is to be a place where the communities of the world, who are the citizens of East London and beyond, can come together to experience and make world class art and feel that it’s a place where they belong.’

On the night there will also will be gaming tournaments, game themed cocktails, and of course fancy canapés.  

The Games Media Brit List celebrates the very best in games writing and broadcasting in video games and eSports media.

The Games Media Brit List’s partners include Vuelio, Jägermeister, Reality Clash, Trailblazers, Bossa Studios, Ukie, TIGA and ERA.

As well as the awards themselves, the Games Media Brit List will bring together the games media community and the wider industry for an evening of entertainment and networking in the build up to E3, the global industry’s leading trade event in LA.

The finalists have been announced - and the winners will be picked by a named panel of independent judges.

To find out more about the event, visit: https://www.gamesmediabritlist.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GamesMediaBL #GMBL18

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gamesmediabritlist

About the Games Media Brit List

The Games Media Brit List recognises excellence in games reporting and commentary, celebrating journalists, podcasters, vloggers, media brands, and more in a who’s who of the UK games media talent pool. For more information, visit https://www.gamesmediabritlist.com

For further information contact:

Lisa Carter

+44 (0)7970 164201

lisa.carter@gamesmediabritlist.com

Games Media Brit List Awards: Trailblazers to get the party started!

The drinks are on Rising Star Games and its innovative racer from UK studio Supergonk

Rising Star Games’ Trailblazers will raise a toast to the trailblazers of the UK games media next month, as the drinks reception partner at the Games Media Brit List Awards.

The game will be available to play whilst guests step up to the starting grid for the awards themselves.

Trailblazers is a fresh new co-operative racing title with an innovative on-track game mechanic: paint the track, boost on your colour and work as a team to win. It’s been created by UK indie studio Supergonk.

“We are delighted to be the Drinks Reception Partner at the very first Games Media Brit List Awards, which will showcase the very best in the UK games media. Games journalism – whether print, digital or broadcast – plays an incredibly important role in informing and inspiring consumers,” said Rising Star Games’ Managing Director Martin Defries.

“We are proud to support these awards, and all of the talented brands and individuals in the sector.”

The Games Media Brit List takes place on Thursday, May 17th 2018 at Shoreditch’s uber-cool community arts hub, Rich Mix.

The Awards celebrate the very best in games writing and broadcasting and are open to anyone involved in video games and eSports media – specialist consumer journalists, B2B reporters, vloggers, streamers, media brands, national media reviewers and more.

As well as the awards themselves, the Games Media Brit List will bring together the games media community and the wider industry for an evening of entertainment and networking in the build up to E3, the global industry’s leading trade event in LA.

The finalists have been announced < link - https://www.gamesmediabritlist.com/the-finalists/> and the winners will be picked by a panel of independent judges.

To find out more about the event, visit https://www.gamesmediabritlist.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GamesMediaBL #GMBL18

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gamesmediabritlist

About Rising Star Games

Rising Star Games is a privately held video games publisher with a global reach. With operating offices in Europe and USA the company publishes video game entertainment across all gaming platforms from Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo and via Steam. With decades of combined experience and a genuine passion for interactive entertainment, Rising Star Games is proud of its ever-expanding and enormously diverse catalogue of over 130 titles. www.risingstargames.com

About The Games Media Brit List

The Games Media Brit List recognises excellence in games reporting and commentary, celebrating journalists, podcasters, vloggers, media brands, and more in a who’s who of the UK games media talent pool. For more information, visit https://www.gamesmediabritlist.com

For further information contact:

Lisa Carter

+44 (0)7970 164201

lisa.carter@mimrammedia.co.uk

Reality Clash sponsors Best Reporter category at the Games Media Brit List 2018

AR mobile combat title becomes Best Reporter Category Sponsor for the inaugural event, held on May 17th at Rich Mix, Shoreditch

iOS & Android augmented reality (AR) mobile combat game Reality Clash is sponsoring the Best Reporter Category at the inaugural Games Media Brit List awards. 

Developed by Reality Gaming Group, Reality Clash is a free-to-play game for iPhone and Android devices that uses the phone’s camera to render an AR view of the world on-screen, with geolocation gameplay encouraging players to enter face-to-face combat with each other in real time.

The Games Media Brit List takes place on Thursday, May 17th 2018 at Shoreditch’s uber-cool community arts hub, Rich Mix.

The Awards celebrate the very best in games writing and broadcasting and are open to anyone involved in video games and eSports media – specialist consumer journalists, B2B reporters, vloggers, streamers, media brands, national media reviewers and more.

The Best Reporter Category focusses on all the games media’s news hounds, and the winner will be announced on the night. 

“We’re delighted to be supporting the inaugural Games Media Brit List - There is a huge and diverse talent pool of games media in this country and that excellence deserves to be recognised,” said Tony Pearce, Co-Founder of Reality Clash publisher Reality Gaming Group. “We wish all the finalists the best of luck.”

Andrew Wooden, Event Director at the Games Media Brit List, said “We’re delighted to announce Reality Clash as Best Reporter Category Sponsor – one of the most popular categories going by the huge number of nominations we received for it. We welcome them to the growing roster of partners who make the event possible, and look forward to celebrating the finalists on May 17th.” 

The Games Media Brit List’s partners also include Vuelio, Jägermeister, Rising Star Games, Bossa Studios, Ukie, TIGA and ERA.

As well as the awards themselves, the Games Media Brit List will bring together the games media community and the wider industry for an evening of entertainment and networking in the build up to E3, the global industry’s leading trade event in LA.

The finalists have been announced and the winners will be picked by a named panel of independent judges.

To find out more about the event, visit https://www.gamesmediabritlist.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GamesMediaBL #GMBL18

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gamesmediabritlist

About the Games Media Brit List
The Games Media Brit List recognises excellence in games reporting and commentary, celebrating journalists, podcasters, vloggers, media brands, and more in a who’s who of the UK games media talent pool. For more information, visit https://www.gamesmediabritlist.com

About Reality Clash & Reality Gaming Group
The Reality Gaming Group is the developer and publisher of mobile AR combat game Reality Clash, which is due for release in late-2018 and utilises exciting blockchain technology. It is also the creator of a ground-breaking AR geo-location platform for mobile, which can be deployed across a huge range of content types. The Reality Gaming Group development team has more than 20 years’ experience across Mobile, PC, Console, AR and VR games platforms. For more information, visit: http://realitygaminggroup.com

For further information contact:

Lisa Carter

+44 (0)7970 164201

lisa.carter@gamesmediabritlist.com

Prepare yourselves... Simon Miller is hosting the Games Media Brit List 2018

Writer, editor, producer, host, and trainee pro wrestler, Miller is ready to grab the Games Media Brit List Awards by the hand, and take it somewhere beautiful…

That’s right, Simon Miller – AKA; ‘The Miller Report’, AKA; ‘YouTube Sensation Milibob’ AKA; ‘Indie dev Brian Cranst’, AKA; ‘down in the dumps Gerald Winesworth’ – is taking the helm at the inaugural Games Media Brit list awards… and he’s not going to take any of your nonsense.

The Games Media Brit List takes place on Thursday, May 17th 2018 at Shoreditch’s community arts hub, Rich Mix.

Having worked in and around the games industry for the last 12 years, Simon Miller is not only a writer, editor, producer and host - there are four different versions of him too... at least. Also currently training to be a pro-wrestler, Simon is ready to grab the Games Media Brit List Awards by the hand, and ‘walk it to somewhere beautiful.’

"It's a real pleasure to host the first ever Games Media Brit List and recognise some of the best talent throughout games journalism... and then see those who didn't get nominated get upset about it on Twitter," said Miller.

He’s recorded this special message ahead of the big night:

The Games Media Brit List celebrates the very best in games writing and broadcasting in video games and eSports media.

The Games Media Brit List’s partners include Vuelio, Jägermeister, Reality Clash, Rising Star Games, Ukie, TIGA and ERA.

As well as the awards themselves, the Games Media Brit List will bring together the games media community and the wider industry for an evening of entertainment and networking in the build up to E3, the global industry’s leading trade event in LA.

The finalists have been announced - and the winners will be picked by a named panel of independent judges.

To find out more about the event, visit: https://www.gamesmediabritlist.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GamesMediaBL #GMBL18

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gamesmediabritlist

About the Games Media Brit List

The Games Media Brit List recognises excellence in games reporting and commentary, celebrating journalists, podcasters, vloggers, media brands, and more in a who’s who of the UK games media talent pool. For more information, visit https://www.gamesmediabritlist.com

For further information contact:

Lisa Carter

+44 (0)7970 164201

lisa.carter@gamesmediabritlist.com

Games Media Brit List 2018 shortlist revealed

Finalist roll call celebrates the very best in UK games writing & broadcasting

Presentation ceremony set for Thursday, May 17th 2018 at Rich Mix, Shoreditch

The shortlist for the inaugural Games Media Brit List has been unveiled, ahead of an awards ceremony in London on May 17th, 2018.

The shortlist, whittled down from hundreds of nominations received between December 4th and February 28th this year, is a celebration of the very best in games writing, publishing and broadcasting.

The awards were open to anyone in the UK games and eSports media to enter – including specialist consumer journalists, B2B reporters, vloggers, streamers, media brands, national media reviewers and more - highlighting achievements from the previous 12 months.

The finalists will gather together for the presentation ceremony, which takes place on Thursday, May 17th 2018 at Rich Mix in Shoreditch.

Event Partners include Jägermeister, Vuelio, Reality Clash, Rising Star Games, TIGA, UKIE and the Entertainment Retailers Association.

As well as the awards themselves, the Games Media Brit List will bring together the games media community and the wider industry for an evening of entertainment and networking in the build-up to E3, the global industry’s leading showcase event in LA.

And for finalists, the Games Media Brit List will be completely free to attend.

The shortlisted finalists in each of the categories is as follows:

Best Critic
Alice Bell, Videogamer.com
Brenna Hillier, VG247
Chris Scullion, Freelance
Chris Schilling, Freelance
Christian Donlan, Eurogamer
Edwin Evans-Thirwell, Freelance
Joe Skrebels, IGN
Kirk McKeand, VG247
Martin Robinson, Eurogamer
Oli Welsh, Eurogamer
Patrick Dane, Freelance
Steve Boxer, Freelance

Best Reporter
Alex Calvin, PCGamesinsider.biz
Ben Barrett, PCGamesN
Ben Skipper, Freelance
Chris Dring, Gamesindustry.biz
James Batchelor, Gamesindustry.biz
Leon Hurley, Games Radar
Mike Stubbs, Forbes/Freelance
Richard Stanton, Kotaku
Sherif Saed, VG247
Steffan Powell, BBC Newsbeat
Tom Phillips, Eurogamer

Best Features Writer
Alice Bell, Videogamer.com
Ben Sillis, Red Bull Games
Brendan Caldwell, Rock Paper Shotgun
Chris Schilling, Freelance
Dan Dawkins, Games Radar
Dave Aubrey, PocketGamer.co.uk
Dave Houghton, Games Radar
Ian Dransfield, Freelance
Jeremy Peel, PCGamesN
Josh West, GamesTM/Play Digital
Keza MacDonald, The Guardian
Kirk McKeand, VG247
Robert Purchese, Eurogamer
Sam Loveridge, Games Radar
Tamoor Hussain, Gamespot
Wesley Yin-Poole, Eurogamer

Best Video Presenter
Alice Liguori, PCGamesN
Alysia Judge, IGN
Chris Bratt, Eurogamer
Colm Ahern, Videogamer
Elle Osili-Wood, Ginx TV
Gav Murphy, IGN
James Gilmour, Steel Media
Robert Pearson, PlayStation Access

Best Streamer
Eurogamer
FoxDrop
Jupiter Hadley
JurassicJunkie
LeahViathan
OnScreen
Valkia

Best Podcast & Radio
Adam Rosser, BBC 5 Live Game On
Cane and Rinse    
Gareth Dutton, Making Games Is Fun
IGN    
One Life Left    
RPS Electronic Wireless Show    
Staying In    
Stefan Powell, BBC Newsbeat    
The Computer Game Show    
Videogamer Podcast    

Print Editorial Team
Edge
GamesMaster
GamesTM
MCV
Official PlayStation
Official Xbox
Retro Gamer
Stuff
Toxic

Online Editorial Team
Daily Star
Eurogamer
Gamesindustry.biz
Games Radar
GameSpot
The Guardian
IGN
Kotaku
PCGamesN
Pocketgamer.co.uk
Rock Paper Shotgun
Steel Media B2B team
VG247
Videogamer.com

Video Production Team
Eurogamer    
Gamespot
GamesRadar
IGN    
PCGamesN
PlayStation Access    
Resero Network    
Team VVV    
Videogamer.com
VRFocus    

Emerging Talent
Alex Avard, GamesRadar
Chris Tapsell, Eurogamer
Danielle Partis, Influencerupdate.biz
Dougie Powell, Freelance
Elliot Gardner, Freelance
Haydn Taylor, Gamesindustry.biz
Matt Cox, Rock Paper Shotgun
Richard Scott-Jones, PCGamesN
Sam Greer, GamesMaster
Vic Hood, PCGamesN

Winners will be chosen by a panel of independent judges.

To find out more about the event, visit https://www.gamesmediabritlist.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GamesMediaBL #GMBL18

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gamesmediabritlist

To become a Games Media Brit List event partner, visit: https://www.gamesmediabritlist.com/our-partners

About The Games Media Brit List
The Games Media Brit List recognises excellence in games reporting and commentary, celebrating journalists, podcasters, vloggers, media brands, and more in a who’s who of the UK games media talent pool.

For further information contact:

Lisa Carter
+44 (0)7970 164201
lisa.carter@gamesmediabritlist.com

“Everyone who wants to do this is admirable” - IBT’s Ben Skipper on working in the sometimes volatile games media

Ben Skipper is entertainment and video game reporter for International Business Times, and has been writing games reviews since he was 12. In the latest in a series of Games Media Brit List Interviews, he talks frankly about overworking and the pressures on mental health, building up a games media brand, and working with and getting to know wonderful people…

How did you first get into the games media?

I started writing up reviews games and films when I was about 12 on this ancient (even at the time) laptop, saving them to floppy disks. That turned into a hobby which turned into an application to study journalism at university. I graduated, was an intern at Yahoo Movies for a year then went freelance. It wasn’t long before I got in touch with Adam Cook at God is a Geek, who gave me my first regular gig writing news. 

What advice would you give to someone currently looking at a career in games media?

Work hard, but don’t let your work overwhelm you. Create opportunities where you can, seize them and stay conscious of your career trajectory. Have your next step in mind and don’t hesitate in taking it when the time is right. Also, don’t feel guilty about taking breaks from work. Find and indulge other interests. Strike a healthy work-life balance. 

What’s been the best advice you’ve ever received?

Eat a good meal before attending industry events where there’s free alcohol...

What are you most proud of in your career to date?

After a few months at IBTimes UK I decided I wanted grow what little gaming coverage we had into something more robust. My desk editor at the time David Gilbert agreed to let me crack on, essentially giving me free rein. At first it was just me, but ahead of E3 2015 I hired a temp (Jake Laverde) to help during that very busy week. Around that time I requested a freelance budget too, which I used to expand the scope of our coverage, commissioning writers like Jake Tucker, Kirk McKeand, Holly Nielsen, Sean Cleaver, Mike Stubbs, Chris Kerr, Sayem Ahmed and so many more to write reviews and features. When the tech desk at IBT grew, Oliver Cragg came on board as well.

I was a de facto editor working with talented writers to establish and grow a section that was eventually nominated for a Games Media Award. The nomination was incredible, but I’m most proud of the work we did to get there. To build something from so little, learn so much in doing so and help get up-and-coming writers published was a thrill. The best part was working with and getting to know so many wonderful people. 

And what has been your biggest challenge?

The biggest challenge has been dealing with difficult circumstances when things take a turn for the worse. They inevitably do, so what matters is how you react and what you learn. I say that as someone who has not reacted well, and who has definitely slumped. The stumbling blocks I’ve encountered have been disheartening. They’ve caused me to doubt my abilities, doubt whether this is even what I want to do, and to be honest they’ve had a negative impact on my mental health. It’s why my advice up there included taking breaks and finding a healthy work-life balance. I’m proud of what I built at IBT, but there was a time when the work dominated my life. It’s as much a problem when things are good as when they’re bad, you just don’t realise it.  

Which of your competitors do you most admire and why?

I couldn’t possibly narrow it down to even a select few. The games media is full of incredibly passionate people. Those who are successful, those that have been successful, those who are yet to be successful and those who work tirelessly for years and years without due recognition. Given the volatile nature of this business and the toxicity in the industry we cover, everyone who wants to do this is admirable. 

Who’s your favourite non-games writer/presenter?

Joel Golby is an incredibly funny writer and makes it look easy. I hate him. His articles for Vice (the more in-depth the better) used to be events when the IBT tech desk Slack channel was at its busiest. We’d just share his latest with “G O L B Y” and no more. 

If you weren’t working in games media, what would you be doing?

I have no idea. I should probably figure that out.

Nominate yourself for a Games Media Brit List award here – it’s quick and easy and finalists attend the event, held on May 17th at Rich Mix in Shoreditch, completely free!