The 10 awards from this year are split into 2 distinct types of awards. The first type considers games that are new to us in this current 12 month period, and the second type of awards that deals with games that have done well over a period of time.
Type 1. Games New to Imagination Gaming – regardless of when they were originally published.
Games may only be submitted to any of the following 7 categories if they are new to Imagination Gaming this year.
• Best Family Game
• Best Maths Game
• Best Literacy Game
• Best Cross-Curriculum Game
• Young Einsteins
• Problem Solving
• The Imagination Gaming Players Choice Award
For these awards we only consider games that we have not used as part of our activities prior to last year’s awards, and as such have not been entered for an award previously. They can be brand new and as yet unpublished, or have been in circulation for a number of years, as long as they are finished games and we haven’t seen them before, they are eligible.
The awards available in these categories are:
The Imagination Gaming Seal of Approval – This award recognises those games that meet our high standards for use in our work with schools and at community events and are games that we can recommend to families as a great game.
Shortlisted – This award is for those exceptional games that make it onto the shortlist for final judging.
Gold Award – This award recognises the judges’ choice for the best game in the category.
Judging Process:(excluding the Players Choice Award***, which is dealt with below)
Nominees
Every submitted game in this category is played and tested for consideration by Imagination Gaming staff and colleagues on numerous occasions with a mix of invited, suitable participants to ensure each game is fully understood and appreciated. It is also playtested, where appropriate, in our work at schools and at community events nationwide.
Shortlisted
These games are then judged solely by this years large, independent panel of educators, parents and enthusiasts.
***The Imagination Gaming, Players Choice Award judging process***
Games considered for this award include ALL the games from the other awards above and are judged by players at games conventions and events where IG have a family zone.
Winners
The games will be available in a dedicated area of our huge UKGE Family Zone hall for the full 3 days of this years convention and at other selected games conventions and events nationwide. Over this period the games will be available to all visitors to playtest and with all participants given an opportunity to help determine the top 3 games.
Imagination Gaming staff have no involvement in the final result of these awards and all decisions made by the panels will be seen as final.
Type 2. Classic Games
The following 2 categories deal with games published more than 12 months ago.
• The Family Classic Award
• The Excelled in Schools Awards
For these any game may be considered for these awards, providing it hasn’t won an award in either category in a previous year.
3 games in each of these 2 categories will be recognised as excelling in the area and will be awarded a badge.
Games in both of these categories are solely shortlisted and judged by Imagination Gaming based on the experiences of using the games in our year-round, education workshops and family events nationwide.
The key element of a good “family” game for us, is that everyone can play it… with everyone else… and to its full potential. Yes, there are lots of games that are good for all ages, but often that can mean it works when adults play each other or when children play it together. We love games that can get a really wide range of ages and abilities together on a level playing field, whether it’s a five minute dash or a 45 minute stalk, will everyone find it fun and competitive at the same time. If so, you’re onto a winner.
We do also recognise that “families” have very different make ups, and can be focused around an older age group or be specifically centered around a larger number of younger children. As such we have included a huge range of titles to be shortlisted in this all en-compassing category, and we will endeavour to find the right balance in judging the awards!
There’s a lot more to “maths” than just numbers!
The teachers and parents we work with like to talk about “thinking skills”. So good numeracy games may involve obvious number-play and calculation, but it’s how those skills are applied through strategy, logic, movement, money skills, risk and probability, planning and perception that really make the Games that Count!
For us, good literacy games take more than words…
It’s not just about encouraging spelling and vocabulary knowledge, but also the ability to comprehend and communicate situations, thoughts and ideas effectively… and the fun that can result. We use all kinds of games and activities to support all these skills to give our players confidence in what they are saying, and enjoy the laughter that comes with using language cleverly to outwit your opponents
To celebrate a good “cross-curricular” game, we’re looking for are games that have a bit of everything from an educational side.
There are tons of great games out there that cover a wide range of curriculum and social skills, however they may first appear. For example, a game involving money will obviously require mathematical skills, but if it involves negotiation as well, then you have introduced language and emotional skills too. Can it be linked to other important learning topics such as health, teamwork, responsibility, confidence and risk assessment? What is the theme of the game, is it historical, geographical, business etc?
Games like this can’t simply be pigeon-holed… but we have tried to with this award!!!
As always, we will be taking EVERY game submitted for this year’s awards with us to UK Games Expo; the UK’s biggest hobby gaming convention. Here, Imagination Gaming run the massive Family Zone, an area that can cater for hundreds of players a once across all three days of this year’s convention, and where all these games and many more will be available on request for us to demonstrate to anyone who would like to try them out! as well as to other large gaming conventions and events nationwide
That’s pretty amazing in itself!
In addition we will shortlist a cross-section of games that have done well in the playtesting period of this year’s awards process and they will be available in a designated area of the Imagination Gaming Family Zone for visitors to play and vote on as part of the Imagination Gaming, UK Games Expo Player’s Choice Award 2017.
Remember… All the Games nominated in eligible (see below) categories for this year have a chance of winning this coveted award!!!
Eligibility:
Games considered for this award include ALL the games from the other 4 awards above, best family, maths, literacy and cross-curriculum game categories, as well as those submitted solely for this category only.
For this award we only consider games that we have not used as part of our activities prior to last year’s awards, and as such have not been entered for an award previously. They can be brand new and as yet unpublished, or have been in circulation for a number of years, as long as they are finished games and we haven’t seen them before, they are eligible.
Awards:
This category will acknowledge the top 3 games with a Gold, Silver and Bronze award
Judging process:
Nominees
Every submitted game in this category is played and tested for consideration by Imagination Gaming staff and colleagues on numerous occasions with a mix of invited, suitable participants to ensure each game is fully understood and appreciated.
Shortlisted Games
We then shortlist a number of games based on the play testing period and the feedback received. We choose a cross section of the most outstanding games covering the 5 awards with games new to Imagination Gaming this year.
Winners
The shortlisted games will be available in a dedicated area of our huge UKGE Family Zone hall for the full 3 days of this years convention. Over this period the games will be available to all visitors to this years Expo to playtest and with all participants given an equal vote to determine the top 3 games.
Judges:
This category will be judged by a selection of this years panel of educators, parents and enthusiasts. Imagination Gaming staff have no involvement in the final result of these 5 awards and all decisions made by the panels are seen as final.
For this one… the gloves are off!
These are the games that we have found to have the most impact across a range of ages and abilities, whilst being both good fun and enhancing vital thinking skills. By definition, all the games we introduce to our games club network have value in the classroom with an intrinsic mix of engagement and fun. We just want to know which ones could not be put down by staff or children… for whatever reason!
Want your game to have a shot at next year’s title?! Get it to us now and it could be an important inclusion in our workshops and activities for the coming year… and beyond
Eligibility:
Any game published before the previous year’s award may be considered for this award, providing it hasn’t won an award in this category in a previous year. Games can be nominated by games companies as well as by Imagination Gaming.
Awards:
3 games in each of these 2 categories will be recognised as excelling in the area and rewarded equally
Judging Process:
Nominees
All submitted games will be judged on the feedback and experiences from prolonged use in our services for education nationwide.
Shortlisted Games
5 games are then shortlisted by Imagination Gaming to be considered for awards.
Winners
The final 5 games are then judged to decide the year’s top 3 games in the category.
Judges:
Games in both of these categories are solely shortlisted and judged by Imagination Gaming based on the experiences of using the games in our year-round, education workshops and family events nationwide.
This award, like the Excelled In Schools category is open to gaes form any year, previous to this one of course!
Here we are looking for games that families of all ages have consistently responded favourably too over the years at community events, festivals, libraries and conventions. Basically anywhere that parents have a chance to play with there children and extendd family ad friends, whatever the ages!
Want your game to have a shot at next year’s title?! Get it to us now and it could be an important inclusion in our workshops and activities for the coming year and beyond. By this time next year it could be on it’s way to becoming a ‘classic’ itself!
Eligibility:
Any game published before the previous year’s awards may be considered for this award, providing it hasn’t won an award in this category in a previous year. Games can be nominated by games companies as well as by Imagination Gaming.
Awards:
3 games in each of these 2 categories will be recognised as excelling in the area and rewarded equally
Judging Process:
Nominees
All submitted games will be judged on the feedback and experiences from prolonged use in our services for education nationwide.
Shortlisted Games
5 games are then shortlisted by Imagination Gaming to be considered for awards.
Winners
The final 5 games are then judged to decide the year’s top 3 games in the category.
Judges:
Games in both of these categories are solely shortlisted and judged by Imagination Gaming based on the experiences of using the games in our year-round, education workshops and family events nationwide.
Now this is the big one…hence the name! New for 2017, this award is open to any game that has been introduced this year that really knocked our socks off!
The BIGGY award, which will be judged by the Imagination Gaming team, will be given to the game that has really stood out to us and one that has proved not only popular, but one that can be played again and again!
All games that have been submitted into the 2017 awards will be in the running – if you have a game you think will impress us, it’s important that you get it to us as soon as possible! Who knows, it could be just what we’ve been searching for!
Eligibility:
Only games that have been submitted into the 2017 awards will be considered for this award and must not have been entered into any previous IG awards. Even if a game wins another award this year, it could also win this huge award too!
Awards:
There will be just one game out of all the submissions we receive that will be awarded with the BIGGY!
Judging Process:
Nominees & Winner
All submitted games this year will be judged by the Imagination Gaming team to decide the year’s Best Imagination Gaming Game of the Year award!
Judges:
Games in this category are solely shortlisted and judged by Imagination Gaming based on their ‘wow’ factor, replayability and popularity!
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