23.01.2012: Final Spurt! Submission date for Entries for The German Computer Game Prize 2012 until Friday 27 January

Berlin, 23 January 2012 – The submission deadline for the German Computer Prize 2012 ends this week on Friday 27 January. Until then, German publishers and developers of computer games, as well as pupils and students can submit game productions in a total of seven categories online at www.deutschercomputerspielpreis.de. Awards will go to innovative, culturally and educationally valuable computer games. Prizes worth a total of 385,000 euro will be awarded jointly by the inter-branch organisations BIU e.V. and G.A.M.E. e.V. and the Commissioner for Cultural and Media Affairs, State Secretary Bernd Neumann at a joint gala event with LARA – The German Games Awards. The awards will take place during the German Gamestage (24-27 April 2012) at the Umspannwerk Alexanderplatz in Berlin.

These are the categories for the German Computer Game Prize 2012:
1.    Best German Game (50,000 euro)
2.    Best Children’s Game (75,000 euro)
3.    Best Game for Young People (75,000 euro)
4.    Best Mobile Game (50,000 euro)
5.    Best Serious Game (50,000 euro)
6.    Best Browser Game (50,000 euro)
7.    Best Concept for the Development of Young Talent from Pupil and Student Competitions (35,000 euro)

The category for Best German Game is for the first time this year a submission category. The award will be presented to the best German game – independent of target group, genre and gaming platform used. The important thing is that the game is technically and artistically of high quality as well as culturally and educationally valuable, but also offers fun and entertainment. Also games approved for viewing at 16 or 18 years can be submitted, as long as they fulfil the above-mentioned criteria.

Entitled to enter are publishers and developers of computer games, who have their company headquarters in Germany, as well as pupils and students who attend a school or university in Germany. Only games which are already realised and available on the market may be submitted, as long as these first appeared in 2011 and can prove that they were at least 80% developed in Germany.

Detailed conditions of entry can be found at: www.deutscher-computerspielpreis.de

These are the categories for LARA – the German Games Awards 2012:
1.    Best International Computer Game
2.    Best International Console Game
3.    Best International Mobile Game

In addition, the award “LARA of Honour” will be presented to a national or international personality from the industry. This special prize will be awarded for outstanding achievements, works or creative ideas in the history of computer and video games.

About the German Computer Game Prize
The German Computer Game Prize is awarded by the Commissioner for Cultural and Media Affairs, State Secretary Bernd Neumann, together with inter-branch organisations BIU e.V. and G.A.M.E. e.V. The award ceremony will take place during the German Gamestage. The award is a joint initiative of the German government and industry and was started by the federal government together with inter-branch organisations. It promotes the development of innovative, culturally and educationally valuable computer and video games. The prize money is made available by the Commissioner for Cultural and Media Affairs and the inter-branch organisations, each contributing 50%. The prize winners are selected by an independent jury made up of scientists, representatives from the field of media education, protection of minors from the media, politics, trade press and the games industry. Until now, the award ceremony has taken place in Berlin and Munich alternately. In 2012, the award ceremony is being supported by Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg. The German Gamestage was initiated by Medienboard and includes the Quo Vadis Developer Conference by Aruba Events, the Indie Connect festival by A MAZE and numerous other games events in Berlin. More information can be found at www.deutscher-computerspielpreis.de

Organisers of the German Computer Game Prize
-    Commissioner for Cultural and Media Affairs, State Secretary Bernd Neumann
-    Federal Association for Interactive Entertainment Software e.V. (BIU)
-    Federal Association for the German Computer Games Industry e.V. (G.A.M.E.)

Partners of the German Computer Game Prize
-    Entertainment Software Self-Control (USK)
-    Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg
-    Medientage (Media Days) Munich

About LARA – the German Games Awards
LARA – The German Games Awards - is a prize which goes back to an initiative of the trade magazine Gamesmarkt and G+J Entertainment Media. The LARA was conceived in 2007 as an award ceremony, which promoted the image of computer and video games in public and enhanced the awareness of the creative variety of the overall offer. More information can be found at www.lara-award.de

Organiser of LARA – the German Games Awards
-    G+J Entertainment Media Munich

Contact Organiser:
Birgit Roth
G.A.M.E. Bundesverband der Computerspielindustrie e.V.
Tel.: +49 30 257 609 185
roth@game-bundesverband.de

Contact Press:
Dr. Kathrin Steinbrenner
stoneburner. Medienberatung & PR
Tel.: +49 30 4737 2191
mail@stoneburner.org

Further information
The German Trade Association of Interactive Entertainment Software (BIU) is the interest group for suppliers and producers of entertainment software in Germany. It organizes the interests of the relevant companies in the field of interactive entertainment. As a competent partner for media as well as political and social institutions, BIU answers all questions on subjects relating to computer and video games.

Contact:
Bundesverband Interaktive Unterhaltungssoftware e.V.
Rungestrasse 18
D-10179 Berlin
Tel: ++49-30-2408779-0
Fax: ++49-30-2408779-11
www.biu-online.de
Email: presse@biu-online.de