BAFTA/Gabi Torres Explore the winners of the 2019 YGD competition
The winners of the 2019 BAFTA Young Game Designers competition have been announced!
Four aspiring game designers aged between 10 and 18, as well as an inspiration teacher, have all been honoured with BAFTA YGD awards.
The BAFTA YGD competition, now in its ninth year, presents awards in two main categories: The Game Concept Award, for a written idea for a new game; and the Game Making Award, for a game made using computer software. The 2019 winners, chosen by a jury of industry experts, are:
- Jesse Waymont for ‘I Seek Death’ – Game Concept Award (10-14 years)
- Elizabeth Orji-Smith for ‘Creatively Bankrupt’ – Game Concept Award (15-18 years)
- Maximillian Robinson for ‘LASERASE: Demolition in the future’ – Game Making Award (10-14 years)
- Adam Pace for ‘Wip’ – Game Making Award (15-18 years)
Matthew Applegate, founder of the Creative Computing Club, was awarded the YGD Mentor Award. This Award is presented to an individual nominated by the public for their involvement in the education of young game designers.
HRH The Duke of Cambridge and President of BAFTA, said of the competition: “This year the entries have an overwhelming social purpose to them, focussing on issues including mental health, climate change, conservation, disability, bereavement, and transgender rights. Many of the game ideas strive to educate players of all ages on the social issues they address, hoping to prompt real change in people’s lives. I think it is fantastic to see young people using games to express themselves and purposes that they identify with.”
The Awards ceremony took place at BAFTA on 29 June 2019.
