THE BRIT LIST: MEDIA MEDIA DARLINGS
From online, print and video to PR, here are the 12 names changing the face of the games media
ALEX SIMMONS, IGN
THIS IGNveteran of eight years has just led the UK’s most popular games website to its biggest year yet. In September, the site scored 5m unique users in the UK, a record for any games website. It built a broadcast studio in its offices, had the first hands-on for Grand Theft Auto V, launched partnerships with GAME, Kerrang Radio, cinemas and more. Oh and he helped launch the site’s PlayStation 4 app, too.
LEWIS BRINDLEY AND SIMON LANE, YOGSCAST
WHEN Lewis Alan Brindley and Simon Charles Lane, the founders of YouTube’s biggest entertainment channel The Yogscast, decided to chat about games via video, they had no idea of the monster they were about to create. “We didn’t set out to be part of the industry – we just loved games and wanted to talk about it and then people started listening and watching,” says Brindley. And they watched in the billions. The Yogscastis a network of YouTube broadcasters, but the channel’s primary show – starring Lewis and Simon – is by far the biggest, and was the first show to reach 1bn views in the UK. But it’s not this success that Brindley cites as his biggest achievement. “It had to be raising $1.1m for charity last December,” he says. “The generosity of our audience for donating and the developers and publishers who helped put up
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CAROLINE MILLER, INDIGO PEARL
THE founder of popular PR agency Indigo Pearl started her career at Virgin Interactive where she learnt from “the brightest ball breakers in the industry.” Today she is perhaps best known for her events work, and last year ran both the biggest ever Eurogamer Expo and the Games Media Awards. But she is also active in emerging areas, supporting eSports and indies. She is also an ambassador for industry charity GamesAid.
KEZA MACDONALD, KOTAKU UK
ONE of the busiest and most active journalists operating today is Keza MacDonald, who has produced thought-provoking and popular works for the likes of The Guardian, Eurogamer and VG247, before becoming IGN’s Games Editor. MacDonald’s reputation meant that Future Publishing came knocking this month when trying to find an editor for the UK launch of controversial games brand, Kotaku.
games and items for the bundle was the most amazing thing I’ve experienced.” Yogscasttoday is a global media business based in Bristol. It even has its own management team with Mark Turpin as CEO and Rich Keith as General Manager. It is a prime example of a games business built by the fans. Brindley says: “We’ve been very lucky to be aligned with the enormous and positive changes that are transforming the industry, firstly the rise of indie games and the creativity of modding audiences and the way media consumption has transformed with YouTube.”
PAT GARRATT, VG247
BUDDING novelist and veteran journalist, Garratt has had a lasting influence on numerous media types from his stint on various publications, including CVGand Eurogamer. He’s picked up the Legend award at the Games Media Awards, too. But his crowning achievement is VG247. The website he founded keeps growing, with a number of young journalist writers that are producing content for an audience of 3.2m.
www.mcvuk.com
CHARLIE BROOKER, TV WRITER
THE famous satirist, author, presenter and writer began his career in games working for PC Zonebefore moving into TV and film criticism. But he has never forgotten his games heritage, returning to PC Zoneto write a review for Euro Truck Simulator, and last year he developed a prime-time one-off TV special entitled How Videogames Changed the World for Channel 4.
GUY COCKER, FREELANCE
LAST May, GameSpotmade the decision to reorganise its management team, resulting in the departure of former UK editor Guy Cocker.
It might regret its decision now. Over the last nine months
Cocker has become the games expert of choice for the BBC, Sky News, Wired, Stuff TVand even BAFTA. He also picked up his first Games Media Award for his excellent podcast.
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