Mobile firms scoop Develop award nominations

UK game industry mag Develop has just announced the nominations for its 2008 Develop Industry Excellence Awards, and several mobile firms are up for gongs.

The Best Mobile Studio category will see Progressive Media, Ideaworks3D, Digital Chocolate Finland and Distinctive Developments duking it out.

Meanwhile, Ideaworks3D also appears in two more general categories. Its Airplay platform is up for the Technical Innovation award against the likes of Rockstar North and two of Sony's internal teams.

The developer is also nominated in the Best Use of a Licence category for Metal Gear Solid Mobile, going up against console games like Sega Superstar Tennis and Enemy Territory: Quake Wars.

Finally, FinBlade is up for Best New UK/European Studio, taking on Konami Paris, Rockstar London, Oxygen Studios and Doublesix.

A mobile category is de rigeur in any game awards nowadays, but it's encouraging to see mobile firms also being nominated in Develop's other categories.

Best of luck to all the nominees! A panel of 100 industry experts will be voting on the winners, with the awards set to take place on Wednesday July 30th in Brighton.