Gabe Newell to be honoured with BAFTA Academy Fellowship
Joannes Truyens February 25, 2013 - 9:46 amAt this year’s British Academy Games Awards, Valve Software’s Gabe Newell will receive the BAFTA Academy Fellowship, “the highest accolade bestowed upon an individual in recognition of an outstanding and exceptional contribution to games.”
Does BAFTA hand out an award for announcing Half-Life 3? Because Gabe Newell sure wouldn’t win that one! Zing! But I suppose Valve Software’s head honcho will be most pleased with what he is getting: a BAFTA Academy Fellowship.
Described as “the highest accolade bestowed upon an individual in recognition of an outstanding and exceptional contribution to games,” the BAFTA Fellowship has been awarded to the likes of Peter Molyneux, Shigeru Miyamoto and Will Wright.
“It is an honour for myself and everyone at Valve to be presented such an award by one of the world’s most respected and recognised organisations,” Newell says in a press release. “Valve owes a tremendous thanks to many in the UK, to those who have played our games, to the great support of the UK press, and to UK-based creative contributors such as Garry Newman. I look forward to accepting this prestigious honour on behalf of everyone in our community.”
“Gabe’s contribution to the industry is unique, and he is very different to many others that BAFTA could recognise. As well as enjoying great critical and commercial success with phenomenally popular franchises such as Portal and Half-Life, his work in giving back to the games industry through developing and showcasing other games makers has been outstanding. He is an inspirational developer and truly deserving of our Fellow recognition,” says Harvey Elliott, chair of BAFTA’s Games Committee.
Newell’s already been inducted into the AIAS Hall of Fame and now this. Leave some for the rest of us, Newell! Jeez!
