Agency / Client Collaboration

These categories celebrate the benefit that comes from a good client/agency relationship. That good business results come from great creativity and the importance of the collaboration between the agencies and clients that work together to elevate both the work and the brand.

Branded Entertainment

Games / Gaming

BE_10
Games / Gaming
Final Extended Deadline Fee: $900.00

A single (1) or series (2-5) of games that feature a brand as an integral component of gameplay. Includes digital games on mobile, online, console, computer and other platforms. Also includes physical and immersive games that require participants to interact with a specific environment.
NOTE: No special equipment will be used for judging. The required submission media must showcase the technology.

Direct Marketing

Digital & Online

DM_16
Digital & Online - Gaming
Final Extended Deadline Fee: $900.00

A single (1) or series (2-5) of game(s) used as a tool for engagement with a brand's targeted demographic. Includes fully branded games and brand placement or integration into an existing game.
NOTE: No special equipment will be used for judging. The required submission media must showcase the technology.

Gaming

Branded Game

GA_01
Branded Game
Final Extended Deadline Fee: $900.00

A single (1) or series (2-5) of new games built around a brand, product, message, or service. Includes console, web, mobile, and console games.
NOTE: No special equipment will be used for judging. The required submission media must showcase the game.
NOTE: Branded elements within existing games should be entered into GA_02: Brand Placement / In Game or GA_03: Brand Integration.

Gaming

Brand Placement / In Game

GA_02
Brand Placement / In Game
Final Extended Deadline Fee: $900.00

A single (1) or series (2-5) of branded elements built into an existing game to promote a brand, product, message, or service. Includes console, web, mobile, and console games.
NOTE: No special equipment will be used for judging. The required submission media must showcase the game.
NOTE: New games created around a brand should be entered into GA_01: Branded Game.
NOTE: Entries must provide the game(s) the brand was placed into.

Gaming

Brand Integration

GA_03
Brand Integration
Final Extended Deadline Fee: $900.00

A single (1) or series (2-5) of branded components such as maps, takeovers, and other incorporations into an existing game to promote a brand, product, message, or service. The brand must be integrated into and add to the gaming experience. Includes console, web, mobile, and console games.
NOTE: No special equipment will be used for judging. The required submission media must showcase the game.
NOTE: New games created around a brand should be entered into GA_01: Branded Game.
NOTE: Entries must provide the game(s) the brand was integrated into.

Gaming

Mobile Gaming

GA_04
Mobile Gaming
Final Extended Deadline Fee: $900.00

A single (1) or series (2-5) of mobile-based games built around a brand, product, message, or service. Includes new fully-branded games and branded elements placed or integrated into existing games.
NOTE: No special equipment will be used for judging. Download links may be provided, but judges are not required to use them. The judging media must showcase the game.

Gaming

Streaming and Influencer

GA_05
Streaming and Influencer
Final Extended Deadline Fee: $900.00

Partnership with an established gaming influencer or influencers to enhance or promote a brand through that influencer's audience and style. Includes use of Twitch and other game streaming platforms.
NOTE: Entries must include the name and gaming and/or streaming platform of the influencer(s) involved in the work.

Gaming

Community Building

GA_06
Community Building
Final Extended Deadline Fee: $900.00

The use of a single (1) or series (2-5) of new or existing games to build, support, and/or facilitate interaction between users and utilize the social aspect of gaming. Includes web, mobile, and console games.

Gaming

Use of Gaming as a Tool

GA_07
Use of Gaming as a Tool
Final Extended Deadline Fee: $900.00

A brand's use of gaming as a medium to provide a useful service or function to its users such as education, therapy, ecommerce, etc. Includes, web, mobile, and console games.

Gaming

Game Marketing

GA_08
Game Marketing
Final Extended Deadline Fee: $900.00

A single (1) or series (2-5) of pieces in a marketing campaign for a particular game or gaming product. Includes all mediums such as print, online, tv and video, experiential, and direct marketing.
NOTE: Marketing for video games can also be entered into the appropriate discipline for the medium in which the campaign ran (Film, Out of Home, Experiential, Integrated, etc.).

Gaming

User-Generated Gaming Environments

GA_09
User-Generated Gaming Environments
Final Extended Deadline Fee: $900.00

A brand's integration into a game or platform where individuals can create, explore, and interact with one another in real time within gameplay in a lasting virtual space. Includes metaverse.
NOTE: No special equipment will be used for judging. The required submission media must showcase the experience.

Gaming

Branded Virtual Goods

GA_10
Branded Virtual Goods
Final Extended Deadline Fee: $900.00

A single (1) or series (2-5) of branded digital items that can be purchased or earned by the user to enhance their gaming experience. Includes skins, NFTs, virtual fashion, virtual tools, vehicles, and other digital goods.
NOTE: No special equipment will be used for judging. The required submission media must showcase the virtual goods.
NOTE: Entries must provide the game(s) the brand was integrated into.

Gaming

Experiential & Immersive In-Person Games

GA_11
Experiential & Immersive In-Person Games
Final Extended Deadline Fee: $900.00

A single (1) or series (2-5) of immersive games created around a brand, product, message, or service that require participants to interact with a physical environment. Includes tournaments, gaming events, trade shows, etc.
NOTE: Physical gaming products should be entered into GA_12: Physical Gaming Accessories.

Gaming

Physical Gaming Accessories

GA_12
Physical Gaming Accessories
Final Extended Deadline Fee: $900.00

A single (1) or series (2-5) of commercially-available physical products that enhance gameplay of a digital game, created to communicate a brand's personality or story. Includes both branded products and products intended for use with a branded game.
NOTE: No special equipment will be used for judging. The required submission media must showcase the physical accessory.

Gaming

Guerilla / Game Modification

GA_13
Guerilla / Game Modification
Final Extended Deadline Fee: $900.00

A single (1) or series (2-5) of unsanctioned modifcations that enhance a particular game or gaming experience in service or a brand, product, message, or service. Includes user interface customizations, game conversions, art mods, total conversions, etc.

Gaming

B2B Communications

GA_14
B2B Communications
Final Extended Deadline Fee: $900.00

Use of gaming to communicate a message or service between businesses in a single (1) or series (2-5) of work.

Gaming

Gaming for Good

GA_15
Gaming for Good
Final Extended Deadline Fee: $900.00

A brand's use of gaming to provide a positive social, cultural, or environmental impact. Includes awareness of and interaction with an issue, and other positive impact projects.

Gaming

Craft

GA_16
Craft - Art Direction
Final Extended Deadline Fee: $900.00

The overall visual appearance of a single (1) or series (2-5) of digital games. Includes branded games or games with brand integration or placement.

GA_17
Craft - Storytelling
Final Extended Deadline Fee: $900.00

The integration of visuals, audio, and character development within a single (1) or series (2-5) of digital games to create a narrative. Includes branded games or games with brand integration or placement.

GA_18
Craft - VFX & Animation
Final Extended Deadline Fee: $900.00

Animation or visual effects applied to a single (1) or series (2-5) of digital games. Includes branded games or games with brand integration or placement.

GA_19
Craft - Music
Final Extended Deadline Fee: $900.00

Use of original or adapted licensed music in a single (1) or series (2-5) of digital games. Includes branded games or games with brand integration or placement.

GA_20
Craft - Sound Design
Final Extended Deadline Fee: $900.00

The creation and application of sounds or voiceover which accentuate, highlight, and score moments and movements in a single (1) or series (2-5) of digital games. Includes branded games or games with brand integration or placement.

Gaming

Innovation

GA_21
Innovation - New Ideas in Gaming
Final Extended Deadline Fee: $900.00

A single (1) or series (2-5) of digital branded games or gaming experiences that explore new or transformative ideas and concepts that push the discipline forward.
NOTE: Entries must include a written explanation of the innovative and transformative aspects of the concept and idea behind the project.
NOTE: Innovative techniques in execution or use of media should be entered into Innovation categories GA_22: Execution or GA_23: Use of Media.

GA_22
Innovation - Execution in Gaming
Final Extended Deadline Fee: $900.00

A single (1) or series (2-5) of digital branded games or gaming experiences that explore new techniques, devices, or methods in implementation that push the discipline forward.
NOTE: Entries must include a written explanation of the innovative and transformative aspects of the techniques used in execution.
NOTE: Innovative concepts and ideas or use of media should be entered into Innovation categories GA_21: New Ideas or GA_23: Use of Media.

GA_23
Innovation - Use of Media in Gaming
Final Extended Deadline Fee: $900.00

A single (1) or series (2-5) of digital branded games or gaming experiences that explore creative placement, positioning, timing, or other innovative use of media to reach the target audience and push the discipline forward.
NOTE: Entries must include a written explanation of the innovative and transformative aspects of the media use and placement.
NOTE: Innovative concepts and ideas or techniques in execution should be entered into Innovation categories GA_21: New Ideas or GA_22: Execution.

Interactive, Online & Mobile

Gaming

IN_12
Gaming - Online
Final Extended Deadline Fee: $900.00

A single (1) or series (2-5) of online games that feature a brand as a component of gameplay or as a standalone game. Includes PC, console, and other online gaming platforms.
NOTE: No special equipment will be used for judging. The required submission media must showcase the technology.
NOTE: Mobile-specific games or brand integrations should be entered in category IN_13: Mobile.

IN_13
Gaming - Mobile
Final Extended Deadline Fee: $900.00

A single (1) or series (2-5) of mobile games that feature a brand as a component of gameplay or as a standalone game.
NOTE: No special equipment will be used for judging. The required submission media must showcase the technology.
NOTE: PC or console games should be entered in category IN_12: Online.