The inaugural winners were a team of three known as Beached Whale Productions for their game concept HAMSTER: accidental world domination. One of the winning team members, 16-year-old Dan Pearce, has since enjoyed an impressive career trajectory, becoming a BAFTA Breakthrough Brit in 2013 and earning a BAFTA nomination for Debut Game with Castles in the Sky the following year.
In 2014, the YGD initiative introduced two categories: Game Concept and Game Making – now awarded at a bespoke ceremony at 195 Piccadilly. The following year, the YGD Mentor Award and YGD Hero were introduced, recognising work by adults to support young game creators in the UK.
Image: Harry Potter star Matthew Lewis with inaugural YGD winners Sam Taylor (16), James Cook (13) and future BAFTA Breakthrough Brit and BAFTA nominee Dan Pearce (16) in 2010 (BAFTA Archive/Richard Kendal)
Video: Footage from YGD awards and events, featuring the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and past YGD winners.