The Counting Kingdom wins NAVGTR Award

Today keeps getting better!  We are so proud to share that The Counting Kingdom has won a NAVGTR Award for Original Family Game 2014.  It's a wonderful honor and we're delighted to continue to show that educational games can stand toe-to-toe with non-educational games.  

The National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers (NAVGTR) is an organization that recognizes outstanding achievements and innovation in the games industry.  With a voting body of more than 630 journalists, analysts and writers, their awards program is one of the most comprehensive in the industry.  

Lots of love for The Counting Kingdom

Our ears have been burning here at Little Worlds as The Counting Kingdom has been nominated for multiple awards in the past few months!  

International Mobile Gaming Awards

Nomination for: Best Meaningful Play

The IMGA celebrates "the most original, skillfully crafted and enjoyable games made for smartphones and tablets."  Jenna will be attending the awards ceremony in March, so keep your fingers crossed for us!

National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers

Nomination for: Original Family Game

NAVGTR is a non-profit organization devoted to "promoting and recognizing the developments and achievements of the interactive entertainment industry."  The Counting Kingdom is one of only three games nominated in its category - we're in excellent company with Hohokum and Monsters Ate My Birthday Cake!

I would also be remiss if I didn't mention that The Counting Kingdom was included in a number of Game of the Year posts for 2014!  Engaged Family Gaming listed The Counting Kingdom as their #3 game, saying:

“The Counting Kingdom, we hope, represents a paradigm shift in design for educational games moving forward.. If this is an indicator for the future of the genre then the future is very bright.”

— Engaged Family Gaming

I couldn't imagine any higher praise!  The Counting Kingdom was also an honorable mention in the NWCN top 10 Game of the Year List, and our dear friend Ken at IndieSider had the game as a runner-up for Desktop Game of the Year.

We are so honored by the ongoing recognition of The Counting Kingdom!

The Counting Kingdom wins Big Indie Pitch Jr. at GDC '14

View fullsize

Another win for the team!  We are so excited that The Counting Kingdom was named the winner at the Big Indie Pitch Jr. at GDC '14!   Jenna pitched the game to a panel of media judges at the Minna Gallery in sunny San Francisco on March 20.  The event had a "speed dating" format, so each company only had 5 minutes to impress each table of judges.  With some quick talking and a demo of the game that speaks for itself, Jenna was able to show the judges the importance of educational games like The Counting Kingdom.  This is the first year that the event had a separate event dedicated to pitching games for a younger audience, so we're doubly proud to be the first winner!

The Counting Kingdom wins 2014 MassDiGI Game Challenge

We are incredibly excited and honored to announce that The Counting Kingdom took home the overall Grand Prize and the Serious Game Prototype category awards at the third annual MassDiGI Game Challenge!  The weekend was a whirlwind of mentoring sessions, pitching, and swapping tales with other game developers.  This year there was a total of fourty-five teams, including both indie developers and students from around the Northeast.  With a judging panel of industry veterans and a packed house of game developers, the event showcases the growing games industry in the Boston area.

The competition was stiff but at the end of it all we got to bring home two shiny trophies!  This is the first time that a serious or educational game has won the Grand Prize, making the whole weekend extra special for us.  A huge thank you to all of the judges, and to MassDiGI for hosting such a great event and its ongoing support of game development in the region!

This is Jenna's extra happy face.