Binary-Star makes a winning game

Auckland video game developer Binary-Star won the best unsigned game and start-up company prizes at the Australian Game Developers awards.

Binary-Star founder Thomas Reimann said the unexpected double win was like winning the Oscars of the games industry and was a first for a New Zealand company.

Though the company has yet to sign a publisher for its computer game Homeland, Reimann said the awards proved it was on the right track.

The Australian Game Developers Awards honour Australian and New Zealand game developers who create innovative interactive entertainment.

Finalists and winners were selected by an awards committee, except for the unsigned games category which was voted for by hundreds of delegates who attended the Melbourne conference two weeks ago.

What is important for Binary-Star is that all the major international entertainment industry companies attended the conference looking for new products.

Binary-Star has been working on Homeland for almost three years.

Reimann expects the game to be available this time next year, although a demonstration version will be given to potential publishers next February.