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An Alderney-based technology heavyweight, who created internet naming systems for the Channel Islands, has become a full voting member of BAFTA and will focus on judging video games.
Dr Nigel Roberts contributed to pioneering work at the University of Essex as a student creating the world’s first multi-user video game – technology that is now replicated globally for major online titles.
This was through a system known as multi-user dungeon (MUD), which was driven by two of his close friends
Later he created the top-level internet domains .gg and .je for local websites and serves on a group which registers and services these domains to this day.
He said it’s unlikely he will spend any of his membership walking down the red carpet but said much time will be devoted to “reviewing the year’s award nominees”.
That time will be spent playing the numerous games nominated in the awards, something he already enjoys as a pastime.
He said the standard of some of the games released in the eligible period is high, with praise placed particularly on the graphics.
The industry itself has also transitioned markedly since his University work, going from non-graphical games delivered through huge computers on tape drives as “something for fun” to a technical multi-billion-dollar industry.
Pictured: Dr Roberts lives in Alderney.
Nominations for the 2024 BAFTA awards are open, with winners in each category selected for exceptional achievement.
Voting for the video games awards takes place over three rounds between November and March 2024.
Full BAFTA members will vote on the winners for the Best Game and British Game categories for the first time in the upcoming awards, which were previously decided only by industry juries.
It’s limited to “talented individuals” with at least half a decades experience in creative or senior executive roles in the big and small screens and video games.
Dr Roberts was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Essex last summer for his professional work.
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