I spent Friday morning making all the necessary preparations for the big day ahead; you know the drill, washing and straightening my hair, giving myself a French manicure, shaving my legs… oh, and reading up on the games that were nominated that I was less familiar with so that I wouldn’t feel like either a complete nincompoop or fraud. Being the slightly skittish and pessimistic person that I am, I got to the Park Lane Hilton somewhat early. I passed the time chilling in the lobby, and I can honestly say that this is the first time that I have ever been called ‘Ma’am.’

At the allotted hour I wended my way upstairs, and found my way in to what I assumed was the media room, which was to be my home for the next seven hours or so. What there was no sign of, however, was the media accreditation desk. I could have been anyone, but being as I am vey honest, I sought out the desk, and picked up my pass. I was told in fairly uncertain terms which areas this allowed me access to, and the Red Carpet was not one of them. Meh… We’ll see about that.

Not a lot happened for quite a while, so I spent the time chatting with some of the other journos as they arrived. I got the impression that the good stuff was all happening downstairs on the Red Carpet. Egged on by FantaMan from The Daily Joypad who I believe was also itching for some action, I made my way down to the Red Carpet area where, indeed, things were starting to happen. Armed with my trusty camera (and some sharp elbows and a decent evasion plan) I started snapping away at the celebs as they arrived. I have posted some of these on the Live Feed Thread but I’ll put a few more up now.

Olly Murs and Alex Zane.

Olly Murs was the surprise hit with the journos. I thought he seemed charming. I am far from a fan of X Factor, but I can’t say I didn’t see any of it, and he was my favourite. I am pleased that he clearly isn’t a knob. He was telling the guys with big microphones that his biggest regret was telling someone (I didn’t catch who) that he’d give them his PS3 if he got through to the finals of X Factor. He really misses it now.

A legend arrives.

This man was treated like the legend that he is by everybody, and rightly so. He seemed very humble, and very gracious. I am thrilled that I was so close to a man that has not only bought me so much joy and happiness, but millions of people around the world. What a man.

Chris O'Dowd. Hammering home the old stereotypes.

I am sure he meant it as a joke, but this gentleman annoyed me by answering the question “Do you play many games yourself?” with “I used to play a lot, and I like to call that time my ‘single years.’” The flames of the old stereotype that gamers are sad males sitting in their room playing by/with themselves need no fanning, thank you very much.

Charlie Brooker; moves about a lot.

I posted this in the main Live Feed thread, but as he is treated by many as The Messiah, I thought I’d post again. He is almost impossible to photograph, as he moves about all over the place. I took about twenty of him, and honestly, this was the best I got!

Something I noticed at this point is that the ‘celebs’ who were there to give out awards were treated as royalty. All this time the real celebs, i.e. those that had put a great deal of hard work into the making of all the excellent games without which the ceremony would not have been possible were nowhere to be seen. They were ushered off upstairs without further ado. I felt the balance here was quite wrong.

Unfortunately the wifi access was only available in the room upstairs, so I ran up and down the stairs approximate eighteen thousand two hundred and sixty three times in that hour to post pics, keep up with Twitter and try and keep the Live Feed going. The irony is of course if I had been in the right room to post regularly on the live feed, I would not have been anywhere near the action.

I am Homer Simpson.

Red Carpet over, celebs arrived and ushered to their special area; the real work was soon to begin. In the short time between celebs arriving and the ceremony I chatted to some of the other journos about their thoughts on the night ahead. The general consensus was that while Uncharted 2: Among Thieves lead he nominations it wasn’t really a BAFTA type game. The feeling was that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 would sweep up the majority of the gongs, or failing that, Batman: Arkham Asylum. I still held out some hopes for my personal favourite, Uncharted 2.

It became obvious fairly quickly that this was not going to be either a walk in the park, or supremely glamorous. The set up in the main media area (that is the place to which I was meant to be confined) was a bit wrong. There was an area for photographing the winners that I have to admit I forgot about until I was reminded that photography was not allowed in the interview room. The interview room was also where the live video feed was being shown. Dilemma. Did I sacrifice the opportunity to photograph winners, or the video feed? It become apparent very quickly that the promise of ‘one-to-one’ interviews even for us journos at the bottom of the food chain was a joke. The chosen few had their big cameras and fat fluffy mics, and the likes of me wouldn’t even get a look in, even with the sharpest elbow sharpener in all the world. What also transpired fairly quickly was that the live video feed that was being piped through to our room was actually slower than the live internet feed. Results were being posted on Twitter before we were informed of them. Weird, non?

So, a quick call to Andy at This Is My Joystick HQ, and he was covering the winners announcements. I figured that without any hope in the deepest circle of Hell of getting any meaningful interviews that my best bet would be to hang around by the winners’ photography area. Doing this, at least I could subtly ask some questions of the winners while snapping them. Naughty girl.

Gavin Russell: Artistic Achievement for Flower.

This gentleman was incredibly chuffed with his award for Artistic Achievement, and seeing his joy was one of the highlights of the day.

Keith Ramsdale picked up the gongs for Best Sports and Use of Online for Fifa10. Here he is with Ralph Little.

Guy Perkins for Left 4 Dead 2 picked up the Multiplayer award.

They deserve to be dead chuffed.

Penultimately; the winners of two awards for Batman: Arkham Asylum, Rocksteady Studios. I think their entire office turned out. I asked them how they felt about pipping Uncharted 2: Among Thieves to this prestigious award. Unsurprisingly I can report that they are “thrilled.”

Gongs and grins all round!

Last but not least, the gentlemen from Naughty Dog laden with their four awards. I had to be patient to snap these guys. Understandably they were in demand, and enjoying their evening. Earlier on in the proceedings, certain other photographers got royally up my nose by being a bit snobbish; I might not have had an £8000 camera but was there to do a job just like them. When it became apparent to them that I knew what I was talking about, who the winners were, what they did etc, suddenly I was their best friend. I am a fan, but I was also trying to get the job done.

More importantly, unlike them I was trying to nab interviews, keep an eye on the online world, and take pics. It is for this reason that  I am thoroughly delighted that when I spotted Naughty Dog down the corridor I was able to congratulate them, thank them (and ask them whether Nathan Drake would be around for a long time (answer: “Oh yes!”)) and show to them that being a fan and journalist need not be mutually exclusive. Naughty Dog gave me the best shot of the night (apart from that one of Miyamoto that I posted on the Live Feed) and that put the cherry on the cake.

It was incredibly hard work, but in the end I did have a whale of a time. I got to meet two of my personal gaming heroes, (and another gaming God) and learnt a hell of a lot about how the world works. It was a baptism of fire, but I don’t think I got toasted.

One final quick note; I posted on the Live Feed that I was flirted with by a celeb I did not recognise. I can safely say he wasn’t Bill Gates, but I still have no idea. Sadly I didn’t take a picture as I was too busy being confused, so it will forever remain a mystery.

Stay tuned!

16.12 In the media centre, all set up… there’s not a lot going on right now, but there’s a lot of setting up… not much to report, people seem fairly relaxed.

16.47 At the moment I am watching a feed of the rehearsals for the Fellowship.

18.17 People are starting to arrive – Suzi Perry and Chris O’Dowd have come through. Dom Joly expected in a few minutes.

18.22 Limited WiFi, unfortunately! Please stay tuned.

18.37 Dom Joly is in the house – comes over very well. However, although he thinks it is great that women play games he ‘wouldn’t like it if his wife or girlfriend did as that is ‘his area’. I think his tongue was in his cheek.

18.48 Miyamoto just checked in! (Sadly too busy for an interview!) But WOW!

19.22 Right. Red Carpet over (blagged my way in there.) Got some pics… Will post.

Charlie Brooker

Olly Murs

Dom Joly

19.35 Taking a breather.  This is hard work!

OK – titbits… Same on the journos asking Edith Bowman purely about women and gaming.

Suzie Perry – has been playing games since she was 9. Pong, was what she started on!

Olly Murs – regrets telling someone that if he got through the first few rounds of X Factor he’d give them his PS3 as he’d have no time to play. He misses it now!

19.44 I haven’t had a pee since 10am…

20.20 There’s general milling going on… not much to report. Awards soon, though.

20.22 May resort to tweeting from phone… half laptop battery left… :-/

20.20 Meh. It says I have enough.

20.50 Dara O’Briain is on stage and introduces himself as Soap McTavish. Also made a joke about the ApocolyPS3… Pretty funny.

20.52 He just asked Miyamoto why you have to jump on bosses three times… Brilliant.

20.54 Michelle Ryan is introduced to give the award for Best Action Game.

20.55 Up for this: Assassins Creed 2, Uncharted 2, Arkham Asylum, Modern Warfare 2, Left 4 Dead 2, inFamous.

20.56 Winner: Uncharted 2!

20.58 Michelle Ryan has the biggest shoulders in Showbiz…

20.58 Next award is for Family and Social, Jason Bradbury and some woman I’ve never heard of presenting this.

21.00 Up for this: Beatles Rock Band, Buzz: Quizworld, Eye Pet, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Guitar Hero 5, Wii Sports Resort.

21.02 Winner: Wii Sports Resort.

21.03 Next award is ‘Best use of online’. Presented by Chris O’Dowd and Miles Jacobson.

21.04 Up for this: Uncharted 2, Battlefield 1943, Modern Warfare 2, FIFA 10, Little Big Planet PSP, Singstar: Take That.

21.04 Winner: FIFA 10

21:06 Next award, use of audio, presented by George Lamb.

21.07 Up for this: Flower, DJ Hero, Arkham Asylum, Modern Warfare 2, Left 4 Dead 2, Uncharted 2.

21.09 Winner: Uncharted 2

21:10 Handheld category, Suzi Perry to announce this!

21.11 Up for this: Little Big Planet, Gran Turismo, Mario & Luigi, Scribblenauts, Professor Layton, Loco Roco 2.

21.13 Winner: Little Big Planet PSP, well deserved!

21.15 Olly Murr and Lisa Morgan to announce the ‘GAME Award’. Decided by the public.

21.16 Up for this: Modern Warfare 2 (the public are morons), Beatles Rock Band, Wii Sports Resort, Arkham Asylum, FIFA 10, Zelda: Spirit Tracks, Assassins Creed 2, GTA: China Town Wars, Street Fighter IV, Uncharted 2.

21.18 3rd place: Uncharted 2, 2nd Place: Assassins Creed 2, Winner is: Modern Warfare 2. The public proves their detriment to the industry.

21.20 Next up, strategy, Dom Joly and Chris Dearing for this one.

21:22 Up for this: FIFA Manager 10, Plants vs Zombies, Red Alert 3: Uprising, Halo Wars, Football Manager 2010, Empire: Total War.

21.24 Winner is: Empire: Total War.

21.25 Next award is ‘Original Score’. Edith Bowman presents. Looks like she’s on crack.

21.26 Up for this: Modern Warfare 2, Arkham Asylum, Uncharted 2, Assassins Creed 2, PixelJunk Shooter, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

21.27 Winner: Uncharted 2. Naughty Dog are cleaning up here.

21.27 Multiplayer category, Tom Watson MP to present the this one.

21.28 Up for this: Halo 3: ODST, Battlefield 1943, Modern Warfare 2, Uncharted 2, Beatles Rock Band, Left 4 Dead 2.

21.31 Winner: Left 4 Dead 2. Take that Activision.

21.32 Gameplay. Alex Zane to present.

21.33 Up for this one: Uncharted 2, New Super Mario Bros. Wii (seriously?), Modern Warfare 2, Pixeljunk Shooter, Assassins Creed 2, Arkham Asylum.

21.34 Winner is:  Batman: Arkham Asylum. This is not going well for Modern Warfare 2.

21.36 Now sports: Ralph Little presents. Slags off Ubisoft for feather collection. Tells PES devs to get out, and that they dropped the ball.

21.36 Up for sports: DiRT 2, Wii Fit Plus, FIFA 10, FORZA 3, Wii Sports Resort, Football Manager 2010.

21.39 Winner is 2010

21.40 Best story now, unfunny man Kevin Bishop to present.

21.41 Up for this: Arkham Asylum, Broken Sword: Directors Cut, Assassins Creed 2, Dragon Age: Origins, Uncharted 2, Brutal Legend.

21.44 Winner: Uncharted 2.

21.45 Now ‘One to watch’.

21.46 Up for this: Shrunk, Quick as Thieves, Colour Coded.

21.47 The winner is… Shrunk

21.49 Next one up is Artistic Achievement, Dave Gibbons to present this.

21.50 Up for this one is: Arkham Asylum, Assassins Creed 2, Street Fighter IV, Modern Warfare 2 (artistic?!), Flower, Uncharted 2.

21.51 Winner is… Flower!

21.53 Best game award. This is the final one! Presented by Charlie Brooker!

21.54 Up for this one: Modern Warfare 2, FIFA 10, Uncharted 2, Arkham Asylum, Left 4 Dead 2, Assassins Creed 2.

21.55 The winner is… Batman Arkham Asylum. Was certain Naughty Dog were gonna take that one.

21.57 Modern Warfare 2… MWHUHAHAHAHAHA! Only won the award voted for by morons.

21.57 Oh hang on, they lied, there’s another. Ant and Dec to award the Fellowship Award. Couldn’t they get anyone funnier? Someone should tell Dec that a comb over doesn’t disguise his huge forehead.

21.58 The winner is Miyamoto, say what you like about the Wii, but that’s thoroughly deserved.

22.03 So Naughty Dog and Uncharted 2 ‘won’ the BAFTA’s overall. Thoughts?

22.08 Standing ovation for Miyamoto, and deservedly so. Would the games industry be the same without him? I think not.

Winners for Best Game: Batman.

Biggest winners on the night: Uncharted 2

22.38 Well, that was hard work. Couple of soundbites for you: The boys behind Batman told me that they were ‘thrilled’ to have beaten Uncharted 2 to the Best Game Award. The guys responsible for Uncharted 2 promised me that Nathan Drake is here to stay for a long time. While they struggling with their four awards I offered to take one off their hands. They thought I was joking. I wasn’t.

More thoughts: the official photographers etc didn’t know who they were photographing. One was… a bit of snob towards me. Until he realised I knew who the people were, who had won, who was likely to win, etc, suddenly I was his best friend.

One mystery guy flirted with me. I have no idea who he was. When I asked he was very elusive. I still have no idea.

Journalism is very hard. I will post more pictures tomorrow morning, but for now, I need a drink. Actually I need sleep. Thanks for watching.

EDITORS NOTE: That’s it for for the Live Text Folks, I think Bryony deserves a big hand for her hard work today, and I hope in amongst the work she managed to enjoy herself in the process. Well done!

What type of coverage is exactly yet to be decided, but rest assured we’ll be bringing you all the news from one of the industries big award shows.