24/09/01 - YELL.COM/AWARDS 2001

After thousands of nominations, Yell.com has announced that :)SmilieGames (www.smiliegames.com) is one of 5 sites shortlisted in the Best Games Site category at the Yell.com/Awards 2001 - the people’s choice of the ‘best on the Net’.

Over 14,000 people play games on the :)SmilieGames site every day and we are delighted their pleasure has been reflected in the shortlisting of www.smiliegames.com for a Yell Award.

Andrew Ball, a Director and Co-Founder of :)Smilie, said: "It is a sincere joy to be one of the finalists in such a competitive category. Over the last five years we have won many awards for our online games but this is the most prestigious nomination we have achieved. Should we win, the recognition of our hard work would be the greatest satisfaction - but it could also be invaluable for the promotion of the :)Smilie brand and in the continued growth of our online-game development company."

John Condron, CEO of Yell, said: "It’s been another great year for the Yell.com/Awards with an incredible 50% increase in nominations. The Websites that have been shortlisted in the Best Games Site category should be proud of this achievement - they truly do represent the people’s choice of the best on the Net."

The judges now face the difficult task of selecting one winner in each of the twelve categories. The winning Websites will be announced at an exclusive awards ceremony, hosted by Graham Norton, at the Atlantis Gallery in London on 3 October 2001. Sonique and Talvin Singh will be performing at the awards ceremony.