One of the most well-known faces in the UK games industry, Payne’s received the title for “services to the UK Computer Games Industry,” as read in the full Honours List.

The exec, who’s also worked with UKIE, GamesAid, BAFTA and others, told MCV he was ” truly surprised, honoured and very proud” to be given the award.

“I would like to thank all my workmates at Mastertronic, Just Flight, The Producers, BAFTA, Just Trains, Get Games, UKIE, GamesAid and AppyNation who I work with. I am truly thankful to have worked with so many fabulous people down the years and am proud of our great industry.

“We have all had plenty of challenges to overcome, especially in recent years, but these are great times and I would not swap my job with anyone,” he said.

OBEs have been handed out to other folk in the UK games industry in recent year, including Lionhead’s Peter Molyneux, Codemasters boss Rod Cousens and Eidos life president Ian Livingstone.

Last year, Sports Interactive boss Miles Jacobson received the award.

Big, big congratulations, Andy. Truly deserved.

“This further delay to PEGI’s implementation is extremely frustrating not to mention disappointing,” commented UKIE chairman Andy Payne, as ported by Eurogamer.

“We have received repeated assurances from government that the process is in hand, yet PEGI is still no closer to implementation.”

According to the UKIE, the British government needs to make a Statutory Instrument to introduce PEGI, but has failed to file the paperwork needed to present it to the House of Commons.

“The government has set its stock by making the UK one of the best places in Europe to do business yet despite industry consistently calling on the government to introduce the necessary measures to reduce the cost of doing business, we have been hit by delay after delay,” Payne continued.

“It seems that the much talked about red tape has yet again got in the way.”

The UK government decided to adopt the widely-used PEGI as its sole games rating system in mid 2009, removing the buden currently shouldered by the British Board of Film Classification in a confusing double system.

The system was expected to be adopted before the end of that year, but suffered numerous delays.

GamesIndustry reports ESTA, eskills, The Frame Store, and Blitz Games are also all on board the initiative, which aims to promote, raise awareness of, and improve digital industries in the UK.

UKIE raised the initial seed amount from industry members, mainly big publishers, and expects to hit the £100,000 point over the next 18 months.

“We’re serious about this, we’re not going to fund it on our own, but let’s get it done and worry about money afterwards. We can’t hang around here, the clock is ticking,” UKIE CEO Andy Payne said at Develop yesterday.

Payne said the scheme is a response to the shelving of expected tax breaks for the interactive industries.

“As an industry we’ve been let down by our politicians. That’s a big blow for the British games industry and something we need to get back somehow,” he said.

“We need to join up, we need to make sure that we’ve got a concerted strategy in order for politicians to understand what we do. We’ve got to be a bit smarter so the key thing is coalition.”

Payne said UKIE intends to start with games industry associations and then broaden the scope to include other digital industries like visual effects.

“I would appeal to all the members of UKIE and all the members of TIGA to at least be part of this so we can put more names on the sheet. If we can replicate that in different industries then we will have something that they will have to take notice of,” he said.

Sadly, not everyone who should be involved has been keen.

“The key department that hasn’t been engaged, and is doing a bloody good job of trying to be disengaged, is the Department of Education,” Payne admitted.

Looks like the UK will finally get a games download chart thanks to the deal wrangling skills of the ELSPA and Chart-Track.

For the last 12 months, the ELSPA has been working to convince publishers to share PC download sales data. Kalypso, Mastertronic, Midas, NCsoft, Sega, Square Enix, THQ, and Ubisoft are all on board.

Valve is even in on it, apparently, despite previously holding Steam numbers close to its chest.

According to sources close to MCV, more publishers are expected to offer support as well.

“It is great to be working with members to build a report which will not only deliver member value, but one which will help the industry realize its potential in an increasingly connected digital economy,” commented Sam Collins, ELSPA’s commercial manager.

Chart-Track will be responsible for tallying the figures, and the chart combines data directly from publishers instead of retail outlets.

The new digital chart, the first of its kind,  is expected to launch in November with the ELSPA chatting up independent developers for inclusion as well.

“I am calling for other members to join the group as soon as they can and not miss out in helping to form and shape this important development for all of us,” said ELSPA chairman Andy Payne.

“We are in the process of reaching out to TIGA and their membership and hope to have more on that very soon.”

Hopefully, this will inspire the US to do the same, which is something the ESA rightly feels is needed, along with a weekly top ten.

More through the links.

Oh look, another Eurogamer podcast. Oh look, it has Pat!

Yeah, our dear bossman is a special guest for this week’s edition of the podcast alongside host and EG editor Tom Bramwell and managing director of Mastertronic, Andy Payne.

It features the lot talking about dogs in gaming, as well as a serious discussion on digital distribution, and more.

We’re listening to it now. You should too. So do that here.

Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo and the Shadow Minister for Culture have each been announced to speak at the London Games Conference on October 27 at BAFTA.

According to the press release, the conference “will tackle the biggest issues facing publishers and developers today: How to strengthen relationships with their playing customers and how to sell products to them in the years ahead through digital distribution.”

“I’m delighted to be speaking to the London Games Conference,” said Shadow Minister for Culture, Ed Vaizey. “The games sector is one of the most successful creative industries in the UK, but it has been forgotten by Government. While Canada and France aggressively compete to attract games talent, all UK politicians talk about is video games violence.

“Yet this sector should be a dream for a politician – it recruits people qualified in difficult subjects, like maths and computer science; it’s regional, with clusters all over the country; and it’s successful and world-beating. Government backing for the games sector should be a no-brainer.”

Andy Payne, chair of ELSPA, Phil Harrison, Edge editor Tony Mott and Intent MD Stuart Dinsey are all expected to chair panels during the conference.

Full press release through the break.

Thanks, GoNintendo.

Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo and the Shadow Minister for Culture will all speak at the inaugural London Games Conference taking place on 27 October 2009 at BAFTA. The conference will tackle the biggest issues facing publishers and developers today: how to strengthen relationships with their playing customers and how to sell products to them in the years ahead through digital distribution.

The conference will concentrate on life beyond the traditional retail environment, exploring the potential of online distribution and the necessity of games companies to get closer to their playing customers.

The conference will be opened by Shadow Minister for Culture, Ed Vaizey: “I’m delighted to be speaking to the London Games Conference. The games sector is one of the most successful creative industries in the UK, but it has been forgotten by Government. While Canada and France aggressively compete to attract games talent, all UK politicians talk about is video games violence.

“Yet this sector should be a dream for a politician – it recruits people qualified in difficult subjects, like maths and computer science; it’s regional, with clusters all over the country; and it’s successful and world-beating. Government backing for the games sector should be a no-brainer.”

London Games Conference is officially backed by ELSPA and is part of London Games Festival (LGF09). ELSPA director general Mike Rawlinson commented: “Digital distribution is one of the major challenges facing all sectors of the business today and the London Games Conference will be a vital forum for discussion and information on this crucial topic. ELSPA is delighted to be supporting the event as an official partner and we’re sure LGC will be incredibly useful for all our members.”

Andy Payne, chair of ELSPA, industry legend Phil Harrison, Edge editor Tony Mott and Intent MD Stuart Dinsey are all set to chair panels during the conference. Sessions will include an examination of the current digital distribution landscape, a focus on the future ambitions of the hardware platforms and an exploration of sectors and companies that are already working closely with their playing public.

The conference is being held at BAFTA on 27 October 2009, beginning at 4pm. It will be followed by an evening of networking drinks and dinner. Tickets are priced at £229 but are available until 18 September at the Early Bird rate of £199.

The event is organised by Intent Media. Stuart Dinsey, Intent’s managing director commented, “At the heart of this conference is an issue which needs to be grasped by every company within our community. The days of being once removed from the playing public is over. Companies need to be closer to their customers. For some that may mean selling directly, for other it may mean a subscription model but without doubt every company needs to have a direct line of communication with their followers. The London Games Conference will examine the best models, the future plans of major players as well as the pitfalls for companies not embracing this change.”

PEGI ratings and the new labels are expected to be enforced before Christmas rolls around in the UK.

ELSPA chairman Andy Payne has said that the Video Standards Council will legally be able to start classifying games after the UK Government returns from recess, which runs from July – October 12.

“There’s a whole load of things that will need to happen and they are all geared around the political process,” Payne told GI.biz. “In terms of this actually becoming law, it’s got to get through Parliament and that will happen but that will take time.

“Parliament is going into recess and this won’t even get looked at before then. In terms of making it absolutely law, and that’s the VSC taking over the legislative duties the BBFC has, that won’t happen until the autumn at the earliest, and there’s a whole load of things that have got to happen before that.

“In this political climate I would expect this to be going through due legal process before Christmas and I fully expect the new symbols on boxes for the big major products that are coming out in the fourth quarter.”

The full interview is through the link.