Mission Statement and Participant Code of Conduct
The mission of the ENNIE Awards is to provide a fun celebration of exceptional game design, writing, art, and more. They are about making a small gesture and giving a pat on the back to those hard-working creators who bring us the books and games we enjoy so much. Game companies are made up of people, and the ENNIES are about those people: writers, artists, editors, graphic designers, and so many more, without whom these games wouldn’t exist, whether it’s the awesome cover an artist painted for a new hardcover book, or an innovative bit of rules design in the latest indie RPG.
The ENNIE Awards is completely volunteer-driven. The ENNIES staff, essentially, is the admin support for each year’s slate of elected judges. The staff doesn’t involve itself in the nomination process and does not choose any judges or any nominees; we simply provide the judges with the tools and platform they need to do their job.
Code of Conduct – Publishers
Upon submission of products, publishers agree:
- To submit products using the provided submission form to the best of their knowledge and ability;
- To ensure that products are shipped by the published postmark date (usually at the beginning of May);
- To provide one copy of each product entered to each awards judge, and an additional sixth copy to the awards organization;
- The products submitted fall within publication eligibility period – usually May 1st of the previous year to April 30th of current year cycle;
- That if submitting in electronic format, they provide download link on the application, or email the document to entries@ennie-awards.com;
- For Podcast submissions to provide a link to the website and also a link to a clip no longer than fifteen minutes representing the best of the podcast. The judges will use that as the foundation to reviewing the podcast submissions. Judges will then go listen to additional segments as they see fit to determine the final nominations.
- That, upon submission, these copies become property of the awards and remain so in perpetuity, including in the event of product disqualification or ineligibility;
- To assume all shipping costs possible and bear sole responsibility for distribution of products to judges and to the organization;
- To refrain from attempts to directly influence individual judges through:
- private correspondence not made available to every judge and to the organization,
- provision of additional ineligible published material unless
- approved by the business manager and
- provided to all judges equally,
- promises of future ineligible material, employment, or other material benefits
- To respect the one person = one vote principle upon which the awards are based and neither
- cast more than one vote per person, or
- induce or instruct other individuals to cast multiple votes or otherwise vote fraudulently;
- To not attempt to influence the selection of judges via recommendation or detraction. Publishers that publicly endorse, or campaign for or against a specific prospective judge via website statements, social media, and/or emails during the nomination/voting period are ineligible to have products considered for nomination during that year. This includes but is not limited to official company accounts and company owners.
Code of Conduct – Judges
Eligibility
- Must be at least 18 years of age as of start of the ENNIE Judging period and able to enter into a legal contract.
- Thoroughly complete self nomination with legal name and provide a clear photograph.
- Not have any professional relationship with any RPG publisher during the period for the six month prior and 12 months post becoming a judge.
- Must declare any relationship with any publisher in which they receive money, product, or special consideration in exchange for their services.
- Must be able to read English and communicate clearly therein.
- While campaigning and if voted in as judge, must in no way, shape, or form promise favors to fans or publishers in exchange for votes.
- This must not be the third consecutive year for judgeship.
- The ENNIE Awards reserves the right to reject candidates who have failed to meet the above requirements or have displayed significant disregard for the ENNIES Organization or an inability to work cohesively with a team as determined by the Submissions Coordinator and Director.
Judgeship Responsibilities
- Sign a non-disclosure agreement;
- Attend monthly meetings to discuss best practices and review/discuss submissions;
- Maintain accurate list of what products they have personally received;
- Access the ENNIE Awards boards/e-mailing lists (for the purposes of corresponding with judges and interacting with staff):
- Weekly on the designated ENNIES forums throughout the first eleven months;
- Daily on the designated ENNIES forums during final month of judge deliberations;
- Act in a professional and impartial manner;
- In the event a judge is removed from judgeship, bear the expense of returning and/or forwarding the products received for review;
- Pay any customs duties charged for submissions;
- If they attend Gen Con, work a minimum of two hours at the ENNIES booth;
- If they attend Gen Con, attend the awards ceremony smartly attired;
- Report to the Submissions Coordinator and Director.
- The judges may dispose of all products entered (upon completion of the judging) as they deem appropriate.