Schoolboys on a roll with Bafta for video game

Three London schoolboys have moved closer to their dream of becoming video game designers after winning a British Academy children's award with their first invention.

Nathaniel Weisberg, Noah Shepherd and Louis Scantlebury, all 15, took the Bafta Young Game Designers title at a ceremony at the Hilton in Park Lane.

Their game, Rollin' Scotch, involves manoeuvring a roll of tape through tough terrain, defeating enemies on the way. The trio, pupils at the City of London School, call their game-making business Nose Dive Studios.

Nathaniel, from Clapham, said: "We are so happy that the judges got behind our odd concept.

"It feels pretty crazy that we have won a Bafta for little more than a rough game idea and a general enthusiasm for games."

Industry experts judged the game the best of the 10 shortlisted - all designed by children aged between 11 and 16. The panel praised the "original and fun concept" of Rollin' Scotch. Nathaniel said: "We hope the light-hearted nature of the game will suit the casual set-up of the iPhone."

The panel of judges included developers from TT Games, Sony Computer Entertainment's Cambridge Studio and EA Bright Light.

Jonathan Smith, head of production at TT Games Publishing and chairman of the young game designers jury, said the panel was "incredibly impressed" with the winners' work, adding: "We hope that winning this competition is their first step to successful careers in the games industry."