Independent Games Festival

The Independent Games Festival (IGF) is an annual festival at the Game Developers Conference, the largest annual gathering of the indie video game industry. It was founded in 1998 to assist and inspire innovation in video game development and to recognize the best independent video game developers." [http://www.igf.com/01about.html About the IGF] ", www.IGF.com.] IGF was founded to create for the independent game community the same benefit the Sundance Film Festival has brought to the independent film community," [http://www.igf.com/01about.html About the IGF] ", www.IGF.com.] and is produced by the CMP Game Group, producers of the Game Developers Conference, Game Developer magazine, and Gamasutra.com." [http://www.igf.com/01about.html About the IGF] ", www.IGF.com.]

The competition, now in its 10th year, awards a total of $50,000 in prizes to independent developers in Main Competition and Student Competition categories at the IGF Awards Ceremony, which is one of the highlights of the Game Developers Conference, and will be held February 20, 2008 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.

Competition Structure

The 2008 festival is split into two broad categories: the main IGF competition and the IGF Student Showcase. [http://www.igf.com/01about.html] .

The main IGF Competition comprises seven awards:
*Seumas McNally Grand Prize ($20,000)
*Excellence In Visual Art ($2,500)
*Excellence In Audio ($2,500)
*Innovation Award ($2,500)
*Technical Excellence ($2,500)
*Best Web Browser Game ($2,500)
*Audience Award ($2,500)

The IGF Student Showcase is a display at the Game Developers Conference of 10 notable games submitted by student developer(s). Each game chosen nets its developer(s) $500. For the first time, the 2007 IGF will include a Best Student Game award, with a prize of $2,500.

IGF Competition award history

(Main) IGF Competition

Seumas McNally Grand Prize ($20,000)

:2008 : Crayon Physics Deluxe:2007 : Aquaria:2006 : Darwinia:2005 : (Open Category) Gish and (Web/Downloadable) Wik and the Fable of Souls:2004 : (Open Category) and (Web/Downloadable) Oasis:2003 : Wild Earth:2002 : Bad Milk:2001 : Shattered Galaxy:2000 : Tread Marks:1999 : Fire And Darkness

Excellence In Visual Art ($2,500)

:2008 : Fez:2007 : Castle Crashers:2006 : Darwinia:2005 : (Open Category) Alien Hominid and (Web/Downloadable) Wik and the Fable of Souls:2004 : (Open Category) Spartan and (Web/Downloadable) Dr. Blob's Organism:2003 : Wild Earth:2002 : Banja Taiyo:2001 : Hardwood Spades:2000 : King of Dragon Pass:1999 : Crime Cities

Excellence In Audio ($2,500)

:2008 : Audiosurf:2007 : Everyday Shooter:2006 : :2005 : (Open Category) Steer Madness and (Web/Downloadable) Global Defense Network:2004 : (Open Category) and (Web/Downloadable) Dr. Blob's Organism:2003 : Terraformers:2002 : Bad Milk:2001 : Chase Ace 2:2000 : Blix:1999 : Terminus

Innovation Award ($2,500)

:2008 : World of Goo:2007 : Everyday Shooter:2006 : Braid:2005 : (Open Category) Gish and (Web/Downloadable) Wik and the Fable of Souls:2004 : (Open Category) Bontãgo and (Web/Downloadable) Oasis:2003 : Wild Earth:2002 : Insaniquarium:2001 : Shattered Galaxy:2000 : Tread Marks:1999 : Resurrection

Technical Excellence ($2,500)

:2008 : World of Goo:2007 : Bang! Howdy:2006 : Darwinia:2005 : (Open Category) Alien Hominid and (Web/Downloadable) RocketBowl:2004 : (Open Category) and (Web/Downloadable) Yohoho! Puzzle Pirates:2003 : Reiner Knizia's Samurai:2002 : Ace Of Angels:2001 : Shattered Galaxy:2000 : Tread Marks:1999 : Terminus

Best Web Browser Game ($2,500)

:2008 : Iron Dukes:2007 : Samorost 2:2006 : Dad 'N Me
* This category replaced the separate prizes for Web/Downloadable games awarded in 2004 & 2005.

Audience Award ($2,500)

:2008 : Audiosurf:2007 : Castle Crashers:2006 : Dofus:2005 : (Open Category) Alien Hominid and (Web/Downloadable) N:2004 : (Open Category) and (Web/Downloadable) Yohoho! Puzzle Pirates:2003 : Pontifex II:2002 : Kung Fu Chess:2001 : Shattered Galaxy:2000 : The Rift:1999 : Fire And Darkness

ponsor Awards

:2008 Gleemie Awards (1x $5,000, 1x $3,000, 1x $2,000) : Desktop Tower Defense, Skyrates, Quadradius:2007 GameTap Awards (1x $10,000, 2 x $5,000): Everyday Shooter, Blast Miner, Roboblitz:2006 Adultswim.com Award ($5,000) : Dodge That Anvil:2005 Cartoon Network "Project Goldmaster" Award (making a game for Cartoon Network): Digital Builders:2004 AOL/Cartoon Network "Project Goldmaster" Award (making a game for Cartoon Network): Flashbang Studios

IGF Mod Competition (2006-2007)

2007 Mod Awards

:Best Mod ($5,000 Overall): Weekday Warrior (Half-Life 2):Best Singleplayer FPS Mod ($500): Weekday Warrior (Half-Life 2):Best Multiplayer FPS Mod ($500): Eternal Silence (Half-Life 2):Best RPG Mod ($500): Darkness Over Daggerford (Neverwinter Nights):Best 'Other' Mod ($500): Spawns Of Deflebub (Unreal Tournament 2004)

2006 Mod Awards

:Best Mod - Doom 3 ($2,500): Last Man Standing Co-op:Best Mod - Half-Life 2 ($2,500): Dystopia:Best Mod - Neverwinter Nights ($2,500): :Best Mod - Unreal Tournament 2004 ($2,500): Path Of Vengeance

Best Student Game ($2,500)

:2008 : Synaesthete:2007 : Toblo

References

External links

* [http://www.igf.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.igf.com/finalistsandwinners.htm IGF's complete listing of finalists and winners (most recent year)]
* [http://www.igf.com/php-bin/entries2006.php IGF's complete listing of entrants for 2006]