2011 Independent Games Festival Opens Submissions, Adds Mobile Category,
Expands Experimental Focus

    



    
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<p><span class="xn-location">SAN FRANCISCO</span>, <span class="xn-chron">June 28</span> /CNW/ -- The UBM TechWeb Game Network, organizer of the industry-leading Game Developers Conference® events, is pleased to announce that submissions are now open for the 2011 Independent Games Festival -- to be held at GDC 2011 in <span class="xn-location">San Francisco</span> next March.</p>
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<p>The longest-running and highest-profile independent video game festival, summit and showcase is now accepting entries to the 13th annual Festival, with deadlines in the Main and Student Showcase categories by <span class="xn-chron">October 18th</span> and <span class="xn-chron">November 1st</span> respectively, and finalists to be announced on <span class="xn-chron">January 2011</span>.</p>
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<p>All games selected as finalists will be available in playable form at the IGF Pavilion on the GDC show floor, and will compete for nearly <span class="xn-money">$50,000</span> in prizes, including the Nuovo Award, Excellence in Design, Art, Best Student Game, the Audience Award and the <span class="xn-money">$20,000</span> Seumas McNally Grand Prize. Winners will be announced on stage at the high-profile Independent Games Festival Awards on <span class="xn-chron">Wednesday, March 2, 2011</span>, at the Moscone Center in <span class="xn-location">San Francisco</span>.</p>
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<p>The Independent Games Festival Awards are held immediately before the wider Game Developers Choice Awards (<a href="http://www.gamechoiceawards.com">http://www.gamechoiceawards.com</a>), and both multi-thousand person attendee award shows are part of the 2011 Game Developers Conference, taking place <span class="xn-chron">February 28th</span> - <span class="xn-chron">March 4th, 2011</span>. GDC 2011 also includes the 2011 Independent Games Summit (<a href="http://www.indiegamesummit.com">http://www.indiegamesummit.com</a>), which is entering its fifth year and offers two days of inspiration and practical lectures and rants from the top minds in the independent games world.</p>
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<p>Continuing to honor the best and brightest of the indie gaming community, the Independent Games Festival is expanding in its thirteenth year to recognize the new opportunities open to mobile and handheld game developers. Responding to developer feedback, games made for Apple's iPhone and iPad, the Android operating system, Nintendo DS/DSi, PlayStation Portable, and all handheld devices will compete in the same traditional IGF categories. They will also be eligible for a new Best Mobile Game award, honoring innovation, achievement and artistry in handheld gaming.</p>
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<p>Other changes to the 2011 festival include an expanded focus on alternative elements in independent gaming, with the number of finalists for the IGF Nuovo Award -- honoring abstract, shortform, and otherwise esoteric 'art games' -- increasing from five to eight games in total.</p>
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<p>The modifications continue to expand the Independent Game Festival's global importance as the largest and most all-encompassing showcase of independent game talent across the wide spectrum of artistically- and commercially-aimed development. Notable former IGF winners include World of Goo, Braid, Castle Crashers, Everyday Shooter, Darwinia and Audiosurf, with IGF 2010 prizewinner Limbo a key game in Xbox Live Arcade's 'Summer of Arcade' line-up and 2010 nominee <span class="xn-person">Joe Danger</span> a recent, acclaimed release on PlayStation Network.</p>
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<p><span class="xn-person">Brandon Boyer</span>, Chairman of the IGF, said of this year's event: "Expanding the IGF to include mobile and more artistic experiences is our way of recognizing the constantly evolving landscape of indie game development, and the advancement of the expression possible in the medium itself. I'm more excited than ever to see what the indie community creates for this year's festival, and wish all the entrants the best of luck!"</p>
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<p>Submissions to the competition are now open to all independent game developers; important dates for IGF 2011 are as follows:</p>
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    --  June 28th, 2010 - Submissions are Open
    --  October 18th, 2010 - Submission Deadline, Main Competition
    --  November 1st, 2010 - Submission Deadline, Student Competition
    --  January 3rd, 2011 - Finalists Announced, Main Competition
    --  January 10, 2011 - Finalists Announced, Student Competition
    --  February 28 - March 4, 2011 - Game Developers Conference 2011
    --  February 28 - March 1, 2011 - Indie Games Summit @ GDC 2011
    --  March 2 - March 4, 2011 - IGF Pavilion @ GDC 2011
    --  March 2, 2011 - IGF Awards Ceremony (Winners Announced!)


    
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<p>For a complete list of information on the 2011 Independent Games Festival, including submission specifics, frequently asked questions, and more discussion on this year's changes from the IGF Chairman, please visit the official Independent Games Festival website: <a href="http://www.igf.com">http://www.igf.com</a></p>
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    About the UBM TechWeb Game Network
    
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<p>A core provider of essential information to the professional game industry, the  UBM TechWeb Game Network - formerly known as the Think Services Game Group - offers market-defining content, and drives community through its award winning lineup of print, online, event and research products and services. These include the Game Developers Conference®, the Webby Award-winning Gamasutra.com and network of sites, the Game Advertising Online ad network, the Game Developers Conference® Online, the Game Developers Conference(TM) <span class="xn-location">Europe</span>, the Game Developers Conference(TM) <span class="xn-location">China</span>, the Game Developers Conference(TM) <span class="xn-location">Canada</span>, Game Developer Magazine, Game Developer Research, the Game Career Seminars and GameCareerGuide.com, the Independent Games Festival and Summit, and the Game Developers Choice Awards.</p>
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    About UBM TechWeb, a division of United Business Media
    
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<p>UBM TechWeb, the global leader in technology media and professional information, enables people and organizations to harness the transformative power of technology.  Through its core businesses - media solutions, marketing services and professional information - UBM TechWeb produces the most respected and consumed brands, applications and services in the technology market. More than 14.5 million business and technology professionals (CIOs, IT and IT Support managers, Web & Digital professionals, Software and Game developers, Government decision makers, and Telecom providers) actively participate in UBM TechWeb's communities. UBM TechWeb brands includes: global face-to-face events such as Interop, Game Developers Conference (GDC), Web 2.0, Black Hat and VoiceCon; large-scale online networks such as InformationWeek,  Light Reading and Gamasutra; research, training, and certification services, including HDI, Pyramid Research, and InformationWeek Analytics; and market-leading magazines such as InformationWeek and Wall Street & Technology.  UBM TechWeb is part of UBM, a global provider of media and information services for professional B2B communities and markets.</p>
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    CONTACT:      Sibel Sunar / Brian Rubin
                  fortyseven communications
                  [phone] / [phone]
                  [email protected] / [email protected]
    
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                  Ben Veechai / Mellisa Andrade
                  UBM TechWeb Game Network
                  [phone] / [phone]
                   [email protected] /mandrade@think-
                   services.com





    

For further information: Sibel Sunar, [phone], [email protected], or Brian Rubin, [phone], [email protected], both of fortyseven communications, for UBM TechWeb Game Network; or Ben Veechai, [phone], [email protected], or Mellisa Andrade, [phone], [email protected], both of UBM TechWeb Game Network Web Site: http://www.igf.com