The Independent Games Festival Awards at GDC celebrated the efforts of independent developers all across the world. Over 160 entries from 11 countries were received for the award, by the time the conference came around, that number had been dropped to 12 finalists. The nominees were split into two categories: Downloadable and Open, and there were six total awards per category plus one winner of Cartoon Network?s Project GoldMaster award which gives the winners an exclusive contract for Cartoon Network?s Power Play section.

The six awards were: Innovation in Audio, Innovation in Visual Arts, Technical Excellence, Innovation in Game Design, Audience Award (decided by popular vote) and the Seumus McNally Grand Prize. Winners of the first six awards received a grant of a thousand dollars, and winners of the Grand Prize receive a whopping fifteen thousand dollars.

The Winners:

• Web/DL Category
• Open Category

Web-Based Games / Downloadable Games Category

Innovation in Audio - Global Defense Network by Evertt.com, LLC

Innovation in Visual Arts - Wik and the Fable of Souls by Reflexive Entertainment

Technical Excellence - RocketBowl by Large Animal Games

Game Design - Wik and the Fable of Souls by Reflexive Entertainment
Audience Award - N by Metanet Software

Seumus McNally Grand Prize - Wik and the Fable of Souls by Reflexive Entertainment

Open Category

Innovation in Audio - Steer Madness by Veggie Games Inc.

Innovation in Visual Arts - Alien Hominid by The Behemoth
Technical Excellence - Alien Hominid by The Behemoth
Game Design - Gish by Chronic Logic
Audience Award - Alien Hominid by The Behemoth

Seumus McNally Grand Prize - Gish by Chronic Logic

The winner of Cartoon Network's Project GoldMaster, and recipient of an exclusive contract with Cartoon Network for their Power Play section was Digital builders, the developers responsible for Protothea.

All in all, the Independent Games Festival granted many developers the much-desired exposure they were looking for, which means that even if they didn't receive an award, they won't go home empty handed.

By Rick Bushie, News Editor
Photography by Tim Bradshaw