Indieyeahosity: IGF 2010 Finalists Announced
That the new year starts with the short-list of spangly new indie things is one of my favourite things about the gaming calender. Here's what the 160 (Count 'em!) judges - including Jim, Walker and Myself, though our total judging record wasn't (er) that (um) impressive - thought were the finest Indie achievements in each category. Well worth digesting this. The previous winners have included some of the most important Indie games of recent times - Darwinia, Braid, World of Goo, etc. The list and initial thoughts follow...
Seumas McNally Grand Prize:
Joe Danger (Hello Games)
Monaco (Pocketwatch Games)
Rocketbirds: Revolution! (Ratloop Asia)
Trauma (Krystian Majewski)
Super Meat Boy! (Team Meat)
Excellence In Visual Art
Shank (Klei Entertainment)
Owlboy (D-Pad Studios)
Trauma (Krystian Majewski)
Limbo (Playdead)
Rocketbirds: Revolution! (Ratloop Asia)
Excellence In Design
Miegakure (Marc Ten Bosch)
Star Guard (Sparky)
AaaaaAAaaaAAAaaAAAAaAAAAA!!! -- A Reckless Disregard For Gravity (Dejobaan Games)
Monaco (Pocketwatch Games)
Cogs (Lazy 8 Studios)
Excellence In Audio
Super Meat Boy! (Team Meat)
Shatter (Sidhe)
Closure (Closure Team)
Rocketbirds: Revolution! (Ratloop Asia)
Trauma (Krystian Majewski)
Technical Excellence
Closure (Closure Team)
Limbo (Playdead)
Heroes Of Newerth (S2 Games)
Joe Danger (Hello Games)
Vessel (Strange Loop Games)
Nuovo Award
Today I Die (Daniel Benmergui)
A Slow Year (Ian Bogost)
Tuning (Cactus)
Closure (Closure Team)
Enviro-Bear 2000 (Justin Smith)
Some good stuff here. Glad to see Pocketwatch in there - though we're still waiting for Ventura: Dinosauria, sirs! - especially as the game sounds interesting and (er) I haven't played it yet. Very pleased to see Joe Danger get the attention, because it has breakout hit written all over it. I haven't played Trauma either, but the concept and video look fascinating. Surprised to see Heroes of Newerth in it at all, which probably speaks to my definition of Indie. In terms of games I've previously got excited about, it's good to see Rocketbirds: Revolution! and Aaa("Snip!" -Ed) in there.
Most obvious feted Indie Game missing? Captain Forever. Though I'm partially to blame for that, as it was one of the games I was assigned and I didn't give any votes for it, not having had a chance to have a proper play at the latest version.