Indie Rock: 2011 IGF Winners Announced

The Independent Games Festival has announced its winners for 2011, plucked from this very list of finalists. Of the ten categories, seven games took home prizes (not to mention prize money), including some games you've probably played and two you most likely haven't. Now, who do you think took home both the Grand Prize and the Audience Award? Go on. You'll never guess. It's crazy. A real under-dog. A long shot fired from a broken gun.

YES, yes, yes it was of course Minecraft. But another game that did very well for itself was Amnesia: The Dark Descent, scooping the Excellence in Audio, Technical Excellence and Direct2Drive Vision awards. Here's the full list.

* Seumas McNally Grand Prize ($20,000)
Minecraft, by Mojang

* Nuovo Award ($5,000)
Nidhogg, by Messhof

* Excellence in Visual Art ($2,500)
BIT.TRIP RUNNER, by Gaijin Games

* Excellence in Audio ($2,500)
Amnesia: The Dark Descent, by Frictional Games

* Excellence in Design ($2,500)
Desktop Dungeons, by QCF Design

* Best Student Game ($2,500)
FRACT, by University of Montreal

* Technical Excellence ($2,500)
Amnesia: The Dark Descent, by Frictional Games

* Best Mobile Game ($2,500)
Helsing’s Fire, Ratloop

* Audience Award ($2,500)
Minecraft, by Mojang

* Direct2Drive Vision Award ($10,000)
Amnesia: The Dark Descent, by Frictional Games

I think it's time I had a look at FRACT. You can read our Jim's investigations into it here, and it does sound pretty neat. Good to see Desktop Dungeons getting some kudos, of course. That Nidhogg still hasn't been released to the public is getting farcical, but whatever. And then there's BIT.TRIP RUNNER, which came out on Steam this very week.

All good stuff, but I'd encourage you look to take another look at the finalists. What do you reckon? Think anyone in particular got robbed? I wouldn't have minded The Dream Machine's lovingly-crafted cardboard and clay winning over Bit.Trip.