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GDC 2004: Winners of the IGF
by Jolex Del Pilar
Monday, March 29, 2004
Savage: The Battle for Newerth takes top honors.
Top honors for the 6th Annual Independent Games Festival (IGF) went to Savage: The Battle for Newerth for the Open category and Oasis for the Web/Downloadable category at the Game Developers Choice Awards ceremony at the Game Developers Conference in San Jose.
Savage: The Battle for Newerth and Oasis each received the $15,000 Seumas McNally Grand Prize for Independent Games of the Year. Savage, the Open category selection, is a PC game, which combines FPS and RTS gameplay into one cohesive experience. As commander you lead a team of real human players, while managing resources, developing a tech tree, organizing and implementing strategy. As a warrior you personally battle in a primal struggle against extinction.
The Web/Downloadable category selection, Oasis, is a MMUC (Mass-Market-Ultra-Casual) turn-based strategy game designed to be played in minutes instead of days.
It has been described as "Civilization(TM) without the tears." Players take on the role of the Scarab King, who must recreate his kingdom before it is destroyed by the barbarian horde.
This year's festival received more than 111 original entries representing 18 countries.
The IGF also recognized the following awards in each category:
Innovation in Game Design
Bontago (Open)
Oasis (Web/Downloadable)
Innovation in Audio
Anito: Defend A Land Enraged (Open)
Dr. Blob's Organism (Web/Downloadable)
Innovation in Visual Art
Spartan (Open)
Dr. Blob's Organism (Web/Downloadable)
Technical Excellence
Savage: The Battle for Newerth (Open)
Yohoho! Puzzle Pirates (Web/Downloadable)
Audience Award
Savage: The Battle for Newerth (Open)
Yohoho! Puzzle Pirates (Web/Downloadable)
"The finalists for The Independent Games Festival are among some of the most innovative games we've seen yet," said Alex Dunne, chairman, IGF. "It's truly inspirational to watch passionate, independent game developers take risks to advance the art of making games."
Cartoon Network and America Online also announced the winner of Project Goldmaster. Flashbang Studios has been selected to design a game based on a Cartoon Network character. The making of the game can be followed by AOL members at AOL keyword: Project Goldmaster.
The IGF was established in 1998 by the CMP Game Group to encourage innovation in game development and to recognize the best independent game developers, the way the Sundance Film Festival has benefited the independent film community.
For more information on the IGF and all the finalist games, please visit http://www.igf.com.
--- Jolex Del Pilar |
