Independent Games Festival Nominees Announced 16
Thanks to the IGF website for revealing their list of nominees for the 2004 Independent Games Festival awards, which have been running since 1998 "to encourage innovation in game development and to recognize the best independent game developers." The finalists in the 'Open Category' include everything from "blend of puzzle and action" Fuzzee Teevee, budgeted at a mere $10,000, to the $1-1.5 million "FPS and RTS [hybrid]" Savage: The Battle For Newerth. The 'Web/Downloadable' category also has some interesting entries, from seeing "two possessed cue-balls duke it out in realtime battle" courtesy of Kung-Fu Chess follow-up Billiard Boxing, to recently-featured "puzzle-based massively multi-player online roleplaying game" Yohoho! Puzzle Pirates.
Battle For Newerth (Score:2)
$1.5 million = independent? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:$1.5 million = independent? (Score:5, Insightful)
I can't seem to find any solid definition of what "independent" is. The best I can make out from their rules [igf.com] is "self funded" and "company whose primary business is game development as opposed to commercial game publishing"
That's pretty vauge, IMHO. And to me, "independent" means you don't have a company backing you.
Maybe there should be another category for people who develop games independently, as in by themselves with at most a small group of friends instead of a structured, funded company behind them.
I really think some of the more unique [igf.com] game ideas were overlooked as a result... Obviously a team of professional developers stand to develop a more complete and polished product than some guy working on it in his spare time, especially within the same timeframe.
=Smidge=
Re:$1.5 million = independent? (Score:2)
Re:$1.5 million = independent? (Score:3, Insightful)
From your post, you make it sound like risk-taking is what defines them. That's not a very good way to differentiate!
There has to be a limit somewhere, which is why the grandparent post was very interesting: how is a $1.5M budget "independent"?
There doesn't seem to be a clear, objective definition for this. If you have one please share!
=Smidge=
Re:$1.5 million = independent? (Score:2)
Re:$1.5 million = independent? (Score:2)
But then again, in today's modern world of intense competition in the game market and the costs of making a game; its hard to draw a line.
Re:$1.5 million = independent? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:$1.5 million = independent? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:$1.5 million = independent? (Score:1)
Trying to quantify independent, though, is difficult. Really.
Savage is worth the money (Score:1, Informative)
For anyone who hasn't tried savage, you owe it to yourself to at least try the free demo. If your a fan of FPS's th
Re: (Score:2)
Dubious competition (Score:1)
Some of the others seem a bit poor quality too, especially compared to this years stars such as Starscape [moonpod.com] and AlienShooter.
Highly dubious - give the money to the developers that a)actually need it and b)show the potential to make something worthwhile.
Savage is unimpressive (Score:2)
Why play Savage? If you want a good FPS, go pick up Counterstrike or Unreal Tournament. A good RTS? Warcraft 3. You like the mixture of both? Natural Selection pro
Really good indie game (Score:1)
Heres a snippet from the webpage
Planet Blupi is a stragtegie and adventure game for PC compatibles. It subtly blends action with thought-provoking challenges. Behind the quiet and gentle facade, you'll enjoy a fascinating diversion full of surprises. Planet Blupi is ideal for ages