While these games are competing for the 2012 Independent Games Festival's Main Competition, the IGF awarded Student Showcase competitors today. Selected from two-hundred ninety-five separate game entries, eight winners have been crowned victorious.
The finalists for the 14th annual Independent Games Festival's Main Competition have been announced, highlighting some of the greatest indie games to come out in the past year. Indie game fans might notice a couple of familiar titles like the oft-nominated platforming adventure Fez (by Polytron) and Alexander Bruce's mind-melting first person puzzler, Antichamber. That said, the IGF juries have selected a number of less-exposed titles that are well-deserving of some recognition.
There were a number of very interesting cooperative experiences at IndieCade 2011, but one of my most memorable of such experiences was a puzzle-platformer called Way, which I played with a complete stranger. The person controlling my character's in-game companion was someone who I neither saw, nor spoke to, until after we had completed the game. As the credits rolled, I stepped away from the mouse and keyboard, and was compelled to cross the room, locate my new-found compatriot and shake his hand for a game well-played. It was that kind of experience.
One of the best things about this year's IndieCade is the particularly wide assortment of incredibly innovative cooperative experiences. Given that all those in attendance love videogames--or at the very least, have a healthy curiosity--an enthusiastic collaborator is always in within arm's reach.
It's indicative of the natural bonds that can develop when bringing so many talented game-makers together. "There's a really unique community of developers that come from around the world, sharing ideas," IndieCade CEO and founder Stephanie Barish explained. She told me that oftentimes, new development teams manifest as the result of the relationships that form at IndieCade. "It's just very, very exciting to be here and be part of this community," she said, "and to have the opportunity to show your work to each other, and to the broader public."
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