Well, after blogging about the questionable creative state of the increasingly corporate computer games industry I did a bit of digging and discovered a few avenues for free-thinking games developers who may not have the big budgets to put their big ideas into place, but have that crazy indie spirit. Hopefully some of these projects will grow into the Cannes, Sundance and Venice of the computer games biz and will shake up the interactive milkshake to produce some truly innovative alternatives.
The Independent Games Festival is associated with the Game Developers Conference held each year in the Northern Californian springtime. In 2005, the event will take place between the 9-11 March in San Fran and the winners will be announced at the GDC. If you want to submit, get your skates on. Deadline's 1 September. Cash prizes to be won.
Slamdance Big C Bawls Independent Games Competition 2005 is a new offshoot of the Slamdance Film Festival, started in 1995 when a bunch of young upstarts wanted to indie Robert Redford's Sundance. This year's showcase will be held in LA between 21st-29th January at the Film Festival. Early deadline is 1st October, final deadline is 1st November. Top prize is $5000 in cash and prizes. I'm very pleased to see established film-makers celebrating games. Cheers Joystiq!
Dare to Be Digital is open to teams of five students in Scotland's Unis and Art Colleges. It's been running since 2001 and the work is showcased at the annual Edinburgh International Games Festival. Entry deadlines are in April each year, and if your idea is picked you get to spend ten weeks of the long summer days in Dundee... apparently the sunniest city in Scotland.... Ah, just think about the cash prizes.
Any others?
