Indie Game Challenge 2011 Submission Deadline Nears

Six months after the inaugural Indie Game Challenge (IGC), the October 1 deadline for submissions for the second annual competition is fast approaching.

2011’s competition has been expanded to include international professional and amateur game developers competing in different categories for two grand prizes of $100,000.

Organisers will also offer additional prizes and scholarships in excess of $350,000, as well as one-on-one meetings between competition finalists and publishers like Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo and EA.

In a bid to promote the benefits of entry, IGC officials have pointed to the success enjoyed by last year's finalists. Of the 12 finalist teams, three have signed with publishers and another is currently in negotiations.

Lazy 8 Studios’ Cogs, winner of the $100,000 prize in the professional category, was selected as a launch title for the iPad and is currently making its way to a number of other platforms. Cogs team lead Rob Jagnow said: “The prize money allowed us to kick off an ambitious new indie game project that would have otherwise been too costly.”

“The overall intent behind this competition is not only to promote innovation and honour independent game developers, but also to bring about life-changing experiences,” said Dr. Peter Raad, executive director of The Guildhall at SMU, a founding partner of the IGC, along with GameStop and the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences. “With the various successes of our first year finalists, we are proud to say that our expectations have been exceeded.”
  

You can find out more about how to enter this year’s competition on the official website.