Inaugural Modding Competition Finalists
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- The Independent Games Festival (IGF)
has named the winners of the 2006 Student Showcase as well as the finalists
for the first-ever Modding Competition. A panel of judges comprised of
industry professionals, student game experts and modding veterans surveyed a
high number of quality titles, and narrowed it down to a handful of games.
Each will be playable and on display during the Game Developers Conference
(GDC), from March 20-24 in San Jose, Calif.
The eight winners of the IGF Student Showcase include:
* Ballistic -- 3D-action puzzle game that asks players to solve
physics-based challenges within a given time limit created by students
at Michigan State University
* Cloud -- a game that lets you fly through the clouds, make shapes in the
sky, and create storms to purify the air created by students at
University of Southern California
* Colormental -- restore color to your cartoon world by solving unique
puzzles and working your way past deadly platforming traps created by
students at Full Sail Real World Education
* Ocular Ink -- evil dismembered body parts roam the countryside and
players assume the role of a young paintbrush-wielding eyeball that is
determined to free his home town from the fearsome clutches of the evil
eye-pirate known far and wide as Patches Deadlights created by students
at Grinnell
* Narbacular Drop -- an environmental puzzle game where players navigate a
dungeon with two interconnected portals created by students at Digipen
Institute of Technology
* Orblitz -- a fast-paced puzzle game where players place blocks to direct
orbs to their goal created by students at Digipen Institute of
Technology
* Palette -- Color is the essence of the gameplay in this game. The
players will experience the simulation of mixing real paint created by
students at Department of Film, TV and Multimedia, SungKyunKwan
University
* Sea of Chaos -- a story-driven 3D action naval combat game where players
defend their homeland against the evil Vandamourians, battle ferocious
pirates, and acquire new ships and upgrades to help you achieve your
ultimate goal of bringing peace to the seas created by students at
Digipen Institute of Technology.
The following titles were chosen for best middleware:
* Goliath -- a team-based vehicle action game where players take on the
role of one of 16 human or AI controlled vehicles known as the Road
Warriors defending a world under siege from an enormous and seemingly
indestructible tank known as the Goliath created by students at Media
Design School
* Neuro-Evolving Robotic Operatives (NERO) -- players assume the role of a
drill sergeant and trains a team of robots in real time with which he or
she can battle against other teams over the internet created by students
at University of Texas.
The IGF Modding Competition acknowledges the most innovative and creative
modifications in independent game development, including Half-Life 2,
NeverWinter Nights, Unreal Tournament 2004 and Doom 3.
The finalists in the modding competition include:
* IGF Best Mod -- 'Half-Life 2': Dodgeball: Source, Dystopia, Eclipse,
Hidden: Source, Plan Of Attack
* IGF Best Mod -- 'Neverwinter Nights': Bitter Harvest, Hythum II: The
Halls Of Kilgirn, Rose Of Eternity -- Chapter 1, Runes Of Blood, The
Hunt
* IGF Best Mod -- 'Unreal Tournament 2004': Dragonfly Variations,
HamsterBash, Path Of Vengeance, The Awakening, The Soulkeeper
* IGF Best Mod -- 'Doom 3': Last Man Standing, Doom3 [CC]
"The rise of quality in independent student games continues to astound,"
Simon Carless, IGF chairman, said. "And in adding the modding competition,
we're delighted to highlight another vibrant independent gaming scene."
The winners of the new IGF Modding Competition will be announced at the
IGF Awards Ceremony on March 22, and will be awarded $2,500 for each of the
four game categories, totaling $10,000 in cash prizes. More information about
the finalists and their respective titles can be found at http://www.igf.com.
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 Sundance Film Festival honors the independent film
community.
The GDC is the largest and most important professional development event
for the games industry. The conference will feature hundreds of lectures and
workshops designed to provide inspiration and build skills. It offers an
independent forum for developers from around the world to set the agenda for
the next stage of interactive tools.
To register for the Game Developers Conference and review conference
information, please visit http://www.gdconf.com. Press registration is also
available at this time.
About the CMP Game Group (http://www.cmpgame.com)
A core provider of essential information to the professional game
industry, the CMP Game Group offers market-defining content, and drives
community through the Game Developers Conference, GDC Europe, the Serious
Games Summit D.C., GDC Mobile, GDC Asia, Game Developer magazine,
Gamasutra.com, the Independent Games Festival, the Game Developers Choice
Awards, and GDCTV. For more information, please visit http://www.cmpgame.com.
About CMP Media (http://www.cmp.com)
Through its market-leading portfolio of trusted information brands in the
technology, healthcare and lifestyles industries, CMP Media has earned the
confidence of more professionals and enthusiasts in these fields than any
other media company. As a result, CMP is the premier provider of access,
insight and actionable programs designed to connect sellers and buyers in each
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and specialist information services with a market capitalization of more than
$3 billion.
SOURCE CMP Game Group
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CONTACT:
Sibel Sunar of The Bohle Company,
+1-310-785-0515, ext. 271, sibel@bohle.com, for CMP Game Group;
or Tara Gibb of CMP Game Group, +1-415-947-6219, tgibb@cmp.com
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