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 www.igf.com.