By: Brandon McCartin (BMcC)

On: March 2nd, 2011

Tonight, onstage alongside the esteemed Game Developers Choice Awards, the winners of the 2011 Independent Games Festival were announced. This lucky thirteenth year’s festivities were kicked off by now-veteran IGF Chairman Brandon “Real Brandon” Boyer, who you may know from Offworld, once one of the finest and most indie-friendly blogs around. (And source of countless aped posts back on TIGSource That Was.)

The ceremony proper was helmed by another Indie Apostle, Anthony Carboni of Bytejacker, perhaps the first host to date with actual hosting experience (nothing personal, Andy). And he did quite the bang up job! Of course, it just wouldn’t be the IGF Awards if the live feed‘s audio wasn’t mixed by a partially deaf clown. Despite Anthony’s every breath being the only thing audible, inside sources have confirmed that, yes, people did in fact laugh at his jokes.

There were quite a few memorable moments peppered throughout the show, some of which I’ve listed at the end of this post. And, while I didn’t stick around to watch, word on the street is Limbo and Minecraft grabbed a number of GDC awards as well. Yet another landmark year in the growing History of Indie Games! But enough prevaricating about the bush.

Indicated by pink superlatives, The 13th Annual IGF Award Winners are…

Student Showcase Award

Technical Excellence

Excellence In Design

Best Mobile Game

Excellence In Visual Art

Excellence In Audio

Audience Award

Minecraft <- BIGGEST FLIRT

Direct2Drive Vision Award

Nuovo Award

Seumas McNally Grand Prize

And now a few of my own meta-awards:

Smoothest Acceptance Speech

Desktop Dungeons Guy for “We didn’t write a speech, ’cause, you know… Minecraft.”

Coolest Goggles?

Desktop Dungeons Guy Also for His Goggles

Best In Synchronized Chanting

The Audience for “Nuovo! Nuovo! Nuovo!” I think.



Sexiest Cosplay

GDFX and Messhof for Yellow Nidhogg Guy and Orange Nidhogg Guy, respectively

Creepiest / Most Intimidating

Tommy and Edmund for Lurking Ominously Behind Andy As He Attempted to Present the Grand Prize

Most Merciless Beatdown

Joe Lieberman vs. Roger Ebert

Runner Up: Tim Schafer vs. Notch

“Go indies!” <3