The awards start at 6:30 tonight, so it’s time to draw a close to our project of the last few weeks. We’ve interviewed all those who have been nominated for the short list (Except Shatter who I only realised was coming to the PC too late to arrange an interview and Heroes of Newerth, who just couldn’t be bothered answering in time and the student competition folk.) So – in a few hours time, when you want to know about ..read the full article

Miegakure is one of the most enigmatic designs in all of the IGF. It’s a competition which has been known for highlighting brain-bending designs. Not many have actually gone as far to be based around the conceptual headflips of a 19th century novella. Marc ten Bosch’s Experimental Gameplay Workshop presentation at last year’s GDC was widely commented upon. This year, he’s picked up a nomination in excellence in design. And now, he’s speaking to use. Read on. (more…)

Related stories: IGF Factor ..read the full article

RPS are big fans of Owls – they’re wise! Athena digs them! That freaky neck thing! We’re not so fond of boys – they’re made of slugs and snails and similar material. So we have mixed feeling about the approaching lusciously-retro-formed platformer. Let’s over-come them, because it looks beautiful as hell in a gota-a-visual-arts-nomination-in-the-IGF way. You’ll fine our interview with Adrian Bauer of D-pad studio about the artist-probably-being-called-Owlboy below, along with footage – or maybe talon-age, if we’re being appropriately ..read the full article

I first saw Joe Danger about a year ago, in a fairly awful pub just off Soho. I liked it so much, I gave Hello Games pretty much every useful contact in my big bag of games journo-names. It’s a high-concept bike game for people who thought Trials 2 a little too trialing. It’s picked up a nomination for technical excellence and the grand prize in this year’s IGF. And it’s totally coming out on the PC. No, really. We ..read the full article

Minimalist, beautiful, vicious. We loved Star Guard when Alec first played it, and it remains lovable now. It’s picked up a nomination for Excellence in Design, and – of all the shortlisted game – is the standard bearer of arcade-brutality mixed with modern-accessibility. We sit down to talk with Loren Schmidt about all things Star Guard… (more…)

Related stories: IGF Factor 2010: Super Meat Boy IGF Factor 2010: Shank IGF Factor 2010: Trauma IGF Factor 2010: Aaa(Snip!-Ed)

Writer: Kieron Gillen. | No comments

Post tags: free, ..read the full article

It is, quite simply, the best Bear-based driving sim of all time. It’s picked up a Nuovo nomination in this year’s IGF. It’s time to meet up with Justin Smith and give him a great big Bear hug… (more…)

Related stories: IGF Factor 2010: Super Meat Boy IGF Factor 2010: Tuning IGF Factor 2010: Closure IGF Factor 2010: Today I Die

Writer: Kieron Gillen. | No comments

Post tags: enviro-bear 2010, igf, igf 2010, igf factor 2010, indie, justin smith | Help RPS: donate or subscribe This article ..read the full article

He’s a boy! He’s made of meat! He’s super! He’s Super Meat Boy! He’s up for the Audio and Grand Prize at this year’s IGF! He’s made by Edmund McMillen and Tommy Refenes (aka Team Meat)! We’re talking to them! Like, right now! MEAT! MEAT! (more…)

Related stories: A Cry For Help – Edmund McMillen Collection Very Rare: Super Meat Boy Teaser IGF Factor 2010: Monaco Loss And Panic: Time Kfcu Trailer

Writer: Kieron Gillen. | No comments

Post tags: edmund mcmillen, igf, igf 2010, igf ..read the full article

You were excited when John brought this up last week. As is only right. Shank is one of the most visceral games in this year’s IGF, and picked up a nomination for Visual Excellence for its efforts. We took time to talk to Jamie Cheng of Klei to find out about the origins of this love-letter to the idea of classic brawlers. (more…)

Related stories: IGF Factor 2010: Tuning IGF Factor 2010: Closure IGF Factor 2010: Rocketbirds: Revolution IGF Factor 2010: Today I Die

Writer: Kieron ..read the full article

It’s one of the better traveled routes for IGF games. First, a flash-game that shows the core mechanic. Then, a full game expanded from that core. So following finalists like World of Goo and Crayon Physics Deluxe, we have Closure. We adored its initial web release and are eagerly anticipating the full version, which has been shortlisted for Technical Innovation, Sound and the Nuovo Innovation Award. We stumbled in the dark until we found creator Tyler Glaiel and got a ..read the full article

Limbo is the definition of a Dark Horse, both obviously in its striking visual style and because the scarcity of details about how you actually play the thing. It’s a puzzle platformer, and that’s about all we know. However, it’s impressed the hell out of the IGF judges who’ve played it, leading to it being shortlisted for both the Technical and Visual Arts awards. Our interview with Lead Designer Jeppe Carlsen and footage of this enigmatic game follow… (more…)

Related stories: IGF ..read the full article

Trauma is unusual, and blistering with potential. It puts you as a girl, surviving a car accident, trying to piece together her identity via experiencing photograph-formed visions. Beautiful, unconventional and hauntingly atmospheric, I can’t wait to play the finished game. As it’s been shortlisted for Audio, Visual Design and the Seumas McNally Grand Prize in the IGF, I suspect I’m far from not alone. An interview with developer Krystian Majewski and footage of the game in action follows… (more…)

Related stories: Indieyeahosity: ..read the full article

We’ve talked about the Flashback-with-a-fowl of Rocketbirds: Revolution before. Since then, it’s been nominated for three IGF awards – Excellence in Audio, Visual art and the Seumas McNally Grand Prize. As the big night approaches it’s time to sidle up to Ratloop Asia and desperately resist any chicken-based gags. The interview and Mark the Intern of ScrewAttack.com explaining the game follows… (more…)

Related stories: Indieyeahosity: IGF 2010 Finalists Announced IGF Factor 2010: Tuning IGF Factor 2010: Monaco IGF Factor 2010: Today I Die

Writer: Kieron Gillen. ..read the full article

Of all the IGF finalists so far, AAA(Snip!-Ed) is the one which RPS has written most about. We loved it when we reviewed it. We loved it when Dejobaan answered your comment thread questions in a little video. We loved it when we interviewed them. We loved it in our end of year round-up. And we love it now, when they’ve recieved a nomination for excellence in design, taking it as an excuse for yet more coverage. Interview go! Interview ..read the full article

Ian Bogost’ A Slow Year is “A chapbook of game poems for Atari VCS, PC, and Mac”. As in, it’s primarily developed for the VCS – being released in a limited edition cartridge – with the other two system being ports. It’s picked up a nomination for the IGF Nuovo Award. It will inevitably drive some people mad by its mere existence. Good. Some people exist to be annoyed. Your annoyance is a barometer of whether culture is progressing or ..read the full article

How beautiful, how wonderful can you make a sliding puzzle game? With a steam-punk flourish, Lazy 8 Studios’ Cogs shows exactly how far the genre can be pushed. Comrade Walker – our official master of puzzles – totally adored it upon its release. Now that it’s picked up a nomination for Excellence in Design, we thought it time to talk to their Rob Jagnow about all things indie-games. Footage and chattage follows… (more…)

Related stories: Indieyeahosity: IGF 2010 Finalists Announced IGF Factor 2010: ..read the full article

Part of you wants to be upset with Pocketwatch Games. Why haven’t they given us 2009’s Unknown Pleasure Venture Dinosauria yet? That part is soon quashed when you see what Andy Schatz is working on. Monaco is a four-player co-op stealth game that’s been shortlisted for both the Design and the Seumas McNally Grand Prize. Minimalist graphics. Exciting theme. Stealth. This one has RPS written all over it. Our interview with Andy, and footage of Monaco follows… (more…)

Related stories: Unknown Pleasures ..read the full article

Strange Loop Games’ Vessel picked up a nomination for a technical award this year, in its fluid-based character-puzzle game with a mass of glorious steampunkisms. We talk to John Krajewski and Martin Farren about it, the IGF and the future… (more…)

Related stories: Indieyeahosity: IGF 2010 Finalists Announced IGF Watch: More Closure IGF Factor 2010: Tuning IGF Factor 2010: Today I Die

Writer: Kieron Gillen. | No comments

Post tags: igf, igf 2010, igf factor 2010, indie, John Krajewski, Martin Farren, Strange Loop Games, Vessel | Help ..read the full article

We’ve talked about Daniel Benmergui’s poetic work before, when Alec wrote about I Wish I Were The Moon. Today I Die is similarly poetic, short-form work which has been shortlisted for the Nuovo award in this year’s festival. You can play it here, watch the spoiler-filled-video walkthrough below and then read what’s on Daniel’s mind in our interview. (more…)

Related stories: Oh What A Lovely Medal Wars? Pixel Perfect: Today I Die Indieyeahosity: IGF 2010 Finalists Announced IGF Factor 2010: Tuning

Writer: Kieron Gillen. | 3 ..read the full article