This press release was sent to us by The Bohle Company for IndieCade:

“LOS ANGELES – Oct. 11, 2011 – Thirteen games, chosen by a panel of experts, received top honors at the 2011 IndieCade Conference Festival. FEZ, created by Polytron Corporation, was awarded the Grand Jury Award. IndieCade recognizes superior examples of story development, visual, technological, audio and all-around independent game titles as well as a creator who has greatly contributed to the independent gaming field.

Eleven of the winners, including the Grand Jury Award were announced at the Red Carpet awards show, sponsored by LG Electronics, on Thursday, Oct. 6. On Sunday night, Oct. 9, GameFly, a supporting sponsor, hosted the closing party where the Audience and Developer Choice Awards were announced.

“2011 was a great year for the indie gaming community, which continues to grow and change by leaps and bounds.” said Stephanie Barish, CEO, IndieCade. “This year’s submissions reflected the incredible diversity and innovation we have seen growing over the four years of IndieCade. The nominees and winners represent the best aspects of independent games.”

The game and developer winners this year are:

Grand Jury Award: FEZ, Polytron Corporation – The award distinguishes the game that cultivates artistry and embodies complete passion for game development. This year the jury chose from 36 game finalists from 14 different countries.

LG Mobile Innovative Game Award: Hungry Hungry UFOs, Asher Vollmer, Sam Farmer and Ben Bharier- The nominees for this award were brought together and established the prototypes for consideration at the IndieCade 3D Mobile Game Jam, presented and sponsored by LG Mobile.

Visuals sponsored by Nvidia: Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP, Superbrothers, Capybara Games, Jim Guthrie

Audio: Proteus, Ed Key

Impact sponsored by G4: Johann Sebastian Joust, Douglas Wilson and Friends

Interaction: Ordnungswissenschaft, Till Wittwer, Marek Plichta and Jakob Penca

Game Design: Deepak Fights Robots, Tom Sennett

Technology sponsored by Transgaming: Johann Sebastian Joust, Douglas Wilson and Friends

Story/ World Design sponsored by BBC Worldwide: FEZ, Polytron Corp.

Special Recognition: The Swapper, Facepalm Games – it’s a game specially selected by the Jury for being a stand-out game, but not one that could fit into any other category very well.

The Trailblazers Award: Megan Gaiser

Developers Choice Award: Way, Coco & Co (Carnegie Mellon)

Audience Choice Award: The Depths to Which I Sink, Bigpants

For more information, visit http://www.indiecade.com/”

I’m rather happy that Fez won the show, and really looking forward to the game.

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Illusionware games just contacted me about their new game, Gravital Rescue, which I in turn checked out. The game is a mix of moon lander and gravity based games. Let me say this; there is no “I might die”…you will die. Fortunately the game doesn’t punish you harshly for dying, the points just go away while you are playing and sometimes it might be faster to just die than try to recover from your actions. If you are a fan of moon lander games you will probably like this one too. Check it out.

It’s a flash game, and you can play it on their site below.

Play Gravital Rescue

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It’s a pretty cool little game, and I spent a few minutes playing around with it. The game does some cool looking simulation, especially since it’s all cubed water, and it does look pretty good with the classic Infiniminer style that most people attribute to MineCraft. The game looks pretty good, although the interface can be a little difficult to read here and there. While I didn’t do a whole lot I do have to say the game is a pretty cool little sandbox style game, and it’ll waste some of your time. Recommended? Yes.

ZanMgt also has other games available on their products page, but this is specifically about Liquid Cubed

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(This image was taken from Indiegames.com, to see the rest of the screenshots click the link above, if you don’t want a spoiler then don’t go beyond screenshot number 3)

Well TNTBF was created as a contest entry into the YoYoGames “design a handheld game” competition. Because of this the game is free. Of course, upon first examination of the game I thought “hey something to post in the blog” then I downloaded it to see what it was like. What entailed was me spending around 30mins to an hour beating the game, dying over 200 times. Yes over 200 times, and I enjoyed every minute of it!

This game is…wow…that’s all I can say. Some might not get it and might not get as addicted, but I REALLY enjoyed it. Jonathan ended up chiming in while I was playing it and we were exchanging comments about how “i was addicted”. The game starts to get hard but pulls you in greatly. This game is definitely recommended, and you can’t take it at face value, play the game. If you like it, tell us or Jesse, his website is below where the game’s link is. If you hate it then you probably never played a nintendo and should really do something about that.

To sum it up, They Need to be Fed is great, it’s an awesome freeware game that will push you into beating it the moment you start playing and I did enjoy it thoroughly. I recommend playing it.

Download it here, you won’t regret it

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Although PopCap Games isn’t particularly indie, this is still a good game, so I’m spotlighting it.

Plants Vs Zombies is a strategy game that’s kind of Tower Defense, although it has an interesting twist on the whole ‘TD’ thing. You have to collect sun to make plants which, as the name implies, you must fight against zombies with. The game starts out rather easy and simple, but starts to progress well. There are some “mini-games” in which you spend no points but just wait for plants to pop up at the top of the screen so you can use them. I had fun playing these parts especially. The game has a great sense of humor and it’s probably my second favorite PopCap game (next to Peggle which is still my crack when it comes to casual games). I’d recommend it to any casual gamer just as quickly as I’d recommend it to any other gamer. You should try it out….now.

The demo is quite fun, although I do not like the fact that you put your email in to download. Just unclick the “Keep me Up to date” and it’ll be fine.

Website: Here

Download the Demo: Here

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Yeah, yeah, yeah I know it’s been a while since I’ve done an indie game spotlight but I think this game really deserves it. It’s a simple shooter but it looks and plays great. Once you’re playing it the rock music and carnage will pull you in, it plays like some of the great shooters of old. And by old I mean the snes and genesis days. The bosses are a lot like Contra in how they’re fought and look. The demo is out now PLAY IT…

We like this game so much that we are also hosting it here.

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I’ve been watching this game for a while, and I played it in beta. I thought it was great, a playable TD Game. Well, it’s out of beta now. Cup Cake Games has released Plant This! and well…It’s alot better than when it was in beta.

The game starts out as a rather odd twist on a TD, using flowers to fight off bugs and it goes very well with it. The game play is really fun, and you are able to unlock achievements as you go. The game has great polish and is also a bit funny at some points, I’d definitely recommend it for people who like strategy games. If you don’t like strategy games then you may not like this game, however, it doesn’t hurt to download the demo.

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Yes, yes, yes…..it’s another zombie game, but come on their like Nazis. You never get tired of killing them. It’s also got a flashlight like element to the gameplay and while the game is far from original it’s still fun.

Game Features
-4 different types of weapons.
-6 exciting and bloody chapters of “Story Mode”.
-The ability to blow up almost everything that is not a wall.
-2 different types of mini games; Spawn Room and Zombie Drive.
-6 music tracks, setting the mood just perfect.
-Much much more…

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Jack’s Bouncy Qubes is an interestingly fun casual game. The point (in adventure mode) is to destroy the required amount of Qubes before time runs out. The game is very, very well polished and really fun. It’s one of those games that you say “This looks cool, I’ll waste some time on it” and look at the clock some 5 hours later. Definitely a time waster in the office, I’d recommend this for any casual or hardcore gamer. I really recommend downloading the demo and giving it a try.

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Azgard Defense is a nice strategy game, unlike most TDs you can also make your own levels. This game has very well polished visuals which makes it stick out from most TD games, the game is very appealing. It also allows for 15 different towers including airships, gun placements, fire towers, and more. The demo of the game includes 12 different levels which contain about 20 waves each. Like most TDs the sounds can get a bit repetitive, but they change out each monster well enough that it doesn’t get too bad, and by default sounds are turned down. Overall the game is very well polished and I recommend it to any fan of Tower Defense strategy games.

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Ploombloom is a fun little puzzle game, the overall objective is to save Onrniland from a evil bird who wishes to turn all the inhabitants into warriors. Like all puzzle games though, you are more focused on destroying the “jars” that pop up on the screen than the actual story. The artwork in this game is top quality and very appealing. This game is very comical actually, and very fun to play. Unlike most puzzle games you can replace any jar on the screen and it will switch with the one in your hand. Needless to say this game is perfect for anyone who likes puzzle games or games that you just need a mouse to play. If you’re like me, it’s a great game to lose hours on, I highly recommend it.

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Plant This! is a great Tower Defense game. The humor in the game is openly shown because of it’s style, the game is very well polished in all areas. If you are a fan of Tower Defense games, you’ve probably already started downloading the demo, and you should. If you’re not a fan of TD games I’d still recommend downloading and trying it, although it may not be your cup of tea. Overall Plant This! is a fun game and is better than most TDs, I highly recommend it for fans of TD games.

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Yummy Drink Factory is a sim game where you run a Drink booth in a fairy-tale village. This game is another one from Amaranth Games and it’s actually pretty fun. The game is SD anime-styled and is a bit funny as well. The game has a helpful tutorial to get you started with the game and also allows for you to make your own recipes in Freedom mode. Most restaurant-running sim fans may enjoy this one, but some non-sim fans will as well. Overall Yummy Drink Factory is another great indie game and I recommend it to any indie game fan.

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Morning’s Wrath is a nice old school point ‘n click style RPG. The demo gives you just enough story to make you want to keep playing. The cutscene artwork is great and so is the game’s music, the ingame graphics are pre-rendered 3D while not looking bad they will not win any awards. Over all the game is nicely done and I would recommended it to anyone who likes a good point ‘n click RPG.

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This is a nice little turn-based RPG with a hint of strategy with nicely modeled characters and environments. The art and script are sharp. This is not normally the kind of game I play, but I really enjoyed this game. The effects are great and once you learn how to play there is lots of fun to be had. So if like turn-based RPGs give it a try I think you will like it.

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Pathstorm is yet another unique indie game. The object of the game is to find all the bouncers in each level. The game is well polished and very fun. It’s a great casual game, which only takes a few minutes to beat each level, sometimes less. The game is overall a well-polished and fun game, and comes recommended for any casual and/or non-casual gamers.

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Steam Brigade is a unique Strategy game where you control most of the battlefield using a steam-powered airship, you slowly run out of steam and must replenish your supply at your base. This game is 100% unique, the artwork is uniquely great as well as the animations. The game is very high-quality, but completely indie. This game is worth a look, especially if you like strategy games without the wait times of a RTS.

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Developer: Dejobaan Games

Yes, yes , yes…I know it’s a clone of “Katamari Damacy” but who cares it’s really fun and has a great sense of humor and good music. It’s one of those games you can just pickup and play. So give it a try you just might like it.

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Developer: Adventure Developers

Out of Order is a few years old now, but it still hasn’t lost it’s charm. OoO is a point-and-click adventure game with an odd but hilarious story. The overall game can take about 4-5 hours to complete knowing every move, which is not much more than playing an old Monkey Island game. This game is full of humor including some jokes from old Lucasarts adventures and many other adventure games. Out of Order is 100% free, which is always a good price for a game. It’s definitely worth your time if you want to play a good humorous adventure game with a perplexing story.

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Developer: BeachBagGames

Summer Spin is a very polished match 4 style puzzle game, from it’s art to it’s music it’s just a very nice game overall. It’s one of those games that you start playing and lose all track of time. It’s worth playing.

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Developer: Amaranth Games

Aveyond is a great 2D RPG, as a matter of fact it’s one of the best Independant Games on the market today. This title is very hyped by many websites, and it doesn’t dissapoint. It has over 60 quests and takes quite a while to beat, overall, if you like RPGS with alot of quests, you should try the game. The game is a very good game altogether and is definitely recommended if you want a good RPG to play.

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Developer: KarjaKoft

Well here’s one for you! I fell in love with this game just from playing the demo, it’s very funny and well written. The dialogue will have you rolling on floor. You play the roll of a superhero trying to make a name for his or herself. As you play you go from saving cats and old ladies to fighting thugs and evil villains. The gameplay is puzzle oriented and they are so good that they will keep you playing. I really enjoyed this game and I highly recommend it. Give it a try.

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Developer: Shanghai Quarter Digital
Website: Here

Ancient Wonderland is a 2d puzzle game, you must clear off shapes by clicking on 3 in a row that are touching. The object of the game is to clear all the small blue gems before proceeding on to the next level. The game is additively fun and I had to realize what time it was and stop or I would’ve played for a long time. The game is definitely for anyone who likes puzzle games. It’s pretty to look at, the puzzles are interesting and overall, it’s fun.

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Arc Ball 3D is a very nice breakout style game, played from cool perspective. The graphics could be a little better but the whole game has a nice design to it. It’s well worth playing, and at $10.00 is well worth buying to.

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Developer: Rebel Planet Creations
Publisher: Rebel Planet Creations
Website: Here
Demo: Here

Truth seeker is a very good game altogether, it’s a fantasy action game (ala zelda: ocarina of time) for the pc. The puzzles are very inventive and the gameplay is easy to pick up. Truth seeker got Christian Game of the Year of 2007. If you’re looking for a good fantasy action game with a good christian message, The Axys Adventures: Truth Seeker is definitely for you.

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Developer:Joakim Sandberg
Publisher:konjak.org
Website:konjak.org

Do yourself a favor and download the first game “Noitu Love”. It’s free and well worth playing, and after your done pick up a copy of Noitu Love 2. First off the art is great, it’s nicely detailed and the animation is superb. But once you start playing you know you’ve found a true gem. Trust me when I say it’s well worth your time.

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