LOS ANGELES, Sept. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Emerging and veteran game developers, game industry professionals, enthusiasts and leaders from across the spectrum of entertainment media will gather in downtown Culver City, Calif. Oct. 6-9. Their sights are set on IndieCade 2011, the fifth-annual international festival of independent video games and its accompanying industry conference.
While the annual festival converts the community into an indie game arcade, with opportunities to play the latest innovative indie video games and rub shoulders with the creators, the concurrent conference will host a wide variety of speakers, from up-and-coming game designers to seasoned members of the diverse independent game-making community. IndieCade’s past sessions and keynotes have included talks from such legends as Sims creator Will Wright, world-renowned video artist Bill Viola, That Game Company’s Jenova Chen and area/code co-founder Frank Lantz.
This year’s keynote, hosted by PlayStation Home, will feature Richard Lemarchand, lead designer of the award-winning blockbuster Uncharted series, speaking on “Beauty and Risk: Why I Love Indie Games.” Other key speakers will include Jonathan Blow, mastermind behind the runaway indie hit Braid; Steve Swink, co-creator of Shadow Physics; and Canabalt luminary Adam Saltsman.
Other special sessions will include sneak peeks and previews of games from top indie developers as well as tomorrow’s industry stars. Favorite returning features will include “Project Next,” an Experimental Gameplay workshop, “Well-Played Sessions” and the Iron Game Designer.
As always, IndieCade will host social events aimed at promoting networking, collaboration and inspiration among the indie gaming community. Conference tickets will include an Opening Party, Gallery Preview, Opening Reception, Closing Party, Daily Coffees, Refreshment Breaks and Happy Hours.
“IndieCade brings together the community to check in on what people have been up to over the last year, celebrate our successes, honor creativity, innovation, get inspired and see what is in store for the year to come,” Andy Nealen, co-creator of the hit Osmos and IndieCade Conference Co-Chair, said.
In addition to attending the conference, developers can meet potential funders as well as publishers during the exclusive pre-conference event IndieXchange, which brings together emerging games and developers with publishers looking for new work. IndieXchange also offers practical hands-on clinics covering legal issues, PR as well as pitching your game.
Registration is open through Brown Paper Tickets and the IndieCade website at www.indiecade.com . While the Festival’s “Game Walk” is open to the public, the full conference costs $195 in advance and $250 at the door. The IndieCade 2011 Conference offers intimate contact with industry leaders and will sell out quickly.
About IndieCade
IndieCade supports independent game development and organizes a series of international events showcasing the future of independent games. It encourages, publicizes as well as cultivates innovation and artistry in interactive media; helping to create a public perception of games as rich, diverse, artistic and culturally significant. IndieCade’s events, related production and publication programs are designed to bring visibility to then facilitate the production of new works within the emerging independent game movement. Like the independent videogame developer community itself, IndieCade’s focus is global and includes producers in Asia, Latin America, Europe, Australia and anywhere else independent games are made or played. IndieCade was formed by Creative Media Collaborative, an alliance of industry producers and leaders founded in 2005. www.indiecade.com
SOURCE IndieCade