IGF finalist documentary

[DrWilloughby]

Gameplay HD is doing a real-world style documentary covering the IGF finalists at GDC, and particularly before and during the show. If you're a finalist and you'd like to be involved, send an email to Wanton Davis at wdavis <at> multiplayerent.com.

Wanton seems like a nice guy, after all, he liked my game! And considering that I am as underdog as they get... any sort of attention is a compliment. :)

[DrWilloughby]

Sorry, I had the incorrect email above, it's corrected now.

[cliffski]

I feel such a dork for not entering the IGF. Its the biggest mistake I've made in the last year. DOH.

[chanon]

I wonder how I could be involved with it when I'm not going to be there ... (boo hoo ... I wish I could go)

[chanon]

I feel such a dork for not entering the IGF. Its the biggest mistake I've made in the last year. DOH.

I imagine Democracy would surely be an "Innovation in Game Design" finalist and possibly an Overall finalist.

But no need to feel bad, I think from the rules it is still ok for you to submit the game for next year.

[Matthew]

But no need to feel bad, I think from the rules it is still ok for you to submit the game for next year.

Chanon's right--there aren't any rules regarding when a game was created. You can enter it a year after, or even enter a game more than once (Gish was even a finalist twice).

[cliffski]

ooh crikey, thats interesting. although hopefully I'll be entering kudos then :D

[cyrus_zuo]

I imagine Democracy would surely be an "Innovation in Game Design" finalist and possibly an Overall finalist.

But no need to feel bad, I think from the rules it is still ok for you to submit the game for next year.
It's also probably worth speaking to past IGF finalists about their experiences before you beat yourself up over not entering. Many have found that it's certainly exciting, but if you don't win you may not see much if any financial reward by being involved.

I'm pondering the long-term affect of the IGF. It really is presented somewhat as a 'freak show' that may or may not have its heart in the right place depending on who you talk to. For my part I would really like to see unfinished software removed from the IGF...especially as uncompleted games win 'game of the year' or are submitted year after year. I believe it gives a negative impression of indie games.

I would also like the IGF to stop promoting itself as 'Sundance' and insinuating that it has helped companies get publishing deals for their games (http://www.igf.com/about.htm). For example, the Alien Hominid deal was done and the game was available for purchase in the US in 2004...but it wasn't in the IGF until 2005.

It seems like every other year I have serious issues with the IGF, and this is the 'other' year ;).

[Hamumu]

I totally agree that the whole 'feel' and promotion of IGF is "these wacky kids made some cool stuff in their basement, and if they're lucky, they just might break into the big time with a cool publisher like EA!" (spoken into a handheld mic by someone in a tuxedo with a toupee as he gestures grandly across the stage at the lineup of geeks in /. t-shirts, perhaps played by Michael Palin)

It's completely the wrong idea. But at least it, ostensibly, rewards innovation! Even though mainly it rewards polish. I'd love to win IGF, but I'd be in it for the money and exposure (exposure for ME, not my publisher!), and avoid the publishers.

[Ryan Clark]

Many have found that it's certainly exciting, but if you don't win you may not see much if any financial reward by being involved.
Just a note on our experience so far: We've already made back our entry fee and more, simply because of the news articles and interviews that have resulted from our nominations. So even if we don't win anything, it was worth it :)

[AnthemAudio]

Well, has anyone contacted multiplayer entertainment? I did, trying to hook up my team with em even though I'm not going.

Who knew that in-laws coming to visit overtake me going to GDC? WHO KNEW?!?

Eh...we're still gonna win.

[Drake]

Gameplay HD is doing a real-world style documentary covering the IGF finalists at GDC, and particularly before and during the show.
Real World style, like the MTV show? Did they offer to put you up in a big house for the week? :)

I imagine them following the teams around with cameras, waiting for fights to break out over who left dirty dishes in the sink, or Cheetos stains on the Dual Shocks... good times! :D

Seriously though, that's pretty cool. I was unaware of Gameplay HD, but I gather from googling it that this will be viewable for people who have an HD channel package from Dish.

[Chris Evans]

Just a note on our experience so far: We've already made back our entry fee and more, simply because of the news articles and interviews that have resulted from our nominations. So even if we don't win anything, it was worth it :)

But will it be enough to cover all your travel expenses and booth setup at IGF?

Well actually your game has been completed for a long time now, so it's probably why you've easily made back your money. Others who have incomplete or new releases may not benefit as much from the IGF coverage as cyrus pointed out.

But yeah, if only complete games are submitted to IGF, the finalist will probably have a more rewarding experience. And the people who didn't make it as a finalist (like me) can't use the old excuse, "well the judges played an early beta, that's why I didn't win!". ;)

[chanon]

Many have found that it's certainly exciting, but if you don't win you may not see much if any financial reward by being involved.
Just a note on our experience so far: We've already made back our entry fee and more, simply because of the news articles and interviews that have resulted from our nominations. So even if we don't win anything, it was worth it :)
Yes, it was certainly worth the entry fee ;) We've had lots of good things happen to us specifically because of being an IGF Finalist. Our income boost from the Penny Arcade mention (http://www.penny-arcade.com/2005/12/12) for example could have easily covered the costs of the trip. But since we're halfway around the world (literally) the costs of going there in addition to some personal issues made me decide not to go.

Just being a finalist has helped us a lot, in many ways. So defnitely it has been worth it at this point. I'm not sure if going there would make it more or less worth it financially, but it would definitely be worth it for the experience. And for those of you who are already in the US, I believe it wouldn't take much money to fly to San Jose (compared to from where I am) .. so it would make more sense financially.

I'm just feeling a little bad because of the lost opportunities to maximise exposure of the game and our company and also because I'm not going to get to meet all of you guys here that are going.

I'm probably the only Asian in the finals this year, so I imagine I might get some extra press/media coverage for showing up there (oh look a chinese guy!) :o

I say, if you use the IGF opportunity strategically, it could be a great boost for your company ... but again it's just probably somewhat LUCK based (I have to admit that I've been very lucky), as it all depends on the judges views. So another way to look at it is a possibly very rewarding marketing opportunity ... for only the entry fee, you might get tons of free press.