IGF launches mobile event

CMP is planning to launch a sister event to its Independent Games Festival, which runs along side GDC, which aims to reward independent handheld games developers.

Called IGF Mobile, the first runs during the 2008 Game Developers Conference which runs from February 18th to 22nd at San Francisco’s Moscone Convention Center.

Organisers say it is "celebrating the innovation of games for cellphones and other mobile devices including Sony’s PlayStation Portable and the Nintendo DS" and is accepting submissions at www.igfmobile.com.

$20,000 in prizes will be awarded – five $2,000 prizes will be given, one each for audio, technical, art, innovation and ‘augmented design’ achievements while one game will be named Best Game of IGF Mobile and with $10,000.

"The mobile games industry has come so incredibly far over these past few years in terms of originality and creativity, we felt it was time to recognize the star developers with their own festival, pavilion and awards," said Matthew Kumar, Content Director of IGF Mobile and editor of CMP Game Group’s mobile game industry news site, GamesOnDeck.

"I know I speak for all IGF organizers when I say we truly can’t wait to see and play the wide range of gameplay experiences we expect will be submitted."