The Independent Games Festival’s Mobile Game Awards highlight the best in the past year’s mobile games released by independent developers. A few years ago, the mobile gaming community was too small to warrant much press, let alone an entire awards show.
But the idea of a mobile game has been redefined by the emergence of the iPhone on the scene last July. By all estimations, the mobile gaming community is booming. As this year’s awards indicate, the platform of choice for independent developers isn’t the Nintendo DS or PlayStation Portable (PSP), but the iPhone. In their acceptance speeches, many award winners gave thanks to the vibrant iPhone community for provided much needed feedback and encouragement.
And now, without further ado: the award winners, their developers, and their platform of choice:
Next Great Mobile Game presented by Nvidia
Winner: Reflection
Developer: Team Reflection
Platform: Nintendo DS
Audio Achievement
Winner: Zen Bound
Developer: Secret Exit
Platform: iPhone/iPod touch
Technical Achievement
Winner: Firemint: Real Racing
Developer: Firemint
Platform: iPhone/iPod touch
Art
Winner: Fieldrunners
Developer: Subatomic Studios
Platform: iPhone/iPod touch
Innovation in Mobile Game Design
Winner: Galcon
Developer: Hassey Enterrpises
Platform: iPhone/iPod touch
Best iPhone Game presented by ngmoco (winner receives a $10,000 prize)
Winner: Zen Bound
Developer: Secret Exit
Platform: iPhone/iPod touch
IGF Mobile Best Game
Winner: Fieldrunners
Developer: Subatomic Studios
Platform: iPhone/iPod touch