Independent games site Game Tunnel released their game of the year winners for the independent market in 2006. Up until recently independent games have been relegated to a niche PC market, but Xbox Live -- and we hope similar services in the future -- will allow these games to shine out of their word-of-mouth marketing worlds.We spoke with Russell Carroll, editor-in-chief at Game Tunnel, about the differences between Game Tunnel's awards and the Independent Games Festival awards given out in March, which had nominations announced earlier this month. Carroll says that unfinished games are allowed to enter the IGF competition, where Game Tunnel will only consider the finished product. For example, Oasis won the IGF in 2003 and won Game Tunnel's award in 2005 when it was actually released.
Game Tunnel chooses their winner by a combination of monthly panels, reviews, Game Tunnel staff opinion and Carroll gets the final call. Carroll says, "It's not a perfect mathematical equation, but in the end we're happy with the results and think that they are games that can immediately be appreciated for being indie ... you can see that heart in the games." Most of the games are available to download and demo from the Game Tunnel website. Check it out and help support the little guys.
