Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Activision teams with Indiecade for second Independent Games Competition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/activision-teams-with-indiecade-for-second-independent-games-com/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/activision-teams-with-indiecade-for-second-independent-games-com/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/activision-teams-with-indiecade-for-second-independent-games-com/#comments Activison's indie games competition was such a rousing success last time -- from its announcement to the year-and-a-half of silence that followed to the reveal of winners -- that the publisher's doing it again, offering up another $250,000 to two indie developers.

Activision's doing it differently this time. For one thing, right there in the press release, it notes that "Ownership of submission remains with the creator." Last time, the competition had a caveat that if Activision decided to publish the winning entry, it would own the IP. The announcement of this contest mentions nothing about an Activision publishing deal being on the table.

Additionally, Activision is working with Indiecade to run this contest. Submissions are open now through December 31. Winners will be announced sometime in the next couple of years or whatever.

JoystiqActivision teams with Indiecade for second Independent Games Competition originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-independent-games-competitionindieindiecadepcMon, 03 Oct 2011 15:40:00 EST<![CDATA['Dstroyd' and 'Rigonauts: Broadside' win Activision indie competition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/27/dstroyd-and-rigonauts-broadside-win-activision-indie-compet/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/27/dstroyd-and-rigonauts-broadside-win-activision-indie-compet/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/27/dstroyd-and-rigonauts-broadside-win-activision-indie-compet/#comments Remember the Activision Independent Games Competition? First announced in February of last year, the contest offered cash prizes and potential Activision publishing deals to indie devs in the US. After almost a year of deliberation (submissions ended on August 31, 2010!), Activision has announced the winners of the first phase.

Dstroyd by Peter Angstadt, a side-scrolling ballistics game (like Worms) with real-time strategy elements, is the first-place winner, receiving $175,000. Engient's Rigonauts: Broadside, a game about assembling rickety battleships out of assortments of parts in real time, and then fighting with said ships, took the second-place spot, earning $75,000. Activision didn't say whether it was pursuing publishing contracts for either game, but a note in an interview with Angstadt mentions that he retains the IP, with Activision claiming the first opportunity to publish the game.

Activision will hand out another $250,000 in the second phase of its indie contest, but no details have been announced. It might take a while.

Joystiq'Dstroyd' and 'Rigonauts: Broadside' win Activision indie competition originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-independent-games-competitiondstroydindiepcrigonauts-broadsideWed, 27 Jul 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hogrocket's Ben Ward speaks out on Bizarre closure]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/hogrockets-ben-ward-speaks-out-on-bizarre-closure/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/hogrockets-ben-ward-speaks-out-on-bizarre-closure/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/hogrockets-ben-ward-speaks-out-on-bizarre-closure/#comments Bizarre Creations community manager-turned-Hogrocket co-founder Ben Ward recently spoke to Eurogamer about the steps that led to his change of employ. The most important query -- what the hell is a Hogrocket? -- goes sadly unanswered. However, Ward explained how his former studio changed with its Activision acquisition, explaining, "for better or worse Bizarre became more 'corporate'."

Ward explained he wasn't hurt by the closure, saying, "Those guys wouldn't be top of their game if they didn't make difficult decisions." He added his former publishing partner "has strived to redistribute Bizarre peeps to other Activision studios throughout the world." As for the future of Hogrocket, Ward shot down the obvious answer for the studio's indie game debut: "It's not Geometry Wars," Ward said. "What Hogrocket is working on now is a completely new IP."

Trigonometry Battles? We can only hope.

JoystiqHogrocket's Ben Ward speaks out on Bizarre closure originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionben-wardbizarre-creationshogrocketindieWed, 30 Mar 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision indie games competition detailed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/02/activision-indie-games-competition-detailed/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/02/activision-indie-games-competition-detailed/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/02/activision-indie-games-competition-detailed/#commentsFiled under: , ,

[Elisabeth Caren]
Activision has laid out the rules for its "Independent Games Competition." Announced during DICE by CEO Bobby Kotick, the competition will be open to US-based indie developers and conducted in two phases. The first round has already begun and is set with an August 31, 2010 cutoff for submissions. The first and second place winners will receive $175K and $75K, respectively. The second round of competition will be announced at a later date.

Here comes the part that some may consider the "Ursula clause": Speaking with IndustryGamers, Laird Malamed, SVP of development at Activision, noted that if the company does decide to publish the winning entry -- which is not guaranteed -- that it will own the intellectual property. For anyone interested in participating, please make sure to read IndustryGamers' entire interview with Malamed and take note of any other little provisos in the rules.

JoystiqActivision indie games competition detailed originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 Jun 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-independent-games-competitionindielaird-malamedWed, 02 Jun 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kotick announces Activision's half-million dollar indie games competition [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/18/kotick-announces-activisions-half-million-dollar-indie-games-co/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/18/kotick-announces-activisions-half-million-dollar-indie-games-co/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/18/kotick-announces-activisions-half-million-dollar-indie-games-co/#comments
[Elisabeth Caren]
Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick, dressed in a zipper pullover and jeans, announced at DICE that his company will sponsor an independent video game competition. Details were practically nonexistent, and he seemed to make it sound like the idea was a whim he had on the drive from the airport, but there's apparently "up to $500,000" up for grabs.

We're currently following up with Activision and will get out the details out as soon as we know more.

Update: Activision has posted a short announcement document (copied after the break) on its consumer site.

Continue reading Kotick announces Activision's half-million dollar indie games competition [update]

JoystiqKotick announces Activision's half-million dollar indie games competition [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbobby-kotickdice-2010indieindie-gamesThu, 18 Feb 2010 15:46:00 EST