It’s a great time for innovation and creativity! The Organizers for the 12th Annual Independent Games Festival announced that they have received a record number of entries for the 2010 contest.

So far there are 306 titles slated for the main competition, with 150 judges that have to play each one. The finalists will be announced in January and the winner will be announced at GDC in March.

The eight major awards to be won are:
Seumas McNally Grand Prize ($20,000)
Excellence In Visual Art ($2,500)
Excellence In Audio ($2,500)
Excellence in Design ($2,500)
Nuovo Award ($2,500)
Technical Excellence ($2,500)
Audience Award ($2,500)
Direct2Drive Award (TBA)

See information on all the entries here. The submission date did pass, so it looks like 306 will be the final tally. Good luck to all those involved!

Major League Gaming is coming to the Anaheim Convention Center this weekend from November 6-8. The world’s top pros, our GamerBeauties, and many spectators will be watching and playing over the busy three days.

Admission to the events is $20 for all three days and fans can interact with “Play-a-Pro” matches, watch matches and be there for live broadcasts. I highly recommend going and cheering on GamerBeauties as well!

We’ll be documenting their progress through the competition and would love to talk to other women competing. Let me know if your team will be there and we’ll schedule an interview.

Here is the full schedule for the competition which features Halo 3, Gears of War, Call of Duty 4, Rainbow 6 Vegas 2 and World of Warcraft.

AMAZING PRO MATCHES START ON FRIDAY NIGHT AND GO ALL WEEKEND LONG!!
Highlights include:
* # 3 Ranked Team-Instinct-Friday 11/6 at 5:30 pm PT
* Dallas Champions-Triggers Down-Friday 11/6 at 6:45 pm
* The Dallas sweetheart story-Carbon-Friday 11/6at 10:30 pm
* 2008 National Champions-Str8 Rippin- Friday 11/6 at 10:30 pm
* Call of Duty and Rainbow 6 Vegas 2 Championships-Friday 11/6
* World of Warcraft Championship-all weekend long

EA SPORTS CHALLENGE SERIES
Highlights include:
* Madden Challenge-Saturday and Sunday 11/7 and 11/8
* NBA Live-first place finisher takes $1,000; 2nd place takes
$500-Saturday 11/7
* Fight Night Round 4- first place finisher takes $1,000; 2nd
place takes $500-Sunday 11/8

FOOD, SWAG, PLAY-A-PRO, AUTOGRAPH SIGNINGS AND MORE
* Ball Park Friday Morning Tailgate-Friday 11/6 10:30 am – 1:30 pm
* Str8 Rippin play-a-pros, autograph/photo sessions, and expo
scrims at the Dr Pepper booth Friday and Saturday
* Team Instinct autograph and photo session at the Old Spice booth
on Saturday 11/7 at 6:15 pm
* Customize your own t-shirts at the Stride booth
* Be an MLG Legend and hang with our broadcast personalities at
the BIC Comfort 3 Advance Booth
* Win Best Buy gift cards if you can prove your Madden skills on
Saturday and Sunday at the Best Buy booth

CHEER THE BEST AMATEURS IN THE WORLD AND PUT YOUR OWN SKILLS TO THE
TEST!
* See over 1600 of the best amateurs in the country try to make it
into the pro bracket and get noticed by the pros
* FFA and Wingman competitions at the GameBattles Arcade-

MLG LIVE BROADCASTS-WATCH HISTORY BEING MADE-LIVE!
* Pre-game show-Friday 11/6 at 4:30 pm PT
* Friday Night Kick Off-Friday 11/6 at 5:30 pm
* ESPN Saturday Night-Saturday 11/7 at 5:00 pm
* Call of Duty 4 Championship-Saturday 11/7 at 8 pm
* MLG Championship Sunday-Sunday 11/8 at 3 pm

It’s not 2010 yet, but the 2010 Global Game Jam planning is underway. They are looking to increase the size of the competition from last year’s 1650 participants. There are over 75 committed venues signed up for 2010 and information on partners, sponsors and keynotes will be coming soon. The 2010 Global Game Jam takes place January 29-31, 2010.

“The 2010 Global Game Jam is becoming a major event for developers worldwide,” said Susan Gold, founder of the Global Game Jam. “As participation grows and we gain more commitments each week, the value to our community and partners increases. Our success in year one will be eclipsed by the growth and size of our second annual GGJ.”

Game Jam is two days of working on a team with very little sleep to see how much creativity one can accomplish in those days. The goal is to get professional developers and students to work together.

Continue to watch for details about Global Game Jam 2010 at globalgamejam.org If you decide to participate let us know so we can send you a GA shirt!