[Though the main Independent Games Festival doesn't close entries for a few weeks, we've just announced the finalists for IGF China. We'll be in Shanghai at GDC China in a few days to give out prizes, and we're really pleased to be honoring indie titles across Asia and Australasia.]

Organizers of the inaugural Independent Games Festival China have revealed that over 100 entries were received for the first-ever showcase of Asia-Pacific indie games, and finalists have now been decided for both the Main and Student competitions. Winners will be revealed next week at GDC China in Shanghai.

Chinese submissions for the first-ever independent games event targeting this area -- a newly formed sister event to the main yearly IGF in San Francisco -- were received from Shanghai, Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Jiang Su Province, Guang Dong Province, Sichuan Province, and Zhejiang.

In addition, overseas submissions from Asian, Asia-Pacific and Australasian nations including the Philippines, Israel, Japan, Singapore, Pakistan, Australia, Iran, South Korea and India were considered.

Finalists were chosen by a panel of distinguished local judges, including representatives from IGDA Shanghai, FZD School of Design, Activision and many more. IGF China winners will be showcased at the GDC China event, and are eligible to win up to RMB20,000 ($3,000) in cash prizes, awards, and All Access Passes to GDC San Francisco 2010.

"The quality of work by the finalists represented at the Inaugural Independent Games Festival China is a great indicator of the developing indie movement in that region," says GDC China event director Meggan Scavio. "We are excited to announce the finalists and celebrate the creativity and innovation in the Asia-Pacific independent game industry."

The Main Competition finalists for the 2009 Independent Games Festival China are:

- HurricaneX2, by You Yun Tech (China)
- Mind Wall, by Robinson Technologies (Japan)
- Desaturation, by Xun Zhu (China)
- Donovo, by Magic Day Studio (China)
- Armor Valley by Protege Production Pte Ltd (Singapore)
- Captain Forever, by Farbs (Australia)
- Flat Land, by Dark Hut Game Studio (China)
- S.H.M.U.P, by Aaron Styles (Australia)

The Student Competition finalists for the 2009 Independent Games Festival China are:

- Ink, by students from Singapore Polytechnic (Singapore)
- Color!Color!!, by students from Ming Chuan University and Taipei University of Education (Taiwan)
- Dream Land, by students from Communication University of China (China)
- Marionettes, by students from Singapore Polytechnic (Singapore)
- Bumper Halloween, by students from Beijing University (China)
- Autumn Dynasty: Paper Generals, by students from National University of Singapore (Singapore)

The winners of IGF China in categories including Best Game, Excellence in Art Direction, Excellence in Audio, Technical Excellence, and Student awards will be announced during the 2009 Game Developers Conference China.

Presented by Think Services, a division of United Business Media (also parent of Gamasutra), GDC China returns to the Shanghai International Convention Center, October 11-13 of this year.

Further information on IGF China can be found at the event's official website.