The unofficial theme of this year's Game Developers Conference was the rise of the independent game developer, evident in the buzz surrounding indie efforts on display like Crayon Physics Deluxe, World of Goo and Audiosurf. Then there were the auditoriums packed full with developers eager to glean some insight from Everyday Shooter developer Jonathan Mak, or the creators of Portal, who made their mark at the show two years prior with a similar student showcase entry called Narbacular Drop.

　　As in years past, the indie spirit of the show culminated with the Independent Games Festival Awards. That tradition looks set to continue, as GDC organizer Think Services today put out the call for submissions to the 11th annual IGF Awards.

　　From now until November 1, the IGF will be accepting submissions for the main awards competition, which will see almost $50,000 in prizes awarded to winners. This year's show will see the debut of a new Innovation Award that organizers say "will honor abstract, short form, and unconventional game experiences outside the realm of the traditional categories." Beyond the money and chance to take home some hardware, games selected as finalists will also be featured in an indie gaming booth on the GDC show floor.

　　The event will also include a student competition, which has a submission deadline of November 15. Finalists will be announced in January, with the awards being handed out during the IGF Awards ceremony on March 25, 2009.

　　For more on the event, check out the official Web site.