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Papers, Please wins grand prize in Independent Games Awards Show

The small game from Lucas Pope about working as a border crossing guard took top honors at the IGF awards show.

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The Game Developers Conference in San Francisco is an event for and by developers, and no where is that more evident than in the Independent Game Festival's Award's ceremony.

The show, which was introduced by IGF chairman Bradon Boyer and hosted by Capy Games' Nathan Vella, draws attention to and celebrates some of the best games of last year, both big and small. Papers, Please walked away with three awards, including the show's grand prize, but here's a list of all the winners and nominees:

Seumas McNally Grand Prize:

  • Winner: Papers, Please
  • Nominees:
  • DEVICE 6
  • Dominique Pamplemousse in "It's All Over Once the Fat Lady Sings!"
  • Don't Starve
  • Jazzpunk
  • Papers, Please
  • The Stanley Parable

Excellence in Narrative:

  • Winner: Papers, Please
  • Nominees:
  • DEVICE 6
  • Dominique Pamplemousse in "It's All Over Once the Fat Lady Sings!"
  • Papers, Please
  • Paralect
  • The Stanley Parable
  • The Yawhg

Excellence in Audio:

  • Winner: DEVICE 6
  • Nominees:
  • Crypt of the NecroDancer
  • Dominique Pamplemousse in "It's All Over Once the Fat Lady Sings!"
  • Samorost3
  • The Stanley Parable
  • The Yawhg

Excellence in Design:

  • Winner: Papers, Please
  • Nominees:
  • 868-HACK
  • Crypt of the NecroDancer
  • Don't Starve
  • Mushroom 11
  • TowerFall Ascension

Nuovo Award

  • Winner: Luxuria Superbia
  • Nominees:
  • Corrypt
  • Dominique Pamplemousse in "It's All Over Once the Fat Lady Sings!"
  • Extrasolar
  • Papers, Please
  • Perfect Woman
  • Save the Date
  • SoundSelf

Excellence in Visual Art

  • Winner: Gorogoa
  • Nominees:
  • DEVICE 6
  • Drei
  • Perfect Stride
  • Samorost3
  • The Banner Saga

Best Student Game:

  • Winner: Risk of Rain
  • Nominees:
  • Cyber Heist
  • Engare
  • Foiled
  • Museum of Simulation Technology
  • Rhythm Doctor
  • Symmetrain
  • Westerado

Audience Award Winner: The Stanley Parable

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Tyler103

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That host was a bit sexist. Actually, a lot sexist. I definitely feel like Papers Please deserved it's award. Lucas Pope seemed nervous when he got his award, but who wouldn't be?

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Chronologo

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Well deserved, fun game. Now I'm waiting for Hot Line Miami 2

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DrKill09

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Did it win for "Most boring game ever"?

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ParanoidPaal

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Wow, that's awesome! I'm glad Pope got some awards! I absolutely loved Papers, Please. It's easily one of my favourite indie titles along with FTL.

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randomkidlol

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Stanley parable had a much better narrative than paper's please.

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Gelugon_baat

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<< LINK REMOVED >>

"Eight".

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Jacanuk

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No one can argue that Papers Please didn´t deserve this, amazing game and i cant wait to see what will come next from Pope.


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Dumachum

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<< LINK REMOVED >> The fact it won for "best narrative" when it doesn't even HAVE ONE leaves me kind of dubious of the entire awards presentation.

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hystavito

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Yeah it's a little strange. Sure someone could make some complex argument as to why it does have some deep and subtle one, but I think that would be a stretch, at least relative to other games.

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DarkSaber2k

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Papers, Please absolutely deserved everything it won, but I'm glad The Stanley Parable got something too!

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crazywolf5150

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Nice, hopefully this means it will be on a Steam sale very soon and I can get it for really cheap.

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surferosh

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<< LINK REMOVED >> it already was on sale around Xmas,, i bought it then and really enjoyed playing it... definitely give it a go.

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deactivated-5f3ec00254b0d

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One of the best games I´ve played last year.

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surferosh

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<< LINK REMOVED >> agree wholeheartedly !

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Gelugon_baat

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"What a piece of shit."

Yes, this was spoken by << LINK REMOVED >> in the game. :|

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shingui5

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Glory to Arstotzka!

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Gelugon_baat

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<< LINK REMOVED >>

I thought you would be pissed that The Banner Saga wasn't nominated in more categories. ;)

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GuardianofHonor

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Who cares about these rubbish "indie games?"

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RobDev

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<< LINK REMOVED >> no body cares about rubbish indie games. Millions care about good indie games.

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Gelugon_baat

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<< LINK REMOVED >>

You have spoken as if you speak for everyone else.

But then, this is expected of you, right? When you have used pompous phrases like the "silent majority" in the past?
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GuardianofHonor

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@Gelugon_baat

Did not realise stating an opinion means I'm trying to "speak for everyone else." Dont be such a twit.

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DarkSaber2k

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >>No he did not. And even if God existed, which he doesn't, the person you are talking to is clearly a lackwit.

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Gelugon_baat

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<< LINK REMOVED >>

You should be thinking about that too. ;D

After all, God gave you wit, did God not?

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GuardianofHonor

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<< LINK REMOVED >>

Going for the direct attack in your trolling now? Insults are used by those who lack wit, think about that.

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Gelugon_baat

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<< LINK REMOVED >>

If you are going to tell me to be "don't be a twit", then don't be a pompous bastard who asks things like "who cares?"

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shingui5

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<< LINK REMOVED >> *eyeroll*

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deactivated-58270bc086e0d

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I've heard of maybe three of them.

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Inlex

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Well deserved. Papers Please, (or PP in short), is amazing and ridiculously addictive. Johnny forced me to buy it, I think. Can't say I don't like him for that!

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jecomans

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I hope the new game NaissanceE gets some noms next year. I would highly recommend it to anyone who needs an new indy to play for a bit.

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jecomans

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According to Steam I've played 'Papers, Please' for 10 hours... ... Glory to Arstotzka!

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PinchySkree

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I have quite the steam shelf to get through before I can purchase anything else, with a few exceptions.

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Draken_Domingo

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Gone Home wasn't even nominated? There's hope for the industry yet!

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Gelugon_baat

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<< LINK REMOVED >>

That was in the last IGF, if I recall.

No repeat winners. ;)

(Also, IGF's internal calendar is different from the rest of the industry.)

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