Organizers of the Freeplay Independent Games Festival have announced a new competition for indie game developers, which is free to enter and open to all individuals and teams currently working on a game project (prototypes and concept arts included).

Called the Freeplay Awards, there are eight categories to compete in - Best Game, Best Design in a Game, Best On-Paper Design, Best Art in a Game, Best Concept Art, best Technical Innovation, Best Game Writing and Best Audio.

The submission stage is open from now until the 19th of July 2010, with finalists set to be revealed on the 1st of August 2010. Participants and finalists alike can also choose to exhibit their games during the Freeplay Independent Games Festival at the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne, on the 14th and 15th of August 2010. Any entrants considering this option would have to submit a separate exhibition application form and sign an exhibitor contract with the organizer to be eligible for exhibition space consideration.

Winners of the Freeplay Awards will be announced on the final day of the Freeplay Independent Games Festival (15th of August 2010). For more information about the competition and submission forms, head on over to the official Freeplay site at http://www.freeplay.net.au/.