Of recent news is the 2007 Slamdance Guerrilla Gamemaker Competition currently suffering from the aftermath of a decision to withdraw controversial game Super Columbine Massacre RPG from the roster of finalists. A number of finalists have seized the opportunity to voluntarily pull out from the competition citing concerns about artistic merit…

• Braid is an action-puzzle game that involves manipulating the flow of time to progress through the various worlds. The title was the 2006 Winner at the Independent Games Festival in the Innovation in Game Design category.
• flOw “is a game about piloting an aquatic organism through a surreal biosphere where players consume other organisms, evolve, and advance their organisms to the abyss.” The title was designed by Jenova Chen who works with Will Wright at Electronic Arts Maxis.
• Everyday Shooter is, according to an interview with developer Jonathon Mak, “like a compilation album, made up of different shooters”.
• Toblo is “a free, fast-paced capture the flag game that has two teams using the world as weaponry, throwing bombs, and generally destroying things.” The titled was developed by five students at the DigiPen Institute of Technology.
• Once Upon A Time is a game of capture where players either focus on capturing another player or avoid being captured while collecting items. The title was developed by a trio of former students at the Art Institute of Vancouver.

While most of these games are freeware, their decisions to voluntarily withdraw are consistent with the irony of a competition for guerillas. A guerilla is a “a member of an irregular armed force that fights a stronger force by sabotage and harassment”. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say this competition was rigged — from the beginning — as a publicity stunt!

Nevertheless, pulling out of the competition was an excellent, and perhaps accidentally executed, marketing tactic for these developers as their actions cobrand themselves as defenders of artistic freedom and games as art.