'Tis the season for indie game recognition, as evidenced by two ongoing indie-centric competitions. Yesterday the top 12 finalists for the Indie Game Challenge were announced, drawing and selecting from a similar pool of those who entered the 2010 Independent Games Festival Awards.

Sponsored by the Academy of Interactive Arts  & Sciences, GameStop, and The Guildhall at Southern Methodist University, the awards are dolled out on February 19 at the annual Design, Innovate, Communicate, and Entertain Summit (D.I.C.E). The prizes are divided amongst six non-professional and six professional teams, with a total of more than $350,000 in cash and scholarships up for grabs. G4's X-Play host Adam Sessler will host the event.

As with the IGF ceremony, the real reward comes after the show, when the finalists use the summit as a chance to market their games to commercial venues. AIAS is even arranging private meetings between the finalists and top executives. Meaning, you should expect to see more from all the contenders below.

Without further ado - the 2010 Indie Game Challenge Finalists:

Non-Professional Category (Game/Team)

• Climb to the Top of the Castle - TwO Bros. Games
• Dreamside Maroon - Terraced
• Galactic Arms Race - Galactic Arms Race
• Gear - Team 3
• Waker - Poof Productions
• zeit2 - brightside games

Professional Category (Game/Team)

• Aaaa! A Reckless Disregard for Gravity - Dejobaan Games, LLC
• Altitude - Nimbly Games
• Cogs - Lazy 8 Studios
• Fieldrunners - Subatomic Studios
• Miegakure - Marc ten Bosch
• Vessel - Strange Loop Games

If you've been following the 2010 IGF competition, no doubt you will recognize some of the games above. Dreamside Maroon is a finalist in the Student Showcase, and A reckless Disregard for Gravity, Cogs, Miegakure, and Vessel are nominated in the main competition.

Be sure to head on over to the Indie Game Challenge website, where you can weigh in on your top pick for the Gamer's Choice Award and enter for a grand prize tour of G4 studios. And if indie is your thing, be sure to check back the first week of March for a full week of indie coverage leading up to the 2010 Independent Games Festival Awards.