Odd week this week, with a lot of studios simultaneously in crunch.

This time, we didn't quite manage the post-mortem as planned, and decided we'd talk about GTA IV during the panel section of the evening. Then we decided we'd play it as well. It ran on the big screen all night, with a controller passed around the audience. A few photos are up on Flickr.

Iain Simons, Chairman of GameCity, and Adam Russell, University of Derby Lecturer and former AI developer for Lionhead and Eurocom, joined David Hayward of Pixel-Lab and the audience for a discussion of GTA IV and related topics. 

The main thing was game launches - Rockstar North seem to have managed a very culturally aware and intelligent one for GTA IV. Rather than the typical rented celebrities, costumes and tackiness that have come to represent videogame launches, they've been talking to a lot of non-specialist press and putting across exactly why their game is so artful.

As well as that, we talked about casual games, which got a bit heated. Opinion seemed a bit divided on whether or not they're a bad thing, eventually settling on the definition of "games" being too vague to accurately convey all these different things the industry is moving towards. WiiFit generated quite a bit of apathy and antipathy, which was a surprise. We also mentioned Ste Pickford's blogging on games that are too hard, and the general response was "Well cheat then".

As promised, here's the link for Ellie Gobson's WiiFit review. Hilarious.

SUB is definitely the right venue for it, with a decent atmosphere, relaxed seating and excellent tech support from the University of Derby.

Like last time, a selection of indie game videos were exhibited, here's the list:

Fez

Punishment

Spheres of Chaos (That video really doesn't do it justice. This article by Iain Simons does)

You Found The Grappling Hook

Noitu Love 2

I Wanna Be The Guy (If you only watch one of these videos, make it this one. It's a remix of lots of 8 bit games, and the designer seems to have a perfect grasp on how to surprise people).

You Have To Burn The Rope

Introversion: Procedural City Generation

Trilby - The Art of Theft

Karoshi 1

Stalker: Clear Sky Tech Demo

Syoban Action

Synaesthete

Psychosomnium 

Jinsei Owatta No Daibouken!

Thanks to everyone who came, Polygons is now finished in Derby for the summer and will be returning later in the year. As ever, we'd like to thank Rare, Bluegfx, Autodesk, and CIN for sponsoring us.

There are a couple of important announcements about Polygons 11. Firstly, it will be changing format, and secondly, it won't be recorded.

Instead of the normal quiz, our panel will be speaking on and dissecting the development of a locally produced game. Join the panel on May the 8th to quiz them. Doors at 6 p.m., panel to start at 7 p.m.

Once again we'll be in the SUB bar, at the University of Derby Kedleston Road Campus. Here's a google map, map of the campus, directions to it, and a floorplan. If you're driving, please park in the visitors car park. To get to the bar, just head into the atrium and past the shops.

Please note, the bar will be closed to normal student admissions - students wanting to attend should see John Sear for a wristband on Friday the 25th of April or later. Photos from the last Polygons we did there can be found here.

If you're not driving, the Unibus 6 service runs right to the university from the train station. We'll make sure to have some cab numbers handy on the night should you need them too.

This event is made possible by our sponsors Rare, Bluegfx, Autodesk, and CIN.

There will be more Polygons t-shirts in future. For now though, the last few of the first batch are reduced to $25 USD with shipping to anywhere.

As well as here on the website, you can keep up with Polygons on the Facebook group and the mailing list.