Mar 1, 2011 13:14 GMT  ·  By

Independent game developers have the chance to win a slice of no less than $75,000 in prizes that Microsoft is offering to the winners of the Dream.Build.Play 2011 challenge. The Redmond company announced that it is bringing back its Dream.Build.Play contest this year having already opened up the registration period on February 28th, 2011.

The contest is welcoming game developers worldwide, with the exception of those in Cuba; Iran; North Korea; Sudan; and Syria.

As devs familiar with older versions of the Dream.Build.Play challenges might know, participants will need to build games using nothing more than the latest version of the XNA Game Studio.

“Microsoft has always valued the creativity and innovative thinking that comes from independent developers,” revealed Mark Seminatore, principal development manager in the Xbox Advanced Technology Group at Microsoft.

“We’ve hosted the Dream.Build.Play contest for the past five years in an effort to support and nurture that talent.”

Developers that want to participate need to register for the contest at the official website (http://www.dreambuildplay.com.) Registration is however, only a part of the process.

Participants will also have to build their games and submit entries starting with May 17th, but no later than June 14, 2011.

Microsoft is prepared to share $75,000 among no less than four participants, while also offering them the chance to get an Xbox LIVE Arcade publishing contract.

The grand prize winner will walk away with the most money, namely $40,000, while winners of the first, second and third prizes will get $20,000, $10,000 and $5,000 respectively.

“Each year we are amazed at the quality of games submitted to the Dream.Build.Play Challenge,” added Pete Isensee, principal program manager in the Xbox Advanced Technology Group at Microsoft. “I can’t wait to see what indie developers will create this year.”

Developers will need to leverage XNA Game Studio 4.0 in order to build their games, the company informed in the contest’s Official Rules.