Think Services, the organizers of the Game Developers Conference, along with the Independent Games Festival, have announced entering a new partnership with iPhone game publisher ngmoco. The agreement adds a new 'Best iPhone Game' category and a $10,000 prize to the indie mobile competition, bringing the total amount of prizes to $30,000.

As an iPhone developer, you should be pretty excited, especially since participating in the 2009 IGF Mobile event is FREE! Moreover, developers can submit their entries in all categories, including game design, art, technical and audio awards, the Best Game award and others.

“ngmoco is proud to support the independent development community and burgeoning micro-studios who are dedicated to creating device defining 'only on iPhone' games”, said Alan Yu, Vice President, Artist & Repertoire, ngmoco. “As gamemakers, we’ve long admired the IGF for showcasing and highlighting innovation and independent thinking in games.”

The game publisher specializing in iPhone titles has received funding from Kleiner Perkins, the venture capital firm announcing a $100 million “iFund” earlier this year to help spur development of iPhone applications.

"We're delighted to be working with ngmoco to help discover the best iPhone games out there," commented Simon Carless, Chairman, Independent Games Festival. "We're starting to see open platforms and innovation spread indie goodness into fascinating new places, and highlighting worthy, high quality iPhone games is something that will benefit both discerning consumers and developers."

As far as the category for Best iPhone Game goes, finalists will be invited to showcase their games on the expo floor at the Game Developers Conference (2009). The event will be held in San Francisco, March 23-27. The winners will be invited on stage at the IGF Mobile awards ceremony at GDC 2009, while their apps will be showcased at the Independent Games Festival Awards, during the same event.

See the the IGF Mobile website or the FAQ for entering IGF Mobile's developer event for more information.