Dream Build Play may be the big name in contests right now, but that doesn’t mean it has to be the only thing on your mind. The Indie Game Challenge is accepting submissions for their annual contest, the winners of which will be decided in February 2012. For those unfamiliar with the contest, it was started three years ago by The Guildhall at SMU and The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences in conjunction with GameStop. It’s main focus is to foster innovative game development and to dish out some pretty awesome prizes to the victors of the contest, which include a $100,000 grand prize, a chance to meet publishers directly, as well as scholarships for students. It’s also important to note that finalists in each category will get flown to the D.I.C.E. summit, a nearly unparalleled opportunity for industry exposure.

All you’ll need to enter is $100, a playable beta that can run on a PC and a 60 second-or-less explanation of why your game deserves to be recognized. But let it be known that the competition is quite stiff. Last year’s top winner was 2D Boy Playdead with their dark puzzler, Limbo. The deadline to enter is October 3.

All the details can be found on the contest’s webpage. You can also check out the past winners and runner ups, the nitty gritty on the prizes, and the if ands or buts about the official rules. As always, check back to Armless Octopus for continued coverage on this contest as well as the aforementioned Dream Build Play.

Update: fixed Limbo developer info