Rockin’ Derby, an alternative-controller game developed by a team of graduate students in the Master’s of Entertainment Arts and Engineering program in the Division of Games at the University of Utah, has been selected as a finalist at the 2025 IndieCade Festival of Games. IndieCade is widely recognized as the largest and most prestigious festival dedicated to independent games, celebrating innovation and experimentation across the medium.

Created as part of a graduate course focused on alternative controllers, Rockin’ Derby challenges conventional game input by placing players atop instrumented physical rocking horses. Players control their in-game characters through embodied motion—rocking and leaning to progress through a series of playful, competitive challenges—turning gameplay into a highly physical and performative experience.

“This is exactly the kind of student innovation we hope to cultivate,” said Ryan Bown, Professor, Lecturer in the Division of Games and one of the faculty that taught the Alternative Controller class where the game was made. “Rockin’ Derby shows how our graduate students push beyond screens and standard controllers to imagine new forms of play. Being recognized by IndieCade affirms both their creativity and the value of giving students the freedom to experiment boldly.”

Rockin’ Derby’s selection as an IndieCade finalist highlights the ingenuity of its student development team and underscores the Division of Games’ commitment to hands-on learning, experimental design, and expanding what games can be.