Last time we talked about 2Bee Games’ Independent Games Competition, the community had narrowed the field from more than 120 entrants to four finalists for the users’ choice award. But the grand prize winner was still up to the judges.

Well, they made their decision, picking TwO Bros. Games’ Climb to the Top of the Castle for the top award, $10,000 and a publishing contract with Zoo Games, Inc.

Are you excited for the Battle of the Brands? I know I am.

The development team behind the Bit.Trip series, Gaijin Games, plans to collaborate with Robotube Games for a day-long game-making session during Blip Festival 2009, which is about two weeks away in New York. They’re calling the event the event Battle of The Brands for marketing reasons, even though there are only two teams and they’re working together on a single product.

The venue is appropriate, at least for one of the developers, because the rhythmic Bit.Trip games are heavily inspired by the chip tunes at the center of the Blip Festival. And Robotube probably has some kind of connection as well, though I’m not familiar with what they do.

In S.H.M.U.P., you and up to fifteen circle ships defend a line of blocks from oncoming squares, circles and triangles while listening to chip tune music by Bart Klepka and Multifaros.

The game was one of the finalists at the Independent Games Festival at this year’s GDC in China, and it takes a laid back approach to the shoot-’em-up genre. You don’t really control the ships, they just follow your mouse while firing automatically. The only thing you do control are the missiles, which are in limited supply, but once you run out of those you’re limited to a guiding role.

Grab the demo here or hit the jump to read more and watch the trailer.

What a wonderful month December is. The 12th month brings cheer, mistletoe and, starting this year, lots of games.

The Indie Xmas Calendar 2009 is an Advent calendar that reveals something significantly better than chocolate every day of December until Christmas. You get a daily dose of indie games by way of a game or demo download, or at least a trailer to watch.