As you've no doubt read, IndieCade 2011, an international festival of independent video games, is coming to downtown Culver City on October 8th and 9th. It's big news in the videogame world, but even if you have only a passing interest in videogames, you can have some real fun at the event.

You can participate for free in a couple of different ways.

First, the festival organizers have sifted through more than 400 independent video game entries to select the best games. The finalists can be seen here. These independently created games -- as well as award-winning game from years past -- are available for you to play for free on Saturday, October 8, from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm, and on Sunday, October 9, from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. in the following locations: 

• Headquarters: IndieCade Village @ 9300 Culver Blvd.
• Finalist Game Gallery: Fire Station One @ 9600 Culver Blvd
• Success Stories Café & Mobile Game Jam Games: NextSpace @ 9415 Culver Blvd
• Finalist Game Gallery: Gregg Fleishman Studio @ 3850 Main St.

Second, throughout both days, the festival organizes a variety of Big Games, "outdoors ... in real space and real time." The Big Games are free of charge, but require on-site sign up. For example, here's a documentary that shows people playing Humans vs. Zombies, a Big Game that the creators, Gnarwal Studios, will be organizing throughout both days. Man, does that look fun. Here's the schedule of Big Games.

However, if you want to play Humans vs. Zombies at night (probably more fun, right?), attend the festival sessions, or attend the conference, you will need a festival wristband. The cost is $12 in advance (and $15 on the day of the festival), but if you go here before 9/30 and enter the promotion code CULVERCITY, you will get 10 percent off. Not bad. Festival wristbands allow access to all festival sessions, exclusive deals from area businesses, a goodie bag which includes a collectable Humans Vs. Zombies @ IndieCade bandana, night games, and the closing party -- in addition to the game galleries and big games that are open to all.