Who says GameStop is a bunch of blood sucking corporate vampires with no concern for gaming and only care about money?  Lots of people, actually, but their most recent endeavor may convince a few of their detractors otherwise.  A few.

The international game retailer has teamed up with Southern Methodist University’s game development project, Guildhall, and the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences to bring us the Indie Game Challenge.  The contest challenges developers to submit original betas and game concepts for judgment by the Academy.  One professional and one non-professional individual or team will each win a grand prize of $100,000, and six finalists from each group will get an invaluable half-hour meeting with “a professional game publisher (like Capcom, Electronic Arts, Microsoft, NAMCO/Bandai, Nintendo, Sony, THQ, and Ubisoft).”

There are also $2,500 prizes for outstanding achievement in technical skill, artistic skill, and gameplay skill, and all entrants will receive consideration for graduate and undergraduate scholarships.

See; GameStop isn't pure evil.  There isn't much money in the indie market, at least in the eyes of a multi-national retail giant, and yet they support it with projects like this.  Or maybe it's just a PR move.