Serious Games Showcase and Challenge Announced
Posted by Peter Smith on 06-03-29
We just received word that at this year’s I/ITSEC there will be the first annual Serious Games Showcase and Challenge. The Challenge is designed to provide a venue for student and very small business based serious games developers to show off their abilities in front of the thousands of people who attend the I/ITSEC conference. On top of that I/ITSEC is always in Orlando, Fl at the end of November beginning of December. This makes it a great break from the freezing cold winter most of the country suffers through. For lots of detailed information check out the challenge website at: www.sgschallenge.com, also check out the press release after the jump.
Call for Serious Games Entries
I/ITSEC Serious Games Showcase & Challenge
In Conjunction with the
Interservice/Industrial Training, Simulation and Education Conference
I/ITSEC 2006
December 4-7, 2006
Orlando, Florida, USA
http://www.iitsec.org/
http://www.sgschallenge.com
Submission deadline July 31, 2006
Serious Game developers are cordially invited to submit their original serious game to the 2006 I/ITSEC Serious Games Showcase and Challenge. Twelve finalists will be showcase their serious game at I/ITSEC
2006 where over 16,000 attendees will view and vote on each of the entries.
Prices will be awarded to top contestants. Contestant categories include student and very small business. Entry categories will be "mods" and original development. So if you can "mod" a game into a training solution or program one from scratch, consider how you would use your skills to develop a serious game solution to enhance military training.
The overarching purpose of the Serious Games Showcase & Challenge is to identify innovative game based solutions to problems that could affect the Military both today and in the future. This means that the challenge is not only interested in the next first person shooter, but any game that solves issues within any area the military operates. Examples of militarily useful areas include:
. leadership,
. logistics,
. linguistics,
. maintenance,
. engineering,
. intelligence,
. reconnaissance,
. strategy,
. history,
. flying,
. ship handling,
. electronics,
. communications,
. acquisition,
and business management, to name a few.
The limiting factor in determining if an entry meets the Challenge's criteria, however, is not the problem being addressed, but rather that there is a distinct solution associated with the problem. So, whatever the problem (be it a training issue, a technical issue, or a delivery issue), providing a well thought out gaming or game technology solution is the key.
All entries will be judged in three primary areas: Solution to a Stated Problem; Technical Quality; and Playability/Usability. In other words, it is important to clearly define the problem or need that is being addressed, as well as the gaming or game technology solution involved. It is equally important that your entry be not only technologically sound in its development, delivery and user interface, but also engaging, enjoyable, and easy to use; providing a challenging and rewarding experience to the user.
Further, innovative approaches to any of the entered solutions are specifically encouraged and, as such, rewarded in the scoring.
For the purpose of the Challenge, entries will be considered a game if they involve an assigned challenge and employ some form of positive and/or
negative reward system. Entries will be considered a serious game if they
use the gaming attributes described above to overcome a designated problem or deficiency, and provide appropriate feedback to the user about their efforts. Entered games must target users at the high school level, at a minimum.
Important Dates:
Submission of serious game entry ............July 31, 2006
Announcement of Finalist................September 30, 2006
I/ITSEC Conference - Serious Game presentation......December 4-7,
2006
For further information and questions please consult the website at http://www.iitsec.org/ and look for the Serious Games Challenge link in the left column. You can also try http://www.sgschallenge.com . A FAQ site and
e-mail options will be available.