JOIN US:
Game Design is where art and science come together. Through the Imagine Cup, you can learn and advance toward a career as a game developer or entrepreneur. Use 3D or 2D, make it multi-level or single player but don’t forget one crucial thing – you have to take on the
2010 Theme in your game. How about creating a game that is accessible for users with disabilities or an educational experience for children to learn about the environment? Join up to 3 of your friends and build a complex and full game experience, using Microsoft's XNA Game Studio 3.0 or later, Visual Studio and/or Silverlight.
The content and technical requirements for an eligible entry, Round 1 materials and Round 2 materials have been updated. Please read the revised Game Design competition Rules and Regulations for full details. Updated: 11/11/2009.
WHY: Together you can make a difference. The Imagine Cup 2010 theme is: "
Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems." When considering the design and use of your game, get inspired and educated by reviewing the
2010 Theme.
Tackle, head on, issues related to: hunger relief, poverty, education, disease control, healthcare, the environment and other crucial problems facing our world today. You have the ability and tools to make a game that is that important.
YOUR MISSION: Build a full game from scratch. Think big! Think of this competition as an important step in your career either as a game developer or as an entrepreneur in the game business.
WHO: You and up to 3 of your friends, for a maximum of 4 team members. Yes, you can have a
mentor guide your team in the development of an ground-breaking game. It's not necessary - but is a good idea.
JUDGING: The judging requires students to use their creativity and drive if they want to compete on the world stage. This is where legends are born and lives are changed – where a game starts as an idea and ends up being used all over the world.
GET STARTED! Get a head start!
Register and
Sign Up for the Game Design competition
NOW!
PRIZES: Finalist teams will receive a trip to Warsaw, Poland to compete in the Imagine Cup Worldwide Finals in July, 2010. After the Worldwide Finals Game Design competition, the following prizes will be awarded to the top three teams:
- First Place: $25,000 USD
- Second Place: $10,000 USD
- Third Place: $5,000 USD
DETAILS:
- Step-by-step guidelines for getting started in the Game Design competition, can be found directly below.
- Review the complete Rules and Regulations for the Game Design competition including all entry requirements and judging timelines.
GAME DESIGN STEP BY STEP GUIDELINES
The content and technical requirements for an eligible entry, Round 1 materials and Round 2 materials have been updated. Please read the revised Game Design competition Rules and Regulations for full details. Updated: 11/11/2009.
STEP 2: ROUND 1 - GAME DEMO
During Round 1, you or your Team must create and submit a .zip file of no more than 500MB which includes the materials described below:
- Game Demo
- Playable Video Game Application
- Game summary
- Game play instructions
If pre-existing source code is incorporated into the Game, then this pre-existing source code must be clearly identified in the Game Summary (this description does not count toward the 150 word limit but please be brief). Before incorporating any pre-existing source code in the Game, make sure that your inclusion of such pre-existing source code does not infringe on any third party rights, and is used in accordance with all applicable licensing and use terms.
STEP 3: ROUND 2 - THE PLAYABLE GAME
During Round 2, your Team (if invited to advance to compete in Round 2) must create and submit a .zip file of no more than 500MB which includes the materials described below:
- 100% Playable Game
- Game Summary
- Three Game Screenshots
- Game Play Instructions
- Game Video
WHAT CONSTITUTES AN ELIGIBLE ENTRY?
To be eligible, your entry / entry materials must meet the following required content and technical requirements:
- All games must have been developed either using Microsoft® XNA™ Game Studio 3.0 or later; Visual Studio or Silverlight technologies.
- Your game must be developed for one of the following environments:
- The game must work on a Silverlight-capable browser (such as Internet Explorer 7 or later)
- The game must be designed for the Microsoft Xbox 360 gaming system, or Microsoft Windows Operating Systems (Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista, or Windows 7) and playable on a Windows PC, as specified in the XNA Game Studio Toolkit, for the purposes of judging.
- The content of the Game must address a social cause connected to the 2010 Theme: “Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems”
- The content of the Game must be equivalent to an Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rating of “E” for Everyone. (See http://www.esrb.org/ for details).
- The judges must be able to play the Game, as specified in the XNA Game Studio Toolkit for XNA-based games, or in the case of a Silverlight game, be able to be hosted by IIS.
- All entry materials must be submitted and presented in the English language. If a translator is needed, you are responsible to procure and to make usage of one.
- If pre-existing source code is incorporated into the Game, then this pre-existing source code must be clearly identified in the Game Summary (this description does not count toward the 150 word limit but please be brief). Before incorporating any pre-existing source code in the Game, make sure that your inclusion of such pre-existing source code in your Game does not infringe on any third party rights, and is used in accordance with all applicable licensing and use terms.
STEP 4: ROUND 3 - WORLDWIDE FINALS
During Round 3, your Team (if invited to advance to compete in Round 3) will make up to two (2) presentations of up to thirty (30) minutes to a panel of judges and participate in a Q&A Session with the judging panel.
Questions? Post them to the Game Design
forum.