Question: Team Members Full Names:
Answer: Edward B. McNeill

Question: Mentor:
Answer: None

Question: Title of Project:
Answer: Alternex

Question: Project Overview:
Answer: Alternex is a "hardcore educational" game about the development and deployment of alternative energy strategies. By modeling the systems behind energy policy, the game encodes its educational points in the gameplay while preserving the fun factor.

Question: Technology/Software Used:
Answer: Microsoft Visual C# Express 2008 XNA Game Studio 3.0 GNU Image Manipulation Program Audacity

Question: Inspiration: What inspired your team to enter the Microsoft Imagine Cup and why did you choose the Game Development competition?
Answer: I've always been interested in Game Development, and XNA had proven to be an easy and effective tool in my previous projects. When I heard about the Imagine Cup, it seemed like a great opportunity!

Question: Team History: How did your team meet?
Answer: :-/

Question: Team Experience: What experience did your team have with Game Development before competing in the Imagine Cup?
Answer: I had made a few games and game prototypes using XNA before, and I've been informally studying game design for years. Still, Alternex is my biggest project yet.

Question: Highlights: What has been the best part of the Imagine Cup competition to date?
Answer: The initial stage of planning a game, describing its systems, getting a sense for the dynamics, is very fun for me. Alternex was made on a pretty difficult time limit, so the initial design phase was a hectic and exciting time.

Question: Inspiration: How did your team come up with your submission? Include which Millennium Development Goal inspired your solution.
Answer: I've read a lot about CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions, so when I saw that "a significant reduction" of CO2 emissions was one of the Millennium Development Goals, I knew what my game would focus on. I believe that technological development and research is critical to solving large-scale problems like this, so I made a game that focused on researching as well as deploying alternative energy solutions.

Question: Challenges: What personal or technological challenges did your team face while developing your submission?
Answer: I found out about the Imagine Cup three weeks before the first Game Development deadline. I had to conceive, design, and build the game in just a few nights and weekends. Needless to say, it was thrilling to get to Round 2 after that!

Question: Future Plans: What does your team plan on doing after the Worldwide Finals in Cairo, Egypt? Do you plan to use your project to launch a new business?
Answer: I'll be a professional game designer someday. For now, I'd be thrilled with an internship.

Question: Links to more information (i.e. website, blog):
Answer: Everything about me and my games is available at emcneill.com. Enjoy!