When E McNeill found out he had advanced to the final round in the Imagine Cup’s Game Development category Saturday evening, he was shocked. “Joe Wilson called out Brazil, then the UK, and then the United States,” McNeill said. “We didn’t know which one it was because the United States had two teams in the finals.”
Finally, after a bit of confusion, he found out that it was Epsylon Games that had advanced – his one-man team and the alternative energy game that he brought to Cairo had nabbed one of the top three spots in the competition and will compete for first place on Tuesday. Not too bad, he said.
“I was really surprised,” said McNeill, a student at Dartmouth College in the state of New Hampshire. “There was really strong competition. I am but one man, so I set my expectations accordingly.”
As far as McNeill is concerned, he came out a winner when he made it the finals in Cairo. Advancing not once, but twice is just gravy, as will be winning $5,000, $10,000 or even $25,000. Getting his picture taken in front of the pyramid of Giz
a will be equally as cool, he said.
McNeill was a busy guy after he found out he had advanced. “I’ve been shaking a lot of hands and e-mailing friends and family back home,” he said. “I’ve been telling them that the winnings will be a really nice sum, but that I have to share with my team.”
Cy Khormaee, a Microsoft academic developer evangelist who has been helping look after McNeill and the rest of the American contingent, had a good laugh at his jest. “You’re a one man army,” he said. “You earned it.”
McNeill appeared to be taking it all in stride, saying that he is a pretty low key guy. “This is about as excited as I get,” he said, standing on stage with his hands in his pockets while getting his picture taken. Nearby, other winning teams were shouting, chanting, and generally getting fired about advancing. The final finalists in the software design and embedded development were also announced Saturday evening.
The Imagine Cup blog team is following McNeill throughout Imagine Cup. Check back on Sunday to see how he does in his final presentation before finding out whether he wins it all on Tuesday. Also, check out his game, called Alternex, and everything else about him here.
-Lukas Velush