Games 4 Girls Competition Details
Development Platform
In previous G4G competitions, we have mandated the use of
the Game Maker game-development platform. Game Maker is a popular platform for this purpose, with a large community, lots of online documentation, tutorials, etc. It is also relatively easy for a newcomer to get started. Game Maker has worked well, but we have decided to open up the
competition for development on other platforms. Another platform with
similar characteristics to GameMaker is the Scrolling Game Development
Kit, which can be downloaded at gamedev.sourceforge.net/download.shtml.
A list of game-making resources can be found at www.ambrosine.com/resource.html.
Please note that we do not support, or actually know much about, these platforms. Our only experience is with Game Maker. In general, our recommendation is to go with Game Maker unless you're already familiar with a different platform. Or at least, look carefully at the options before choosing. If you choose GameMaker, we will provide you with a temporary (six-month) license, which will permit you to use some advanced features that are not available in the free version; we do not have such an arrangement with any other provider of game platforms (though many have no registration fee at all).
The only requirement is that you be able to deliver a self-contained binary that is executable on a PC running Windows/XP; there are many platforms for which you can't do this, so make sure it's possible before starting work.
One exception is Java; if you choose to develop in Java, you can assume that
we can execute a .class file (or a jar file). We will also require that
the binary not take extremely long to load or use an extremely large amount of memory - meaning, hundreds of MB - which has been a problem with some submitted games; we'll publish a more precise rule on this later.
Deadlines and Dates
- Registration Deadline for Competition - 01/31/2008
- Game Submission including evaluations and instructions -
4/9/2008 at midnight in your timezone.
- Video Submission - 4/13/2008
- Winners Announced and ChicTech Retreat - 4/19-20/2008
- Vendor Information Form - Only winning teams have to
complete this form - Separate instructions will be sent to them.
Forming a Group
Ideally, each group should consist of around 4 college women but anywhere from 1 to 5 members are allowed. Each group needs a faculty advisor to supervise them.
Registration Form Submission
Now that you have decided to participate in G4G, formed your
group, dreamed up a game, and downloaded Game Maker, it is time to
register for the competition. Register by January 31, 2008.
Game Submission
Game Loading Time Limit: 30 seconds or less!!! (Our
computers are 2+ GHz Windows/XP machines.)
There is NO file size limit for the game.
Game Submission deadline is April
9, 2008 at midnight in your timezone. Submit your game, game instructions and evaluations in
a single .zip archive file
using this form.
The game should be in the form of an executable (.exe) file.
The game instructions should be a .txt, .doc or .pdf file.
The evaluation should consist of the rationale for your
game. It should contain your reasoning as to why you think your
game will appeal to younger girls. It can be a .txt, .doc or .pdf
file type.
For the game instructions and evaluations, make sure ALL of the team's members FULL NAMES are in the documents. Submit the game, game instructions, and evaluations in a single zipped archive (.zip file). If there are any picture or sound files needed for the game, make sure to include those in the .zip file as well. When you submit your zip file, make sure the last name you use is the group contact's last name.
Video Submission
Time Limit: 5 minutes
This is OPTIONAL, but past teams have found that the video presentations were well received and helped the judges understand their games better.
Your video presentations can have anything you want in
them, like information about your team and how to play your game.
Your video presentation also does not have to be an actual
video. It can consist of other forms of media such as handouts,
Power Point slides without narration, audio, handouts and audio,
animated Power Point, or Flash presentation. Any media is fine.
Judging
Judging will be conducted by the high school girls during
the ChicTech Retreat weekend.
Vendor Information Form
This form will ONLY be completed by ALL team members that have placed
(1st-3rd) in the competition. We will send the winners more
information about how to complete and submit the Vendor Information Form after the ChicTech Retreat when judging has been completed.
Prizes
Members of the winning team will be awarded $1000 each. Members of the second and third place teams will each receive $500. Each winning team will receive an acrylic plaque. All members entered in the competition will receive an Award Certificate. An additional $1000 will go to the first place winning team's department to help support programs to attract and retain more women in Computer Science.
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Last Modified April 08 2008 17:37:27.
