Gamasutra and sister sites GameCareerGuide and GameSetWatch are presenting a new competition for future-oriented developers, with 20 All-Access GDC Passes (collectively worth over $40,000!) available for lucky winners who can imagine what video games might be like in the year 2020.
The prizes in this special competition are awarded thanks to Green Label Gaming. The Mountain Dew-backed gaming label is heavily supporting innovative gaming at GDC this year, and is committed to empowering the emerging talent helping to shape the future of the industry.
In addition to the GDC All-Access passes, Green Label Gaming is adding $10,000 to the Seumas McNally Grand Prize at the Independent Games Festival, to make the IGF's top prize $30,000 this year.
We know the kind of break-out games that are popular in 2009, from World Of Goo to LittleBigPlanet and beyond. But how about in 2020? Can you predict what kind of games will be smash hits, how they will be delivered, and how we will consume games as an entertainment medium?
As you may know, there are people called futurists who get awarded to talk about what hasn't happened yet. So that's what we're letting competition entrants be for this test, with the winners being showcased in a special Gamasutra feature.
Therefore, for this competition, devise the name of a game that will be popular or cutting-edge tech in 2020, and write a description of how it is controlled, as well as its chief design concepts and innovations.
Use illustrations if you think it'll help your point, and also try to give an impression of the minute to minute gameplay that you'll play through while advancing in this game.
Obviously, a lot of the game genres or concepts may be the same as today, even in 2020 - for example, role-playing games will still have orcs and goblins in them, perhaps? But how will you control your player, what extra detail or interactivity will you see in the game, how will that mesh with the real world, and how will these titles be additionally social and fulfilling?
We're presuming that the most cutting-edge games of 2020 may use some of the same game mechanics of today's games, but different ways of being integrated into your lifestyle and controlled.
More complex gesture controls? Direct brain control of games? Wearable devices that keep you playing on the move? Games that work seamlessly into your work time? There's plenty of opportunity for invention here, both in design and control methods.
The competition prizes, supported by Mountain Dew's Green Label Gaming as part of their Platinum Sponsorship of this year's Independent Games Festival, will be twenty All-Access passes to this year's Game Developer's Conference; total prize value over $40,000.
Please enter the competition by sending your entry to gamesof2020@gamasutra.com by Wednesday, March 4th at 11.59pm PST - and good luck!
[Gamasutra editors will collectively judge the entries, and winners will be notified via email within 24 hours of the competition's completion. The contest allows one entry per person, and they can be submitted from anywhere in the world. You will retain all rights to your game concept, but we may reprint it as part of the competition results. The prize consists of one All-Access Pass to GDC, but does not include any associated travel or hotel costs.]
Yeah, there's serious stuff going on here. I won't send my ideas anymore.
Seriously: that's a good question... I'll send images made by an artist friend of mine. They'e signed in and the only requirement is that the credit is given to him...:)
For the ideas... They are so crazy and undetailed yet that I think there's no need to register anything yet.
I think the fantasy and hack n slash genre will lead to more stunning graphics with god awful gameplay that by today's standards will be even more unbearable. Just look at how much gaming has deteriated in the last 10 years.
You will retain all rights to the games, and we will get to reprint them once as part of the competition results. I'll add that to the fine print above.
Thank you so mucn Simon! I was kind of hesitant to submit my idea because keeping the rights to it was easily the most valuable thing about it. Now I have nothing to fear and another great reason to join this great competition. Now I'll have to work very hard on my entry.
But seriously...do I have to show off my ugly mug anywhere?
March 4th?!!! That just put a new sense of urgency in my heart. Now I'm going to have to work twice as hard and twice as fast but I need a good challenge in my dull life so there's no real problem here.
And I'm not ugly lol but I'm glad my mug will get no screentime. I don't ever want even a slight amount of fame heh heh I can deal with my cool name being seen.
I didn't notice this earlier: The post says Wednesday at midnight, which means 12am, Wednesday morning, not 12am Wednesday night (which would actually be 12am Thursday morning). Was this intended or is it supposed to be Wednesday at 11:59pm?
I am also wondering whether notification meant 24 hours after the final submission deadline or 24 hours after the judges complete their reviews of all entries.
I'll assume the latter, so let's not worry just yet, Jared.
As far as I understand the winners will be announced in a separate feature story, but privately the winners would be contacted in 24 hours from sumbission deadline, which is about now. So it is time to panic!!!! OMG OMG
Emails to winners are going out in the next hour or so (it's 9am PST on Friday, U.S. time). Sorry for delay. The winner article will be up on Monday. Thanks for all the submissions - there were more than 150!
Any restrictions on who can enter (ie. Only Americans)?
It should have read: In 3D!*
*images do not actually represent 3 dimensions
Across all platforms, using all methods of control and technology.
Used for entertainment and real world teaching of self sustenance and economic solutions.
Also, do you keep the rights or whatever to your idea or do you basically sell it off???
Seriously: that's a good question... I'll send images made by an artist friend of mine. They'e signed in and the only requirement is that the credit is given to him...:)
For the ideas... They are so crazy and undetailed yet that I think there's no need to register anything yet.
Regards,
Jason
http://herculesmovies.com/
But seriously...do I have to show off my ugly mug anywhere?
And I'm not ugly lol but I'm glad my mug will get no screentime. I don't ever want even a slight amount of fame heh heh I can deal with my cool name being seen.
What about a dynamic duo on one entry? Or is it limited to one person per entry also?
I'll assume the latter, so let's not worry just yet, Jared.
And congrads to all who won!!! Use the opportunity wisely guys:))))
And to who like me who didn't it win. There is always soem other opprotunity around the corner.
Peace!