The Challenge

For the purpose of the Challenge, entries will be considered a game if they involve an assigned challenge and employ some form of positive and/or negative reward system.

Entries will be considered a serious game if they use the gaming attributes described above to overcome a designated problem or deficiency, and provide appropriate feedback to the user about their efforts.  Entered games must target users at the high school level, at a minimum.

Finalists in the Serious Game Showcase & Challenge will be selected by a panel of leaders in the gaming, industry and academic fields, and will be invited to showcase their serious game at I/ITSEC 2008, where over 16,000 attendees will view and vote on each of the finalists.  Awards will be presented to the top finishers in each category.
     
 The Challenge is open to a wide range of contestants, potential categories include student, individual (indie game developer) / small business, and businesses larger than 500 employees. PC game entries (or compiled for PC execution) will be accepted from virtually any application areas including "mods", mobile, virtual worlds and original development. Gaming content can be focused on any genre, such as business, education, government.
    
All entries will be judged by representatives in leading gaming, academic and industry companies in three primary areas:  Solution to a Stated Problem; Technical Quality; and Playability/Usability. 

It is important to clearly define the problem or need that is being addressed, as well as the gaming or game technology solution involved.  It is equally important that your entry be not only technologically sound in its development, delivery and user interface, but also engaging, enjoyable, and easy to use; providing a challenging and rewarding experience to the user.

Further, innovative approaches to any of the entered solutions are specifically encouraged and, as such, rewarded in the scoring.