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E3 College Game Competition deadline approaches!

by: Jeff -
More On: E3 College Game Competition

Are you going to school for game design? Do you have a game that you think should win a major award? Well, good news for you, because today, the Entertainment Software Association announced all the details for the second E3 College Game Competition! This competition is looking to award some of the best and most creative game designers from U.S. universities.

Each university can submit one game to represent them, and it will be judged by a panel of industry vets and media professionals. The finalists will get to be put in a special showcase display at E3, and the designers will get the opportunity to present their games at E3, where they can rub elbows with all kind of industry insiders.

The final deadline for submissions is April 18, the finalists will be notified on May 9, and the winner will be announced during E3.

For more information like specific contest details, contact info for the ESA, and a list of judges, check out the full Press Release after the jump.

Washington, DC – March 17, 2014 – The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) today announced the judging panel and submission deadlines for the E3 College Video Game Competition, which aims to identify top game design talent from U.S. academic institutions. The 2014 blue ribbon panel of judges from across the video game industry is:

  •  Michael D. Gallagher, President and CEO of the ESA;
  •  Vince Zampella, CEO, Respawn Entertainment;
  •  Siobhan Reddy, Studio Director, Media Molecule;
  •  Kate Edwards, Executive Director, International Game Developers Association;
  •  Brian Crecente, News Editor, Polygon; and,
  •  Dan Hsu, Editor-in-Chief, GamesBeat.

“Recognizing outstanding academic talent is key to maintaining the positive trajectory of creativity and innovation, and ESA is proud to place a spotlight on these student-developers at E3,” said Rich Taylor, senior vice president of communications and industry affairs at the ESA. “This is an incredible panel of judges who bring years of experience from a variety of fields, and we are grateful for their support.”

The competition is aimed towards colleges and universities with computer and video game development programs. Each higher education institution will submit one game representing their college or university, and finalists will receive a special showcase display and related opportunities at this year’s E3, the world's premier trade show for computer and video games.

The competition will target almost 400 U.S. colleges, universities, art and trade schools offering video game courses, certificates and degree programs. Last year’s competition ended with a tie between the University of Wisconsin-Stout’s Flash Frozen and Savannah College of Art and Design’s Lost in Thought.

Competing schools are required to submit story details and content assets from their own playable video game, which will be judged by a specially selected panel of game industry veterans and media professionals.


Five competition finalists will be offered the opportunity to present their games at the Los Angeles-based E3 show where they can also mingle with top game industry figures including publishers, developers, venture capital and marketing executives.


Important competition dates:

  •  Final deadline for submissions is April 18, 2013.
  •  Finalists will be notified on May 9, 2013.
  •  The winner will be announced during E3.

ESA will provide complete instructions to participating schools including guidelines on specific design, concept and key asset requirements. Universities and colleges interested in submitting a game for competition should email ESA@theESA.com.

E3 is the world's premiere trade show for computer and video games and related products. The show is owned by the ESA, the U.S. association dedicated to serving the business and public affairs needs of the companies, publishing interactive games for video game consoles, handheld devices, personal computers, and the Internet. For more information, please visit www.E3Expo.com or follow E3 on Twitter: @E3.

ESA offers services to interactive entertainment software publishers, including conducting business and consumer research, providing legal and policy analysis and advocacy on First Amendment, intellectual property and technology/e-commerce issues, managing a global anti-piracy program, owning and operating E3, and representing video game industry interests in federal and state government relations. For more information, please visit www.theESA.com or follow us on Twitter: @RichatESA.