Games Innovation Challenge 2024 sponsored by UNiDAYS

Calling all aspiring game developers! We're very excited to announce the new Games Innovation Challenge sponsored by UNiDAYS, a games development competition for university and college students across the UK to test their skills and creativity.

Starting today, 29th January, you have eight weeks to create the most innovative game, submissions will be judged by a panel of industry experts with a prize pool of £5,000 for the best entries. 

We want to see the most innovative games you can come up with, but we’ll be judging them on the following categories which are awarded prizes.

• First Place: Best overall game
• Innovator Award: Best unique features
• Gameplay Guru: Best gameplay
• Design Muse Award: Best visual and audio design
• Technical Genius Award: Best programming and tech optimisation
• Games with purpose: Best game that made a positive social impact
• Commercial Gem: Best marketing plan

Prize breakdown:

• First Place: £2000
• Innovator Award: £500
• Gameplay Guru: £500
• Design Muse Award: £500
• Technical Genius Award: £500
• Games with purpose: £500
• Commercial Gem: £500

Teams can be formed of students from different universities and colleges and also contain non-students. However, to take part in the challenge, the majority of the team and the project lead must be enrolled at a university or college. Any platform and prebuilt assets can be used, provided you have the permission or license to do so. We have a Games Innovation Challenge Discord channel to help you find teammates, which you can join here.

Eligible submissions will be judged by a panel of industry experts from the world of game development, publishing and esports.

Judges will assess submissions based on the criteria below so make sure to consider these carefully when planning your project:

• Technical Quality: How well does it run and how challenging was it to create? 
• Look and Feel: How do the sound and graphics make you feel?
• Entertainment: How fun is it to play?
• Innovation: Is there a twist? What’s unique about it?
• Social Impact: Does the game tackle a challenging subject?
• Marketability: How could you bring your game to market in a creative way?

A full set of rules can be found on the Games Innovation Challenge submissions page.

Entry checklist

1. Fill out the interest form. This is so we know whether you'll be submitting and also whether you're looking for teammates.
2. Join the NSE Discord so you can talk in the Games Innovation Challenge channel.
3. Gather your team and come up with a name. Decide on your project, which can have a separate name from your team name.
4. After working on your game, once you are ready, please submit your game on the itch page.
5. Fill out the team registration form. In this form, you can also upload any supporting work and marketing plans e.g. project plans, storyboards, mock-ups, development work etc.
6. Finished!

Key Dates:

• Submissions open: 29/01/2024
• Submissions close: 28/03/2024

Any questions please do not hesitate to contact enquiries@nse.gg. Good luck!

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