38 Studios invites gaming students to swing for the fences

IF you are located in Mass, AND you go to one of the Mass Universities:

Maynard-based game company 38 Studios LLC reports it has created the first in what it says will be an annual Massachusetts Game Challenge, a contest in which students can win up to $3,000.

The contest is open to students studying game design at Massachusetts-area universities. Students will establish teams of two or three eligible members to design a video game. The teams are to build a playable video game featuring the 38 Studios mascot and his alter ego, Mean Munch, as well as create additional characters for Munch's "posse."

Winners of the contest will be announced on or before April 21, 2008, according to officials. Winners will be determined based on the following criteria: degree of overall finished product, originality, visual polish, stability, length of quality game play, and expanded market vision and product strategy.

First prize is $3,000 to each winning team member, with second place team members receiving $2,000 each and third place getting $1,000 each.

38 Studios was founded last year as Green Monster Games, by Curt Schilling, pitcher for the Boston Red Sox and an avid gamer. The company is in pre-production on an original fantasy game and product line featuring the work of Todd McFarlane, the creator of "Spawn," and R.A. Salvatore, a well-known fantasy author from Massachusetts.

Source: 38 Studios invites gaming students to swing for the fences - Mass High Tech: The Journal of New England Technology:

Great idea in theory. Poor implementation as far as I'm concerned. Could I be diplomatic about this? Absolutely. However, I've got to admit I am extremely dissappointed in the idea that they've opened this up to locals only. A shame, in my opinion, as this could really be something bigger than it is.

I would argue your response only to say this. We certainly didn't want to exclude anyone from this competition but to open this up on a national level would mean allocating time and resources we just cannot and do not have right now.
We felt we could foster and nurture the local colleges relationships with this competition as well as learn our first time lessons and experience growing pains we need to experience by keeping it local this first time around.
We have every intention of making this a national competition and eventually a world wide competition but until we have the resources to properly allocate and oversee such an immense undertaking we'll do it one step at a time.

Thanks for the response!

Don't get me wrong. I still think it's a great idea. And I understand from a logistics standpoint how difficult such an undertaking might be.

I just felt that first, I'm not going to bite my tongue just cuz. That just isn't me.

Second, I wanted to bring the article to the attention of the folks here. As, well, it's cool, regardless.

And third, if I don't voice my opinion, nothing will ever change, no?

Still looking forward to the future. And now that I've got some insight, I'll start developing my MMO (Massively Munch Online) game now

Cheers, and thanks for the feedback!

Sounds like a fun competition to start with, and starting small is always better, no? Altho I totally understand the sentiments Laethyn offers! My son is looking at going to Full Sail in Orlando and Daughter's bf is attending Collins College now. I'm surrounded!

If you need test judges, let 38Fans know. I think we might come up with a few for ya!

Actually, I think I'll go with a MMORPG (Massively Munch Online Rolly Polly Guy)

Originally Posted by Laethyn

Actually, I think I'll go with a MMORPG (Massively Munch Online Rolly Polly Guy)

How about Munch's Massively Online Rollie Pollie Game (or Guys)??

Regardless, the key here is to take away the multiplayer aspect. Sure, it can be online, but as I've spent the last 6 years working on a MMO engine, I'm not about to just give THAT away ..

This can go along with my MMOMS (Massively Multiplayer Online MineSweeper) and MMOSS (Massively Multiplayer Online Singleplayer Solitaire (the multiplayer part comes in when you go the the "market" to trade various card back images))>

This is a good idea, and I wish more companies would do something like this. I understand you can't get too big with an idea like this, and wanting to keep it local to try and support the local area.

I would LOVE for alot of colleges and companies to get together for this and hand out full scholarships to college for gaming development. I know alot of extremely brilliant people that would be fantastic at development but just don't have the time nor the money to be able to go to college for 4 years.

I hope this is a very successful.