Calling all aspiring game developers. Microsoft’s annual Dream.Build.Play Challenge for Independent Game Developers is once again upon us. Bringing forth games like Dust: An Elysian Tail, Prismatic Solid, and Beat Hazard, the competition challenges indie developers to develop a game for Xbox LIVE using Microsoft’s XNA Game Studio for a chance at a percentage of the $75,000 prize, exposure on the Xbox LIVE Marketplace, and a chance at an Xbox LIVE Arcade publishing contract.
The idea of Microsoft encouraging aspiring developers to take a shot at developing a new original title is some thing I’m a big fan of and it is always interesting to see what kind of ideas get entered into the competition. For more information about Dream.Build.Play, check out the full press release.
Microsoft Announces Dream.Build.Play 2011 Challenge for Independent Game Developers
Developers from around the world compete for share of $75,000 (U.S.).
SAN FRANCISCO – Feb. 28, 2011 – Today Microsoft Corp. opened registration for the Dream.Build.Play 2011 Challenge, a contest sponsored by Microsoft to encourage independent game developers to create fun and innovative games using XNA Game Studio. Developers can register for the contest at http://www.dreambuildplay.com. Once registered, they have from May 17 to June 14, 2011, to submit their games to the contest.
Each game will be judged by three standards: how fun it is to play, how creative and unique it is, and how well it is produced. Four winners will be given a share of $75,000 (U.S.) and the opportunity to receive an Xbox LIVE Arcade publishing contract. The grand prize winner will receive $40,000 (U.S.), the first prize winner will receive $20,000 (U.S.), the second prize winner will receive $10,000 (U.S.) and the third prize winner will receive $5,000 (U.S.).
“Microsoft has always valued the creativity and innovative thinking that comes from independent developers,” said Mark Seminatore, principal development manager in the Xbox Advanced Technology Group at Microsoft. “We’ve hosted the Dream.Build.Play contest for the past five years in an effort to support and nurture that talent.”
Previous winners, including “Beat Hazard,” “CarneyVale Showtime” and “Weapon of Choice,” have become top sellers on Xbox LIVE Indie Games. In addition, several finalists from previous contests received Xbox LIVE Arcade contracts, including 2009’s winner, “Dust: An Elysian Tail.”
“Each year we are amazed at the quality of games submitted to the Dream.Build.Play Challenge,” said Pete Isensee, principal program manager in the Xbox Advanced Technology Group at Microsoft. “I can’t wait to see what indie developers will create this year.”
All games submitted to the contest need to be created with XNA Game Studio 4.0, which enables developers to easily make games for Xbox 360, Windows-based PCs and Windows Phones. Since its initial release in 2006, XNA Game Studio has been downloaded over 1 million times, making it one of the most comprehensive and trusted game development tools in the industry.
More information on the Dream.Build.Play Challenge, including official rules, can be found at http://www.dreambuildplay.com. More information on XNA Game Studio can be found at http://create.msdn.com. Twitter users can follow the conversation about the challenge using the hashtag #DBP2011.
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