Rules

 

The Computer Gaming Entrepreneurship Competition will reward students for startlingly original game concepts that are associated with a strong business plan. Student participants and teams are encouraged to think holistically, prepare a business plan that describes a disruptively original game design, and how it will address a well-defined market. The business plan must include a development schedule, description of the level of investment required, estimated return on investment, and a timeline of return.

Hughes Ventures has sponsored a $25,000 prize that will be distributed to the winners. The first place team will be awarded $12,000, second place will be awarded $7,000, and third place will be awarded $5,000. A $1,000 prize for Achievement in Innovation will also be awarded.

The principles of Hughes Ventures are hopeful this competition will inspire and enable UT Dallas students to produce tomorrow’s leading game designs.

Deadlines

Sept. 4, '07:	Registration opens and the competition is announced. There is no registration fee. Register your project at atec.utdallas.edu/cgec
Oct. 5:	Online registration closes.
Oct. 5:	Orientation at 5:00 PM in the Arts and Technology Conference Room (ATEC 1.606). All student team members must attend and turn in paperwork at this meeting.
Dec. 3:	Benchmark documentation, including business plan overview and game concept overview, is due at 5 PM. Teams that do not reach this deadline will be disqualified.
April 4, '08:	Competition submissions are due at 5 PM.
April 24:	First, second, and third prizes and the innovation bonus award presented at reception and project showcase.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who is eligible?

Teams must be composed of currently registered UT Dallas students.  Students from all UT Dallas schools and all levels of study, graduate or undergraduate, are eligible. Team members may not be currently employed in the computer game industry.

Teams are limited to three to eight members. Substitutions will be allowed at the discretion of the competition coordinators.

 

Eligible Game Concepts

Game concepts must be original game ideas. No licensed or copyrighted material may be used in the production of the projects. Game projects may not be previously released or published games. The proposed games may be playable on a variety of currently available hardware such as but not limited to mobile phones, personal computers, online games, traditional gaming consoles or a more radical game hardware/software concept.  Examples of radical gaming concepts include but are not limited to AI-driven robotics, immersive VR games, future gaming for trends predictions, serious game concepts, and simulations. Non-traditional, experimental software game concepts are welcome, as are traditional video games. Maps, mods, and levels for existing games are not eligible, although teams may make use of current gaming engines and development tools.

 

Accompanying Business Plan

Each game concept will be fully explained through a proof-of-concept and an up to 15 page business plan.  Business plans should be logical, clear, and represent a clear path to market for the proposed software product with a description of risk involved in investing in the project.  Business plans will follow a standard template that is described below.  

Business plans and game product submissions will be judged by professional investors and commercial video game developers, using the same judging methods and criteria used for professional business decisions.In addition to cash prizes, winners will be given the opportunity to present to professional investment groups and/or gaming companies for the chance to receive startup funding.

 

Judges Criteria

Projects will be judged 50% upon creative and technical merit, and 50% upon business plan merit. Judges will give higher scores to technologies with broader, disruptive impact.   Game concepts and accompanying business plans will be judged on a point system based on the following scale. If no teams are awarded a suitably high number of points, first prize will not be awarded: 

                

Game Concept
Creative merit	15 points
Product demonstration	15 points
Quality of art	10 points
Technical merit	10 points
Business Plan	0
Strength of business plan	15 points
Product description	10 points
Market analysis and marketing plan	15 points
Project plan and budget	10 points
Innovation bonus	10 points

Submission Criteria

Teams will submit a game proof-of-concept and a complete business plan for their game concept.

Game proof of concepts must include the following elements:

1. Playable game demonstration on a CD or DVD and
2. A 3-5 minute video or animated file of game play
3. A one page game or product design concept document that outlines the product, the potential target audience, market potential, technical requirements, production time and budget and list of team members.  
4. A CD should include a portfolio or original work including storyboard, concept art, models, animations, and sound track. 

Games and CDs/ DVDs will be judged by their performance on a machine with the following technical specifications.

            Dell Precision 690
            OS: Windows XP Pro
            Processor: 3.00 GHz Dual Core Xeon 5160
            Memory: 4G
            Video Card: nVidia Quadro FX 3450
            Standard keyboard, 3-button mouse, and speaker set-up.

Teams must provide any additional peripherals required by their game concept.

Business plans should include the following: 

1. Executive summary that briefly in 1 page describes: the concept, the size of the market (with references if available), the investment required, risks and challenges, and the rate and schedule of return on investment.
   
   
2. Concept description up to 5 pages describing the game or product design in more detail, including but not limited to a brief back story narrative, game progression flow chart, core play mechanics, concept art, and sample graphics. The questions you should answer in this section include: what about the game will catch the consumer’s attention? What makes the game fun? What strikingly distinguishes your game? What will make your concept appealing to the target audience? 
   
   
3. A market analysis of up to 3 pages, the market for the product should be described clearly, including the size of the market, precedence for the proposed product, and any published studies that validate the market.  Marketing and distribution strategies should be described, including any potential distributors and strategic partners (reference any letters of support and/or letters of interest included in the appendix). This analysis should also include the following:
   
   

   a. Describe competitors and what distinguishes your proposed game.

   b. Describe the distribution strategy.

   c. Preliminary packaging and advertising designs should be included in the appendices.

   
   
4. Business plan must include an up to 3 page technical plan for executing the concept. This section should include milestone descriptions, descriptions of technical risks, and high-level budget, equipment and personnel requirements associated with the technical plan.  
   
   
5. Investment opportunity must be outlined in this section of 3-4 pages.  This section must include a budget that covers start-up cost and project costs.  It should describe the projected return on investment, and any additional money required before the investor receives a return on their investment. The investor’s return may be a direct payout from profits, or may be in conjunction with an exit event—an IPO or sale of the company within 5 years of investment. This section should overview any risks to the investor including risks in the marketing and distribution of the proposed product.
   
   
6. A conclusion should summarize the business and product opportunity.
   
   
7. Appendices will provide the following supplemental information:

Appendix 1: Project schedule and budget
Appendix 2: A list and biography section of the project team must be included with a brief bio of 200 words or less for each key team member.
Appemdix2: References
Appendix 3: Letters of support/recommendation.
Appendix 4: Documentation of intellectual property
Appendix 5: Optional supplemental materials the teams consider is required to support their business and product concept.