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SimTecT 2012: Serious Games Showcase & Challenge Goes Global


I/ITSEC-SGS&C to encourage additional Serious Games contests worldwide

Via: SimTecT 2012SimTecT Serious Games Showcase & Challenge – Australia & New Zealand

The Serious Games Showcase & Challenge held annually at I/ITSEC is now in its 7th edition and the quantity and quality of the entered Serious Games have both risen significantly over the years.  

Seeing more and more Serious Game development in the international market, SGS&C organizers have decided to encourage this trend while also increasing their exposure to the US market. Accordingly, SGS&C as of 2012 is encouraging additional Serious Game contests at key conferences across the globe, and offering their winners a guaranteed spot as a finalist within the SGS&C.  

The International Serious Games Showcase & Challenge inaugural event will take place in Australia & New Zealand at the upcoming SimTecT 2012.

Dates

 01/05/2012 - Finalists will be notified via e-mail

 20/06/2012 - 2012 Contest Awards at SimTecT

The SimTecT Challenge

A regional first, the purpose of the SimTecT Serious Games Showcase & Challenge – Australia and New Zealand is to promote Australia and New Zealand’s considerable and innovative development talent, and represent interactive Serious Game solutions nationally and internationally. SimTecT 2012 will be the first time that this competition has been run outside of the annual I/ITSEC Serious Games Showcase & Challenge event with links directly to that event.

This is a fantastic opportunity for national and international exposure, with the Grand Prize winning entries automatically be awarded a place at the Serious Games Showcase & Challenge Competition held at I/ITSEC, Orlando in December 2012.

All entries will be judged by representatives in leading gaming, academic and industry companies in three primary areas:

·         Solution to a Stated Problem
·         Technical Quality
·         Playability/Usabilit

Innovation: Higher scores can be achieved in each of the evaluation areas based on innovative approaches within those areas. 

Mobile: For games in the mobile platform game development category, they will be further evaluated on how well the game objectives translate to and utilize a mobile or handheld platform.

The Evaluating Committee will select one winner each from the Student, PC and Mobile categories. Winning games will be announced and recognized at the SimTecT Dinner on 20 June.

The SimTecT Serious Games Showcase & Challenge – Australia and New Zealand is hosted by Simulation Australia, which has recently become Simulation Australasia, and the "Serious Games" Consultancy in connection with SimTecT at the Adelaide Convention Centre in Adelaide, South Australia.

Simulation Australia Background

In 1994 the Defense Science and Technology Organization (DSTO) collaborated with industry and academic representatives on a Co-operative Research Centre (CRC) proposal for simulation-related research and development. While that proposal was not funded, project participants were enthused and decided to form an association, led by industry, to further the use and development of simulation in Australia. DSTO also hoped that such an association would manage a newly established annual simulation conference.

In 1996, after planning and negotiation, the Simulation Industry Association of Australia (SIAA) was formed. Its primary goal was to conduct an annual conference, which it did so. SimTecT is held in May/June each year. SIAA had a mission of advancing the research, development, and use of simulation technologies and practices in Australian industry, academia, and government. As SimTecT grew in size and interest in, and awareness of, simulation also expanded, and it became evident that being an ‘industry’ association was a limiting factor on growth and potential.

The Board undertook an extensive review of operations and future possibilities and in 2010 SIAA became Simulation Australia whose vision is to be the National Peak body for the simulation community in Australia, with the purpose of increasing the use of simulation in achieving organizational goals.