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[Please visit separate pages for the Main Category rules.]
The Independent Games Festival Competition - Student Category (the “Contest”) is being sponsored by Think Services (the “Sponsor”) in connection with the Game Developers Conference to be held March 9-13, 2010 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California (the “Conference”). Each person or entity who enters the Contest (each, an “Entrant”)agrees to abide by the terms of these Official Rules and by the decisions of the Sponsor and its judges, which are final and binding on all matters pertaining to the Contest.
HOW TO ENTER :
To enter the Contest, an Entrant who is otherwise eligible under these Official Rules must submit all of the following materials at any time between 12:00 a.m. P.T. on July 1st, 2009 and 11:59 p.m. P.T. on November 15th, 2009 (the “Entry Deadline”):
- A properly completed official entry form, located on the Contest application page of Sponsor’s website, www.igf.com (the “Contest Website”).
- A digital copy of the game being entered (an “Entered Game”), submitted by uploading the title to the official IGF site, in lieu of the alternative, sending 10 physical copies of the Entered Game. If sending physical copies, ten (10) copies of the game will be entered (each, an “Entered Game”), in playable form, on ten (10) separate CD-ROMs, along with ten (10) sets of any special equipment and hardware, (e.g., graphics cards, 3D glasses, etc.) necessary to play the Entered Game, if applicable, as well as any other supporting materials.
All physical entry materials become the property of Sponsor and will not be returned (no IP rights are affected).
STUDENT SHOWCASE SELECTION PROCESS/NOTIFICATION :
Entered Games initially will be evaluated by a selection of judges from a total of 100-200 individuals picked by the Sponsor (the "“Nominating Committee"”). Members of the Nominating Committee may include independent and 'mainstream' professional game designers, notable indie-friendly video game journalists, and other individuals familiar with video game design.
The Nominating Committee will review the Entered Games and select finalists during approximately the period from the Entry Deadline to December 15th, 2009 (the “Student Judging Period”). Each member of the Nominating Committee will assign a score of 1 to 100 to each Entered Game based on the overall innovation, quality, impressiveness, and enjoyability of the Entered Game.
[IMPORTANT NOTE: There is now no concept of a 'middleware' category. However, those using middleware graphics engines should list them when asked for the game's platform when entering, and this will be taken into account when judging against those who have built their game engine from scratch.]
Each Original Game receiving one (1) of the ten (10) highest average scores from all members of the Nominating Committee will qualify as a “Student Showcase Selection.” In the event of any tie score, the decision of the chairperson of the Nominating Committee will break the tie. On or around Janaury 11th, 2010, Sponsor will notify each Entrant by electronic and/or regular mail if that Entrant’s Entered Game was judged to be a Student Showcase Selection (each such Entrant, a “Student Finalist”). In addition, the overall game with the highest average score will win the Best Student Game Award, which will be announced at the Conference at approximately 7:00 p.m. PT on March 11th, 2010.
STUDENT SHOWCASE SELECTION EXHIBITION :
Any Student Finalist that does not satisfy all of the requirements of this section may be disqualified, and Sponsor may select an alternate Student Showcase Selection from the remaining Entered Games.
Each Student Finalist will be required to sign and return a declaration of eligibility and release of liability within seven (7) days of notification. The declaration and release will include, to the extent permitted by law and even if already granted by a Student Finalist’s acceptance of these Official Rules, the grant by each Student Finalist of permission (without further compensation) for Sponsor to use the Student Finalist’s name, photograph and likeness, logo (if any), state of residence, and Entered Game for advertising, promotion, marketing, and administration of the Contest and the Conference, including mention in Sponsor’s Game Developer magazine and on Gamasutra.com and a profile in the Conference program. Each Student Finalist must provide Sponsor with his or her social security or taxpayer I.D. number for tax reporting purposes.
Each Student Finalist will be required to exhibit his or her Student Showcase Selection at the Conference. Exhibition duties will include: (i) staffing a Conference booth; (ii) demonstrating the Student Showcase Selection during specified hours; and (iii) conducting oneself in a manner that upholds the good name and reputation of Sponsor, the Conference, and the Contest. Sponsor will provide one (1) display pod at the Conference for each Student Finalist, which will consist of a counter, a 21" monitor, speakers, hook-ups for electricity and Internet connectivity, and signage indicating the name of the Student Finalist and the name of the Student Showcase Selection. Each Student Finalist will be expected to supply his or her own computer, console, or other platform required to display his or her Student Showcase Selection, along with any additional hardware necessary to operate the Student Showcase Selection.
Any Student Finalist who is unable to attend may officially nominate a proxy attendee (the name and contact details of which to be electronically mailed to the Contest Chairman at chairman@igf.com within fourteen (14) days after notification of nomination has been sent to the Student Finalist). Proxy attendees must perform the same duties as the actual Student Finalists.
Other than the $500 travel stipend mentioned below, each Student Finalist will be responsible his or her own costs of travel, meals, accommodations, and equipment in connection with the Contest and the Conference. All Student Finalists must be in sufficient physical condition for safe travel to the Conference.
STUDENT SHOWCASE PRIZES :
Student Showcase Winners will receive:
- Two (2) All Access passes to the Conference (approximate value of $4000.00);
- Five (5) Exhibitor Passes;
- A $500.00 stipend for travel expenses related to the Conference;
- An award certificate;
- Mention in Game Developer magazine;
- Mention in Gamasutra.com; and
- A one (1) year limited use license to use a version of the official Contest name and Student Showcase Selection logo in promotional materials relating to the Student Finalist’s Student Showcase Selection.
The estimated total value of each prize package is approximately $2,825.00. The estimated total value of the ten (10) prize packages is approximately $28,250.00.
WINNER PRIZES :
The Finalist who submits the Best Student Game will receive a $2,500 prize. In addition to the monetary prizes, the Winner will receive an award plaque and a one (1) year limited use license to use a version of the official Contest name and winner logo in promotional materials relating to the Winning Mod.
Prizes will be shipped to each Finalist after receipt of the declaration and release mentioned in the Student Showcase Selection Exhibition section of these Official Rules and confirmation of attendance at the Conference.
PRIZE TERMS :
All monetary amounts are shown in United States dollars and all monetary prizes will be awarded in the form of checks or money orders in United States dollars. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute any non-monetary prizes with items of equal or greater value. Each Student Finalist will be solely responsible for bearing any income or other taxes, fees, or other costs relating to any prize.
All It is possible that some or all Student Finalists may be offered gifts from Conference sponsors or other third parties. Sponsor makes no representation or warranty that any such gifts will be offered or received, does not endorse any such gifts, and is no way responsible for any such gifts.
PRIOR CONTESTS :
Sponsor does not know how many games will be entered in the Contest. However, participation in similar contests held by Sponsor over the previous three (3) years was as follows: 2009 - 145 games; 2008 - 127 games; 2006 - 80 games entered 2005 – 110 games entered; 2004 – 80 games entered.
RESTRICTIONS/ELIGIBILITY:
The Contest is open only to individuals 13 years or older who were full or part-time college or high school students during the Spring 2009 semester and who have access to the Internet on or before November 15th, 2009. Individuals under the age of 18 years must provide evidence of parent or legal guardian consent satisfactory to Sponsor. Sponsor, its parents, subsidiaries, and affiliates, and its advertising, promotion, and production agencies, as well as employees of any of the foregoing, members of such employees’ immediate families (including spouse, parents, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, step-children, step-parents and in-laws), and persons with whom such employees are domiciled, are not eligible. Each Entrant may enter only one (1) game in the Contest. In addition to the foregoing general eligibility requirements, the following additional requirements must be met:
- Student Requirements: The spirit of the Contest is to showcase what students can do, unassisted by professionals. As a result, only games that have been developed entirely by full or part-time college or high school students are eligible for entry. If a game has been developed with significant portions of the assets contributed by a professional, it is not eligible for entry. If entrants to the Contest are in doubt about the amount of externally created or contributed content in their game, please contact the organizers for clarification.
- Updates: Entered Game updates are permitted during the Nominating Period. Patched updates from competitors via FTP or CD-ROM will be permitted throughout the judging process. However, Sponsor does not guarantee the viewing or application of every patch/update by the Nominating Committee.
- Installation: All Entered Games (except for Web Browser Games) must include an automated installation and uninstallation routine.
- State of Development: All Entered Games must be in a "beta" state or better (i.e., Entered Games must be feature-complete). At least one (1) level of each Entered Game must be complete and fully playable.
- Platform . Entered Games may run on any platform (PC, Mac, console, PDA, etc.). Any Entrant submitting an Entered Game that requires special hardware (e.g., uncommon PDAs or older consoles) may be contacted by Sponsor to obtain the hardware at the Entrant’s sole expense.
RELEASE:
By entering the Contest, each Entrant releases and holds harmless Sponsor, its parents, subsidiaries, and affiliates, and each of their respective officers, directors, agents, and employees from any and all responsibility or liability arising out of or relating to: (i) any personal injury, death, property (including computer) damage, or other loss or claim of any kind arising from or in connection with any violation of these Official Rules; the Contest, the Conference or any Entered Game; the acceptance, possession, or use of any prize; or any travel required by the Contest; (ii) any entry or other materials that have been tampered with, that are misdirected, incomplete, incorrect, non-conforming, corrupt, lost, late, or ineligible, or, with respect to mail-in entries or materials, that are sent postage due; and (iii) computer, telephone, cable, satellite, network, hardware, software, or other technical malfunctions or failures; garbled or jumbled transmissions; Internet or website inaccessibility or delays; printing or typographical errors in any Contest or Conference materials; or any other technical or human errors occurring in connection with the Contest or Conference.
By entering the Contest, each Entrant consents to the use of the Entrant’s name, photograph and likeness, logo (if any), state of residence, and Entered Game for advertising, promotion, marketing, and administration of the Contest and Conference without additional compensation, to the extent permitted by law. Each entrant further agrees that Sponsor may use any and all information collected through the Contest, including the Entrant’s name and contact information, for marketing or other purposes whether or not related to the Contest, to the extent permitted by law and Sponsor’s privacy policy, which may be found on the Contest Website.
REPRESENTATIONS :
By entering the Contest, each individual submitting entry materials (including an Entered Game) represents and warrants to Sponsor that:
- such individual is the Entrant;
- the Entrant and the Entered Game fully comply with all eligibility requirements and all other provisions of these Official Rules;
- in preparing the Entered Game and entering and participating in the Contest and the Conference, the Entrant has complied and will comply in all respects with all applicable laws, regulations, and rules and has not violated nor will violate any agreement or understanding by which it is bound, including any confidentiality, employment, consulting, intellectual property assignment, or license agreement;
- the Entered Game consists entirely of Entrant’s own original work or of work to which Entrant has all necessary rights; and
- neither the Entered Game nor the duplication, use, display, performance, or distribution of the Entered Game will infringe or misappropriate any intellectual property or other proprietary rights of any person or entity.
TERMINATION :
Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Contest in its sole and absolute discretion if the Contest becomes technically corrupted or is not capable of being run as planned, including infections by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures or any other causes beyond the control of Sponsor that corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of the Contest. In such event, Sponsor will post notice at the Conference and on the Contest Website and will implement an alternate means for awarding all prizes.
MISCELLANEOUS :
If any part of these Official Rules is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, or otherwise unenforceable, such part will be deemed modified or eliminated to the extent necessary, in the court’s opinion, to make it enforceable while preserving the original intent of the Sponsor, and the remaining parts of these Official Rules will remain in full force and effect. The Contest will be governed by, and these Official Rules will be interpreted by, and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of California and applicable United States federal law, without regard to any conflicts of laws principles. The Contest is void where prohibited by law. Any dispute arising out of or relating to these Official Rules, the Contest, the Conference, or any prize must be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in San Francisco, California, and Sponsor and each Entrant irrevocably waive any objection to the venue and jurisdiction thereof.
STUDENT FINALIST LIST :
For the names of the Student Winners, which will be available after March 11th, 2009, check the Contest Website or send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to:
2010 Independent Games Festival Competition, Student Category
c/o Think Services Game Group
600 Harrison Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
USA
Telephone: (415) 947-6000
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