United States Game Design Competition Rules and Regulations

This competition starts at 12:01 AM Pacific Time (PT) on September 1, 2010, and ends at 11:59 PM PT on March 14, 2011 ("Entry Period"). The Entry Period consists of three (3) separate Rounds as described below. Each round has unique entry requirements and all required entry deliverables must be received within the designated Round in order to be eligible for judging.

Public Voting Period: In addition to the dates listed above, Fall and Spring Semi-Finalist entries will be presented online for public voting at the US Imagine Cup Website (the "Site") following the close of the Spring Round 2 – Semi-Finals period. The exact start and end dates will be posted on www.imaginecup.us no later than November 15, 2010.

The competition sign up period begins at 12:01 AM PT on September 1, 2010, and ends at 11:59 PM PT on March 14, 2011 ("Registration Period").

You are eligible to enter this competition if you meet the following requirements:

• You are at least sixteen (16) years of age or older at time of entry; and
• You are a legal resident of the fifty (50) United States (including the District of Columbia); and
• You are actively enrolled as a student (including as a graduate or doctoral student) at an accredited educational institution that grants high-school or college/university (or equivalent) degrees (including homeschools) located in the 50 United States (including the District of Columbia) at any time between January 2, 2010 and May 31, 2011; and
• You are NOT an employee or intern of Microsoft Corporation, or an employee of a Microsoft subsidiary during any of the dates listed above; and
• You are NOT involved in any part of the administration and execution of this competition; and
• You are NOT an immediate family (parent, sibling, spouse, child) or household member of a Microsoft employee, an employee of a Microsoft subsidiary, or a person involved in any part of the administration and execution of this competition.

If you are a Microsoft campus representative, such as a Microsoft Student Partner (see http://student-partners.com), and you meet the eligibility criteria described above, you may enter this competition, but you are prohibited from using Microsoft property or resources, including without limitation, Microsoft networks, hardware tools and technology resources and/or the counsel of Microsoft employees in connection with the creation of your entry.

For additional information regarding eligibility verification and changes in eligibility status, please refer to the overall Imagine Cup Official Rules.

This promotion is void outside the geographic region described above and where prohibited by law.

If you wish to participate in this competition, you must register at www.imaginecup.us as instructed during the competition sign up Period.

A team may consist of up to four (4) eligible students (each a "Team"). It is recommended, but not required, that you have one (1) mentor for your Team, in addition to your four (4) Team members. Limit one (1) mentor per Team.

Each Team is solely responsible for its own cooperation and teamwork. In no event will Microsoft officiate in any dispute regarding the conduct or cooperation of any Team or its members.

For additional important details on signing up for a competition, please see the requirements set forth in the Team and Individual Competitions section of the Imagine Cup Official Rules at: Imagine Cup Official Rules

Please note that the intent and spirit of the competition is to test the skills and creativity of the student entrants. Anyone acting as a team mentor, or in an mentorship role, where allowed (for example, local, regional, or global sponsors), must limit the level of support provided to student entrants to general guidance and must not contribute in any way that may be considered original authorship, or in a way that may enable claims of rights or ownership to the submitted entries. In no event will work-on-behalf of teams or individuals be allowed.

Choosing a Game Design Competition Track

New to the Imagine Cup 2011 Game Design Competition, two competition tracks are offered:

1. Windows/Xbox (XNA)
2. Mobile (Zune/Phone)

Prior to competing in the Game Design Competition, your Team must select the Game Design Track(s) in which your Team chooses to compete. You are allowed to sign up and compete in multiple Game Design Track(s) however you can only be a member of one team per Game Design track.

Your Team's entry materials must meet the following required content and technical requirements:

1. All games must have been developed either using Microsoft® XNA™ Game Studio 3.1 or later; Visual Studio, HTML 4.0 or greater, or Silverlight technologies.
2. Your game must be developed for one of the following environments:
• Competition Track #1: The game must be designed for the Microsoft Xbox 360 gaming system, or Microsoft Windows Operating Systems (Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista, or Windows 7) and playable on a Windows PC, as specified in the XNA Game Studio Toolkit, for the purposes of judging.
• Competition Track #2: The game must work on a Windows Phone 7 mobile device or the Windows Phone 7 mobile device emulator or Zune or Zune HD and developed in Microsoft XNA Game Studio 4.0 or later, or Windows Phone 7 mobile device or Windows Phone 7 emulator using Silverlight technologies.
3. The content of the Game must address a social cause connected to the 2011 Imagine Cup Theme: "Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems".
4. The content of the Game must be equivalent to an Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rating of "E" for Everyone. (See http://www.esrb.org for details).
5. The judges must be able to play the Game, as specified in the XNA Game Studio Toolkit for XNA-based games, or in the case of a Silverlight game, be able to be hosted by IIS. If the game is built on Silverlight and hosted in a web browser, it must be available to be played offline — games that require some of their code to be hosted and executed on a remote server will not be eligible. Games that require unusual server technologies apart from database storage — as long as it can be automatically set up to be hosted by IIS — are not eligible.
6. ClickOnce deployment is only permissible for XNA and Silverlight entries if the set up in its entirety is delivered as part of the submission. Those ClickOnce setup projects submitted that require internet connectivity to download components of the games will be disqualified immediately.
7. All entry materials must be submitted and presented in the English language. If a translator is needed, you are responsible to procure and make use of one.
8. If pre-existing source code or third party technologies are incorporated into the Game, then this pre-existing source code must be clearly identified in the Game Summary (this description does not count toward the 150 word limit but please be brief). Before incorporating any pre-existing source code in the Game, make sure that your inclusion of such pre-existing source code in your Game does not infringe on any third party rights, and is used in accordance with all applicable licensing and use terms.

In addition to the content and technical requirements described above, in order to be eligible for judging, all entries must meet the following general standards:

• The content of your entry and any supporting materials must be suitable for all viewing audiences. Any material containing text, sound or images that we or the judges, in their sole opinion, determine to be vulgar, offensive or otherwise inappropriate for public viewing or content that would present Microsoft or other companies in a negative light will be disqualified.

In addition, by submitting your entry into this game you confirm that, to the best of your knowledge:

• your entry, including its supporting materials, is your own original work; and
• your entry only includes material (including music, video or images) that you own, or that you have permission from the copyright / trademark owner to use; and
• you have obtained permission from any recognizable person (parent/guardian, if a minor) that appears in your entry to submit your entry in this Competition and to use their personal data in the entry for the purposes of the Competition (if applicable); and

We will disqualify any entries that we, in our sole discretion, find to be a duplicate, or the result of collaborative work contrary to these competition details and/or to the spirit of the Competition.

To be eligible for consideration, you must submit the materials described below during each round:

Fall and Spring Round 1 – Qualifying

Storyboard of your game:

1. Storyboard must use the templates provided at www.imaginecup.us

Fall and Spring Round 2 - Semi Finals

Game demo:

1. Included in your .zip file submission as an electronic file of no more than 150 MB in size in the .ccgame format.
2. Do not submit any source code with your .ccgame file. If your .ccgame file includes source code, you could be disqualified.

Playable video game application:

1. Included in your .zip file submission as an installable application (either a setup.exe or .MSI file of no more than 300 MB.
2. This application should be comprised of at least one (1) playable level that illustrates the game play and features of the final Game that you would like to develop; final graphics are not required, but the Game Demo should represent the conceptual art direction of the Game that you would like to develop.

Game summary:

1. Included in your .zip file submission as an electronic file in the .doc, .docx, .pdf or .txt file format
2. A short description (150 words maximum) of the Game including its premise, unique game play features and how it addresses the 2011 Imagine Cup Theme. If pre-existing source code is incorporated into the Game, then this pre-existing source code must be clearly identified in the Game Summary (this description does not count toward the 150 word limit but please be brief). Before incorporating any pre-existing source code in the Game, make sure that your inclusion of such pre-existing source code in your Game does not infringe on any third party rights, and is used in accordance with all applicable licensing and use terms.

Game play instructions:

1. Included in your .zip file submission either as a game screen (.jpg file) or as a text in a readme file (name your file as readme only).

Round 3 - US Finals

For the US Finals, your Team must create and submit the materials described below:

100% playable game:

1. Included in your .zip file submission as an electronic file of no more than 150 MB in size in the .ccgame format. Do not submit any source code with your .ccgame file. If your .ccgame file includes source code, you could be disqualified.
2. A 100% playable video game application; at least one complete level and near final graphics required.

Game summary:

1. Included in your .zip file submission as an electronic file in the .doc, .docx, .pdf or .txt file format.
2. Write a description (200 words maximum) of the Game including its premise, unique game play features and how it addresses the 2010 Imagine Cup Theme. If pre-existing source code is incorporated into the Game, then this pre-existing source code must be clearly identified in the Game Summary. Before incorporating any pre-existing source code in the Game, make sure that your inclusion of such pre-existing source code does not infringe on any third party rights, and is used in accordance with all applicable licensing and use terms.

Three (3) game screenshots:

1. Each included in your .zip file submission as an electronic file in the .jpeg format. The Game Screenshots should not exceed a combined file size of 2MB.
2. Take three (3) screenshots of the Game that capture the game play and style of the Game as accurately as possible; do not include any unfinished artwork or graphical artifacts.

Game play instructions:

1. Included in your .zip file submission as a game screen (.jpg file) or as a text in a readme file (name your file as readme only).

Game video:

1. Included in your .zip file submission as an electronic file of no more than 25MB in the following file formats: .avi. .wmv, .mpeg, .mp4.
2. Create a short video (at least 3, but not more than 5 minutes) that: (A) introduces each member of the Team; and (B) depicts the functionality and game play features of the Game.

Fall and Spring Round 1 - Qualifying
To submit your entry, you must navigate to www.imaginecup.us and submit your entry materials as instructed.

Fall and Spring Round 2 - Semi-Finals
To submit your entry, you must navigate www.imaginecup.us and submit your entry materials as instructed.

Round 3 - US Finals
If you are selected to advance to the US Finals, Microsoft will provide you with entry submission requirements prior to the start of the US Finals.

Fall and Spring Round 1 – Qualifying and Fall and Spring Round 2 Semi-Finals:
We will only accept one (1) entry per team during the Fall Series and one (1) entry per team during the Spring Series per competition category.

Round 3 – US Finals:
We will only accept one (1) entry per team per competition category. We are not responsible for entries that we do not receive for any reason, or for entries that we receive but are not decipherable for any reason.

• Incomplete or illegible entries; and
• Entries that we receive in excess of the entry limit described above

Fall and Spring Round 1 – Qualifying

On or around the close of the Fall or Spring Round 1 Entry Period, the judges will review all entries received. Teams that submitted all required Round 1 entry materials (in compliance with the applicable content and technical requirements, as determined by the judges) will be invited to advance to compete in Round 2.

Fall and Spring Round 2 - Semi-Finals

On or around the close of the Fall and Spring Semi-Finals Entry Period, the judges will review all eligible entries received and select the top two (2) teams in each competition category according to the following criteria:

• 20% Innovation: How creative and technically unique is the Game.
• 20% Theme: How well the Game addresses the 2011 Imagine Cup Theme.
• 20% Fun Factor: How intense, exciting, and entertaining are the attributes of the Game.
• 20% Production Quality: How complete is the Game including its polish of design, functionality, and thematic execution.
• 20% Presentation: How clear and precise is the Game Summary, Game Play Instructions, Game Video and Presentation to judges in each one of the rounds.

The winning teams will advance to compete in the US Finals and will also be eligible for the People’s Choice Award described below. If you are selected as a finalist during the Fall Series, you will not be eligible to be selected as a finalist again during the Spring series.

People's Choice Award

The finalists' entries from both categories will be presented online for public voting at the US Imagine Cup Website (the "Site") according to the dates listed above. Throughout the Public Voting Period, registered visitors to the site will have the opportunity to visit the Contest Gallery and "vote" for an entry by rating an entry with 1-5 stars (a click on a star button will be tracked by the Site as a "vote" for that specific entry). Limit one (1) vote per person per day during the Public Voting Period. Star ratings averaged by the total number of votes will assist in determining one (1) winning entry. In the event of a tie between any eligible entries, the tie will be broken by an additional public voting session via the same methods listed above.

Round 3 - US Finals

On around the close of the US Finals Entry Period, the judges will review all eligible entries received to determine one (1) First Place Winner, one (1) Second Place Winner, one (1) Third Place Winner, and one (1) Fourth Place Winner in each category according to the following criteria:

• 20% Innovation: How creative and technically unique is the Game.
• 20% Theme: How well the Game addresses the 2011 Imagine Cup Theme.
• 20% Fun Factor: How intense, exciting, and entertaining are the attributes of the Game.
• 20% Production Quality: How complete is the Game including its polish of design, functionality, and thematic execution.
• 20% Presentation: How clear and precise is the Game Summary, Game Play Instructions, Game Video and Presentation to judges in each one of the rounds. All decisions of the judges are final and binding. If we do not receive a sufficient number of entries meeting the entry requirements, we may, at our discretion based on the applicable above judging criteria select fewer than the number of winners stated. In the event of a tie between any eligible entries, the tie will be broken by an additional judge who will review the tied entries based on the criteria listed above.

Fall and Spring Round 2 Semi Finals:

Eight (8) First Prizes (2 per category in Fall and 2 per category in Spring ): Each officially registered member of the Team will win a trip to the location of the US Finals (location and exact dates to be announced), to compete in the US Finals in April 2011. Trip includes round trip coach airfare from major airport closest to winners home, standard hotel accommodations, select meals, and activities.

People's Choice Award:

One (1) People's Choice Award Prize. Each member of the winning team will receive and Xbox 360 250 GB Console with Kinect. Approximate Retail Value (ARV) $299.00 each.

Round 3 - US Finals:

Competition Track #1 – Windows/Xbox (XNA)

• First Place: $6,000 USD, to be divided equally among each officially registered member of the Team. Winners who are interested in pursuing an internship with Microsoft will be contacted by a recruiter.
• Second Place: $3,000 USD, to be divided equally among each officially registered member of the Team. Winners who are interested in pursuing an internship with Microsoft will be contacted by a recruiter.
• Third Place: $2,000 USD, to be divided equally among each officially registered member of the Team. Winners who are interested in pursuing an internship with Microsoft will be contacted by a recruiter.
• Fourth Place: $1,000 USD, to be divided equally among each officially registered member of the Team. Winners who are interested in pursuing an internship with Microsoft will be contacted by a recruiter.

Competition Track #2 – Mobile (Zune/Phone)

• First Place: $6,000 USD, to be divided equally among each officially registered member of the Team. Winners who are interested in pursuing an internship with Microsoft will be contacted by a recruiter.
• Second Place: $3,000 USD, to be divided equally among each officially registered member of the Team. Winners who are interested in pursuing an internship with Microsoft will be contacted by a recruiter.
• Third Place: $2,000 USD, to be divided equally among each officially registered member of the Team. Winners who are interested in pursuing an internship with Microsoft will be contacted by a recruiter.
• Fourth Place: $1,000 USD, to be divided equally among each officially registered member of the Team. Winners who are interested in pursuing an internship with Microsoft will be contacted by a recruiter.