Culture:
Game Design Challenge FAQs
About the Contest
What is the 'Life.Love. Game Design Challenge'?
The Life.Love. Game Design Challenge is an annual video game design contest open to game designers and game developers around the world. Designers and developers are invited to create their own prosocial video game intended to engage, educate, and empower video game players in an effort to prevent future violence.
Why is Jennifer Ann's Group doing this contest?
Violence is a public health issue and abusive dating relationships are a problem affecting people of all ages around the world. Young people are especially impacted by dating violence and an especially effective approach at engaging young people are through video games. Jennifer Ann's Group is a non-profit organization that has been working to prevent teen dating violence since 2006 in memory of Jennifer Ann Crecente, a high school senior killed by her ex-boyfriend. Jennifer Ann's Group was established by her dad.
Although traditional outreach programs about teen dating violence are available, many schools lack the funding to implement traditional programs and so Jennifer Ann's Group considered how they could leverage technology to better reach and help young people. Given the popularity of video games -- especially among young people -- Jennifer Ann's Group thought it might be interesting to see if video game designers could create prosocial video games about teen dating violence in order to increase awareness and provide educational information about this serious public health issue. In 2008 we launched the first annual Life.Love. Game Design Challenge.
In 2008 it was not clear how powerful video games might be at addressing serious issues like dating abuse. Since then it has become clear - in part through published research - that digital games are fantastic tools for engaging players in uniquely compelling ways. This is due in part because through digital games: players more easily understand complex, nuanced issues; players become invested and engaged in the success of the game's outcome; and players can safely explore and experience otherwise dangerous situations in context.
Every year since 2008 Jennifer Ann's Group has presented an annual game design competition encouraging developers to create video games about selected themes related to relationship abuse. Through prosocial video games people everywhere should gain a better understanding of - and be less accepting of - abusive relationship behavior.
What else can you tell me about the video games that have come from this program?
Here is some more info:
# of games produced since 2008: |
More than 50 |
Prosocial Game Topics: |
bystander awareness, consent, culture, gaslighting, healthy relationships, teen dating violence |
Country of Origin: |
Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, India, Ireland, Mexico, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Vanuatu |
Published Platforms: |
Amazon App Store; Amazon Echo ("Alexa"); Apple App Store; Blackberry; Google Play; HTML5; Windows Phone |
Journal Publications: |
• Gaming Against Violence: A Grassroots Approach to Teen Dating Violence (Program Profile)
• Gaming Against Violence: An Exploratory Evaluation ... (Research Study)
• Playing Against Abuse: Effects of Procedural and Narrative Persuasive Games (Research Study) |
Select Winning Games: |
ADRIFT (consent),
Another Chance (teen dating violence),
Citizen Witch (bystander awareness),
Grace's Diary (teen dating violence, bystander awareness),
HONEYMOON (healthy relationships),
Lamplight Hollow (gaslighting, bystander awareness),
Rispek Danis (consent, healthy relationships),
Stuck in a Dark Place (consent)
|
Entry Information
How do I get started?
You're on the right track by reading the FAQs! Next, check out the instructions in the Contest Process section and then be sure to Register by submitting your game pitch before the March 20, 2020 deadline.
Who is allowed to enter?
Anybody aged 13+ at the time of entry is eligible to enter (void where prohibited). Officers, employees, and immediate family members of Jennifer Ann's Group are prohibited from entering the video game design challenge.
Can I enter more than once?
Sorry, but no. Make sure and enter your best game because you only get one chance to enter each year!
What are the technical requirements?
Round One of the contest only requires submitting the text of your proposed game narrative. If you are selected as a Finalist you will receive all necessary information to proceed, including the technical requirements for your final video game entry. When considering the technologies or game platform for your game please note that Jennifer Ann's Group will need to have access to that technology or game engine in order to evaluate your entry and, in the event it is a prize winner, publish your game.
Our intention is to be as flexible and supportive of as many different technologies as possible but we do need to be able to reliably judge the games and, in the event that it is a winning game, be able to: modify the game; publish the game on multiple platforms; possibly translate the game into other languages; support changes in platform requirements; and then provide technical support for game players. If you have any specific questions feel free to ask us.
Some of the technologies and game engines used successfully in previous winning games include: Adobe AIR, Construct2/3, GameMaker, HaxeFlixel, RPG Maker MV, Twine, and Unity.
What are the content requirements?
The Round One registration form will provide you with specific requirements regarding content. As with all of our game design contests no violent content is permitted in the game entries.
How long do I have to enter?
Round One is only open from March 5, 2020 through March 20, 2020. The Finalists will be notified in late March and will then have until July August 1, 2020 to submit their developed video game.
Do you accept group entries?
Yes - please just identify a primary contact person when you Register on the Round One submission form.
Where can I learn more about the role and impact of cultural influences on dating and/or relationships?
Visit the Culture Games site for information and resources.
Judging and Selection Process
What criteria will be used for judging?
Round One of the contest will be judged based on the creativity of your proposed game narrative and the potential for that idea to be developed into a compelling video game which will help discuss, demonstrate, or otherwise describe the role of cultural influences on one's dating and/or relationship beliefs and the possible impact that this has, especially on adolescents.
Judging details and scoring rubric for Round Two will be distributed to all Finalists at the time that they are notified of their Finalist status.