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Description
Description
In this event, you’ll be tasked with creating an interactive video game, a portfolio, and a demonstration video. The event also has a semifinalist interview.
Video Game Design has preliminary submissions, so all project materials need to be submitted digitally before competition.
2025-2026 theme:
Retro Revival: Reimagine an 8-bit or 16-bit era type of game with a modern twist.
What To Know
What To Know
How to use a game engine (Unity, Gamemaker, Godot, etc..), or any gamemaking compatible programming language (Python, JavaScript, Lua, etc..)
How to create 2D or 3D computer graphics.
What To Submit
What To Submit
A link to a playable version of the game. (The video game design submission cannot be a downloaded file and must be playable in the browser).
Must be greater than three minutes in length of play.
Must be interactive.
Must be free of any weapons or violence.
A link to a youtube video demonstrating the instructions for the game as well as the development of the project.
Must be less than 5 minutes in length.
Must contain a tutorial for how to play the game, the game being played for at least one level, and an overview of the scripts, files, and game engine.
A PDF containing the documentation portfolio for the project.
Title Page
Purpose and Description of the Game
Hand Drawn Storyboard
Copyright Checklist
Work Log
Event Advice
Event Advice
A winning video game design submission is not necessarily the most complicated or technically complex game. Judges will not be wowed by complicated code or your really cool nested dictionary system or whatever else.
The most important thing is to create a complete and polished experience. The game should flow from start to finish without holes or inconsistencies. This means that you need to pick an idea that can realistically be accomplished in the limited time frame. You want to leave time to polish, polish, polish.
You also want to keep the target audience in mind. The judges for this event can be of pretty much any age group, and so a fast paced first person shooter might not resonate with all judges. The best bet is to pick an accessible idea with the most compatibility.
Game Engines
Game Engines
While languages like python or lua can be used to develop games, it is not recommended due to technical limitations.
The easiest and most compatible way to compete in this event is to utilize a game engine. Game engines are software that come prepackaged with the tools necessary to build and ship a game.
Some free examples include:
Unity
Best choice for 3D games
Best for users with experience in C#
Godot
Best choice for 2D and minimal 3D games
Best for users with experience in Python
Gamemaker Studio
Unreal Engine
Defold
GDevelop
Additional Software
Additional Software
When developing games, you will generally need additional software to assist with various creative elements
2D art & image editing:
Krita
Gimp
Inkscape
Photoshop ($)
Pixel art:
Aseprite ($)
Piskel
3D modeling:
Blender
Audio:
Audacity
For music, see the Music Production event resources.
Other Learning Resources
Other Learning Resources
Gamemaker:
General:
Youtube will have tutorials for nearly anything.
Documentation for each engine can also be very helpful.
Example Resources
Example Resources
Game examples:
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