Challenge Summary
If given the opportunity to become a secret operative would you? This client only pursues the best, the most talented and the brightest to work on its movies. We cannot go into too much detail due to the enormous sensitivity and secrecy of this project. You will learn the Who, What, When, Why and How only after you register and become a secret Minigames Mind-storm agent. Just know that this is an extremely TopSecret project centered on a blockbuster animation film that requires you to come up with a fantastic Flash game idea for kids who love this movie.
Be forewarned: in order to participate and to become an operative you are required to sign your life away and to swear your secrecy for this project to this client by signing the SSA (which will be sent to members who have registered for the contest).
The first 48 hours of this contest will be devoted to registration. After the 48 hour period, all members who are registered and have submitted the executed SSA and have had their paperwork processed will be given access to the private areas containing the full contest details.
You may still register after this 48 hour period and throughout the submission phase for Round One. Once we receive your signed document we will process the paperwork within 24 hours (or the next business day) and provide access if acceptable.
Terms of Participation
IMPORTANT- You will be bound by the CCA and SSA you have or will sign with TopCoder to not disclose any portion of this project outside of this contest. If there is conflict between the SSA and any of the terms of the competition or the CCA, the terms in the SSA apply.
In addition, by participating in this competition, you agree:
(A) to maintain the confidentiality of the Client and all contest details. Details about the competition should only be discussed in the private forum, and should not appear on any public forum;
(B) to execute the TopCoder Comp
Studio Tournament Format This competition will be run as a two-round tournament with a total prize purse of $1850. Round one (1) Submission Phase starts June 17th At the end of Round One, THE CLIENT will choose up to five (5) review winners; each will win $50 and receive Client Feedback These winners and any member who submitted a passing submission during Round One will be eligible to compete in Round 2 for the additional $1600 in prizes.
We are now in Round 2! Congratulations to the following Round 1 winners! - 20890 - AleaActaEst - 20850 - iamtong - 20891 - AleaActaEst - 20883 - RatsOnParade - 20885 - RatsOnParade Round Two is posted within the protected forums and contest area.
Round Two (2) Phase Round 2 will start with the announcement of the $50 Round 1 winners and the posting of their Client Feedback in the private contest forum. The following is required for Round 1 submissions: -Title - Add the name of your game here... -Short Description - Describe the game in three or four sentences... -Game Type/Genre - What sort of game is this? A puzzle game, platform game, etc... -Scenario - What is the setting of the game... -Long description - Tell the story of the game, a high level walkthrough in words of characters, locations, tasks etc. that the player will encounter as they progress through the game... The following are required for Round 2 submissions: -Game System - What rules does the game implement? What objects need to be defined, what events need to be raised, and what actions are fired for each event? It may be useful to break the objects down into subcategories - player character, 'non-player characters' (e.g. 'monsters'), room objects (walls, doors), scoring/health objects (treasure, fuel pellets, first aid kits etc.), controller objects etc. -Narrative Structure - How is the story structured? Draw the plotline using a graph to show how major story events are connected to each other... -Game Play - Describe the mechanics of how the player actually plays the game; include a subsection describing the user controls and how these relate to user actions (keyboard/mouse controls). -Game Map - How are the games structured or ordered? Provide a map of the 'physical layout' of your game world showing how different physical locations or area is ordered and/or connect to each other. -Title and Information Screens - Describe the organization and navigation structures surrounding the 'non game' pages: the title page, the end game page, the help page, high score page... -Audio Requirements - What are the audio requirements of the game? Background music, alert sounds for particular events or actions, general background noise? You will be provided: - Details of the Movie - Details of the section pertaining to the MMO World - A template for your Idea We are asking for your help. We're NOT looking for a long list of game ideas that already exist. We are looking for several cool new concepts. This is an exciting opportunity to create fun & engaging games for a highly recognizable movie, which will be played by millions around the world. After registration and submitting the necessary documents, you will learn the title of the movie and console games which are based on the movie. We will also provide a background of the world that will help you grasp the environment and assist in future Mind-storm contests
Minigame Goals - Your game should be easy to learn - but hard to master! - A single game play should be no more than 2 or 3 minutes but multiple game plays should be the goal. The game should entice the players to play hundreds of times for many hours. - Simple controls: A game that can be played entirely with a mouse and (left click only) is encouraged. Arrow keys in combination with one or two keystrokes are the maximum complexity. Memorization of complex or numerous key commands is discouraged. - Multi-player games are going to be seen as the most valuable. Either two players at one keyboard or two+ players each connected remotely. - Turn-based games are most practical, given network latency issues. Although we will consider some real-time games, as well. - Games that are unique in concept and game play and game mechanics are highly encouraged Target Audience - Primary: 6-11 year old boys and their fathers; Secondary: The Fans of THE CLIENT and of the underlying movie. Judging Criteria -Fun and Appeal (40% weight): Is the idea fun and does it encourage the member to stay and play or feel "at home"? Does it have images illustrating usage scenarios? -Virtual world environment and story connection (20% weight): How well does the game connect with the stories? -Creativity / Originality / Innovation (30% weight): Is the idea / design unique? Does the concept convey WOW or game-changing characteristics? -Feasibility (10% weight): Can this idea / product be realistically implemented with current or near-future technology? Submissions may be illustrated or rendered in any format - hand sketches, digital drawings, or renderings - rendering tool used will not affect judging process. You may submit as many entries as you like.
Studio Tournament Format This competition will be run as a two-round tournament with a total prize purse of $1850. Round one (1) Submission Phase starts June 17th At the end of Round One, THE CLIENT will choose up to five (5) review winners; each will win $50 and receive Client Feedback These winners and any member who submitted a passing submission during Round One will be eligible to compete in Round 2 for the additional $1600 in prizes.
We are now in Round 2! Congratulations to the following Round 1 winners! - 20890 - AleaActaEst - 20850 - iamtong - 20891 - AleaActaEst - 20883 - RatsOnParade - 20885 - RatsOnParade Round Two is posted within the protected forums and contest area.
Round Two (2) Phase Round 2 will start with the announcement of the $50 Round 1 winners and the posting of their Client Feedback in the private contest forum. The following is required for Round 1 submissions: -Title - Add the name of your game here... -Short Description - Describe the game in three or four sentences... -Game Type/Genre - What sort of game is this? A puzzle game, platform game, etc... -Scenario - What is the setting of the game... -Long description - Tell the story of the game, a high level walkthrough in words of characters, locations, tasks etc. that the player will encounter as they progress through the game... The following are required for Round 2 submissions: -Game System - What rules does the game implement? What objects need to be defined, what events need to be raised, and what actions are fired for each event? It may be useful to break the objects down into subcategories - player character, 'non-player characters' (e.g. 'monsters'), room objects (walls, doors), scoring/health objects (treasure, fuel pellets, first aid kits etc.), controller objects etc. -Narrative Structure - How is the story structured? Draw the plotline using a graph to show how major story events are connected to each other... -Game Play - Describe the mechanics of how the player actually plays the game; include a subsection describing the user controls and how these relate to user actions (keyboard/mouse controls). -Game Map - How are the games structured or ordered? Provide a map of the 'physical layout' of your game world showing how different physical locations or area is ordered and/or connect to each other. -Title and Information Screens - Describe the organization and navigation structures surrounding the 'non game' pages: the title page, the end game page, the help page, high score page... -Audio Requirements - What are the audio requirements of the game? Background music, alert sounds for particular events or actions, general background noise? You will be provided: - Details of the Movie - Details of the section pertaining to the MMO World - A template for your Idea We are asking for your help. We're NOT looking for a long list of game ideas that already exist. We are looking for several cool new concepts. This is an exciting opportunity to create fun & engaging games for a highly recognizable movie, which will be played by millions around the world. After registration and submitting the necessary documents, you will learn the title of the movie and console games which are based on the movie. We will also provide a background of the world that will help you grasp the environment and assist in future Mind-storm contests
Minigame Goals - Your game should be easy to learn - but hard to master! - A single game play should be no more than 2 or 3 minutes but multiple game plays should be the goal. The game should entice the players to play hundreds of times for many hours. - Simple controls: A game that can be played entirely with a mouse and (left click only) is encouraged. Arrow keys in combination with one or two keystrokes are the maximum complexity. Memorization of complex or numerous key commands is discouraged. - Multi-player games are going to be seen as the most valuable. Either two players at one keyboard or two+ players each connected remotely. - Turn-based games are most practical, given network latency issues. Although we will consider some real-time games, as well. - Games that are unique in concept and game play and game mechanics are highly encouraged Target Audience - Primary: 6-11 year old boys and their fathers; Secondary: The Fans of THE CLIENT and of the underlying movie. Judging Criteria -Fun and Appeal (40% weight): Is the idea fun and does it encourage the member to stay and play or feel "at home"? Does it have images illustrating usage scenarios? -Virtual world environment and story connection (20% weight): How well does the game connect with the stories? -Creativity / Originality / Innovation (30% weight): Is the idea / design unique? Does the concept convey WOW or game-changing characteristics? -Feasibility (10% weight): Can this idea / product be realistically implemented with current or near-future technology? Submissions may be illustrated or rendered in any format - hand sketches, digital drawings, or renderings - rendering tool used will not affect judging process. You may submit as many entries as you like.
Please read the challenge specification carefully and watch the forums for any questions or feedback concerning this challenge. It is important that you monitor any updates provided by the client or Studio Admins in the forums. Please post any questions you might have for the client in the forums.