Game Exhibition & Competition

Call for Games

The Meaningful Play Game Exhibition and Competition will allow academic, independent, experimental, serious game, and/or student developers to gain recognition for their creative/innovative work in game design and development.

All games submitted to Meaningful Play will be peer-reviewed. Game submissions will be reviewed by at least two members of the academic community or game industry specializing in the area of the game’s focus. Authors will be provided with reviewers’ critical comments as well as any suggestions for revision. Worthy projects will be selected and shown at the Meaningful Play Game Exhibition held at the conference.

All exhibited projects will have the option of being included in the game competition. The game competition will take place at the conference itself. During exhibition times, a panel of judges will vote for their favorite games (for a People’s Choice Award.)

Winners and runner-ups in each category, as well as the People’s Choice Award, will be announced and prizes will be distributed at an awards ceremony that will take place during the closing session of the conference on Friday, October 14, 2022.

Entry Requirements

The Meaningful Play Game Exhibition and Competition requirements are as follows:

• Before submitting a game to Meaningful Play, you must have obtained the permission of all persons or entities having any rights in the game.
• Games that make use of previously released commercial engines or technology are only eligible if they have the legal right to exhibit the game as-is. (NOTE: You do not necessarily need the right to publish the game to exhibit.)
• Games that make use of art and audio assets not created by the game authors are only eligible if they have the legal right to exhibit the game as-is.
• Game mods (game add-ons that require the installation of another game in order to be played) are not eligible unless you provide a legal copy of the game with submission for judging and bring a legal copy for exhibition.
• Games run on a commonly available platform (PC, Mac, Console, Mobile, etc.) available to reviewers OR we may ask developers who submit games that require special hardware that is difficult to obtain to submit a demonstration video of the game being played. Non-digital games are also acceptable.
• Games in various stages of completion are eligible for Meaningful Play, but the game must be in a form that is presentable and playable for judging and exhibition.

Commercial games and serious games are elligible for exhibition.

In addition to the general entry requirements stated above, the following requirements also must be met to be eligible to be listed as a “student created” entry:

• Only students (high school, undergraduate, or graduate) may have worked on the game, and those student developers must have been enrolled in school during the primary development time of the game.
• You must have had no professional help develop your entry. The spirit of this event is to showcase what students can do, unassisted by professionals. Guidance and assistance from your instructor/professor is fine and should be duly credited.

Exhibition

If your game submission is accepted and you confirm your attendance, please take note of the following:

• You will be expected to attend the Meaningful Play conference and exhibit your game title. Such exhibition will include, without limitation, (i) staffing an exhibition booth and demonstrating the game during the exhibition time; and (ii) conducting yourself in a manner that upholds the good name and reputation of the Meaningful Play conference.
• Meaningful Play will provide one display area for each accepted game, which will consist of table space and hook-ups for electricity and Wi-Fi Internet connectivity. Teams will be expected to supply hardware necessary to operate the game.
• You will be responsible to cover your expenses of attending Meaningful Play, including the conference registration fee, travel, meals, and accommodations.
• You will be responsible for bringing your own equipment for exhibition. This includes computing hardware, display, speakers, and any special equipment or hardware, such as force-feedback hardware, stereo-vision glasses, other headgear, graphics or audio cards.
• You will be expected to create a sign with at least the following components: the title of Game, one screenshot or frame grab from the game, the list of authors, and a brief description of the game, including what is unique or innovative about the game such as the technology, game design, purpose of the game, or intended audience. The sign should be free standing and will be exhibited on the table with the game.

Competition and Awards Ceremony

All exhibited projects will have the option of being included in the game competition. The game competition will take place at the conference itself. During exhibition times, a panel of judges will rate the games in each category. The categories will likely include:

• Best Non-Digital Game
• Best Digital Game
• Best VR, AR, MR Experience
• Best Student Created Game or Experience

Conference attendees will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite games (for a People’s Choice Award.)

Winners and runner-ups in each category, as well as the People’s Choice Award, will be announced and prizes will be distributed at an awards ceremony that will take place during the closing session of the conference on Friday, October 14.