Havok, the company behind the physics engine in most top 10 selling computer games, is offering a $40,000 prize for amateur games developers who can find the next big thing in game developing.
Entitled the Havok Physics Innovation Contest, amateur game developers worldwide are being asked to create an innovative playable PC game demo using the Intel sponsored no-charge PC version of Havok’s Emmy award-winning software Havok Physics.
One of the prizes on offer is open only to third-level students in Ireland, offering budding Irish game developers a fantastic opportunity to showcase their talent to the global game developing community. DIT Games Programming students study physics middleware as part of the Games Middleware subject and can enter the competition as their assignment for this subject. In related news, DIT Games programming students David Beaney, Conor MacManamon and Nicolas Hannonhave just completed an internship with Havok
A panel of five judges, including representatives from Havok and Intel and DIT School of Computing games lecturer Hugh McAtamney will review all entries and choose the winners based on a variety of criteria including: use of physics in a way that has not been seen before; realistic user interaction; responsiveness; high-quality visual content; technical, detail accuracy of content submitted; originality of content submitted; and value to the community
Four overall winners will be selected and will be announced at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco in 2009 and have their PC game demos showcased by Havok and Intel. In addition to thousands of euros in cash prizes, each winner will receive an All Access Pass to the GDC.
Havok is also offering top-of-the-line PC equipment to the two entrants who devise technical content that shares physics knowledge with the broader developer base. Entrants are encouraged to submit code samples, optimisation tips, white papers and other technical content that can benefit the larger software developer community.
Havok’s physics software is featured in over 200 triple A games available on store shelves today. With well over 90 games currently in development for release this year, use of Havok’s ubiquitous software is up 100pc from the same period last year. Best-selling titles featuring Havok physics include Halo 3, Assassin’s Creed, Guitar Hero III, BioShock, World in Conflict, Half Life 2: The Orange Box and Heavenly Sword.
To enter the competition go to:
Posted by: Bryan Duggan