2nd Annual Games for Change Awards
Criteria and Submission Form
GAMES FOR CHANGE | 78 5TH AVENUE 5TH FL NYC NY 10011 | P: 1.212.242.4922
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EXTENDED DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS:
THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2011
ABOUT GAMES FOR CHANGE AND THE GAMES FOR CHANGE FESTIVAL
Founded in 2004, Games for Change is the leading global advocate for supporting and making
games for social impact. The Games for Change Festival is the largest gaming event in New York
City and the only international event uniting "games for change" creators, the public, civil
society, academia, the gaming industry and media. Often referred to as “the Sundance of Video
Games”, the Games for Change Annual Festival is also a showcase for some of the most
innovative new games published or games in production.
www.gamesforchange.org/festival
BASIC CRITERIA FOR ALL NOMINATIONS
There will be four (4) awards being presented at this years’ festival – Direct Impact, Knight
News Game Award, Learning and Education, and Transmedia. All eligible submissions must first
meet the following basic criteria for consideration:
A “game for change”
All games must fall broadly within the confines of being a “game for change”: addressing
current and/or pressing social issues, aiming to produce sustainable and positive impact on
society.
Release date
All submissions must be playable. The game should have been released to its intended audience
between June 2009 and June 2011.
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ADDITIONAL CRITERIA BY CATEGORY
1) Direct Impact – games for change targeted at specific audiences with proven outcomes.
2) Knight News Game Award – Supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. We
are defining News Games as those engaging in the following content:
- Current events (i.e., editorial, tabloid and reportage games)
- Infographic news games (i.e., depictions of news data in a game-like fashion)
- Documentary games (i.e., those providing wider and deeper treatment)
- Puzzle news games (i.e., puzzles, news quizzes)
- Literacy games (i.e., games educating players on journalistic practices)
- Community news games (i.e., connection to the real and physical world through mass
participation)
- and News game platforms (i.e., prominent example is “Play the News” the winner of the
2008 Knight News Game Award)
For more information refer to the book “News Games: Journalism at Play” authored by Ian
Bogost, Simon Ferrari and Bobby Schweizer.
3) Learning and Education – games for change designed to highlight and or/teach specific
topics in the classroom or in informal learning environments.
4) Transmedia – games for change that are part of larger cross-media campaigns (books,
movies or other forms of traditional or digital media).
To view previous winners and other examples of “games for change”, visit our website here:
http://gamesforchange.org/play
SELECTION PROCESS
Please note that the process of submission and review is confidential and nominees are not
determined by staff or board members of Games for Change.
Nominees will be announced on Monday, May 2, 2011.
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All awards will be determined by final juries of leading experts from a diversity of relevant
fields. The Awards will be presented at the Closing Night Awards Ceremony of the 8 th Annual
Games for Change Festival on Wednesday, June 22, 2011. They will be held at NYU Skirball
Center and will be streamed live and covered by international and national media.
SUBMISSION APPLICATION
All submissions must be received by close of business on Thursday, March 31, 2011, please
use the following form.
When sending submissions via e-mail, please send to awards@gamesforchange.org
When sending submissions via physical mail, please mail 5 copies to:
Games for Change Awards
c/o Empax
78 5th Avenue, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10011
T: 212.242.4922
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The 2nd Annual Games for Change Awards Entry Form
EXTENDED DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS:
THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2011
Category (only check one per entry form)
__ Direct Impact
__ Knight News Game Award
__ Learning and Education
__ Transmedia
Game title: ______________________________________________________________
Release date: __/__/__
Genre: _________________________________________________________________
Platform: _______________________________________________________________
Link to Playable or downloadable version of the game:
________________________________________________________________________
Do you have a video trailer? ___ yes ____ no
If yes, please include or provide the link:
________________________________________________________________________
Intended audience, context & objectives:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Developer(s): ____________________________________________________________
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Designer(s): _____________________________________________________________
Funder: _________________________________________________________________
Abstract (300 words or less):
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Evidence of impact and real world play:
________________________________________________________________________
For Direct Impact Submissions:
Do you have a case study of the game: ___ yes ____ no
If yes, please include or provide the link: ________________________________
Do you have any metrics related to the game: ___ yes ____ no
If yes, please include or provide the link: ________________________________
For Learning and Education Submissions:
Do you have any relevant curriculum materials: ___ yes ____ no
If yes, please include or provide the link: ________________________________
For Transmedia Submission:
Do you have additional supporting material (book, film, etc) ___ yes ____ no
If yes, please include or provide the link: ________________________________
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When sending submissions via e-mail, please send to awards@gamesforchange.org
Physical submissions can be sent to:
Games for Change Awards
c/o Empax
78 5th Avenue, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10011
T: 212.242.4922
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