Sponsored By

Video: Game Design Challenge determines humanity's last game

Game Design Challenge winners from the past 10 years gathered at GDC 2013 to share their designs for the last game that humanity will ever play; only one walked away grand champion, by audience vote.

Game Developer, Staff

April 29, 2013

3 Min Read

Some of the brightest minds behind video games, including former Uncharted lead Richard Lemarchand, The Sims' Will Wright, and Journey's Jenova Chen, took to the stage at GDC 2013 to share their ideas for humanity's last game, as part of the final Game Design Challenge. Courtesy of the GDC Vault, this 90-minute panel was the final Game Design Challenge. Ideas include a card-like game where people's memories battle each other and serve as education for aliens about humans, an augmented reality game that consumes reality and leads to nuclear bombing, and an actual game that was built and buried in the Nevada desert for one person to find. Session Name: Humanity's Last Game: The Game Design Challenge Final Championship Speaker(s): Richard Lemarchand, Jenova Chen, Harvey Smith, Eric Zimmerman, Jason Rohrer, Steve Meretzky, Erin Robinson, Will Wright Company Name(s): School of Cinematic Arts, University of Southern California, thatgamecompany, Arkane Studios, Independent, Independent, Playdom, Ivy Games, Stupid Fun Club Track / Format: Design Overview: The 10th and final Game Design Challenge brings together winners from the past for an ultimate, final showdown. Over the years, we have seen challenges that range from creating a game that expresses the poetry of Emily Dickenson to a game that uses needle and thread as an interface to a game that tells the story of the designer's first sexual experience. This year, for the final Game Design Challenge, panelists must design the last game that humanity will ever play. Is it a game that goes on forever? Or perhaps a game that leads to the extinction of humanity? Or a game that brings humanity immortality? Winners from the last 10 years of the Game Design Challenge will each present a unique solution to this game design problem. As always, you will play a crucial role. After the panelists present, the audience will vote to see who will become the winner of the Game Design Challenge Final Championship.

About the GDC Vault

In addition to this presentation, the GDC Vault offers numerous other free videos, audio recordings, and slides from many of the recent GDC events, and the service offers even more members-only content for GDC Vault subscribers. Those who purchased All Access passes to events like GDC, GDC Europe, and GDC China already have full access to GDC Vault, and interested parties can apply for the individual subscriptions via a GDC Vault inquiry form. Group subscriptions are also available: game-related schools and development studios who sign up for GDC Vault Studio Subscriptions can receive access for their entire office or company. More information on this option is available via an online demonstration, and interested parties can find out more here. In addition, current subscribers with access issues can contact GDC Vault admins. Be sure to keep an eye on GDC Vault for even more new content, as GDC organizers will also archive videos, audio, and slides from other events like GDC China and GDC 2013. To stay abreast of all the latest updates to GDC Vault, be sure to check out the news feed on the official GDC website, or subscribe to updates via Twitter, Facebook, or RSS. Gamasutra and GDC are sibling organizations under parent UBM Tech.

Daily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inbox

You May Also Like