The Motorola Foundation, in association with the Innovation Generation program, has awarded a $50,000 grant to Iowa State University to fund a competition encouraging students to create video games and educational training applications.
Headed by ISU associate professor of integrated studio arts Anson Call and computer science lecturer Chris Johnson, the contest requires students to form teams of three members. Each team must include a designer, a programmer, and a business manager.
Each team will compete in one of three categories: serious games, PC/console games, and mobile games. The winning entries in each category, as judged by a guest professional game developer, will receive a top prize of $10,000.
A second prize of $2,000 and a $1,000 third prize will also be awarded in each category. All prize money will be split evenly between team members.
Suggested platforms for the contest include Microsoft's XNA Game Studio, Apple's iPhone, and Android devices, among other supported console and mobile platforms.
"Students are already doing game design in their spare time and not earning academic credit for it," said competition organizer Anson Call. "The interest is there. We just need to provide the opportunity. The Innovation Generation grant is a perfect way to do that."
The competition will officially begin on September 8th. Final judging and a public exhibition will be held at the end of ISU's spring semester.
