Imagine Cup 2006 Student Competition Details Announced

Following Electronic Arts' recent announcements concerning the ‘Tank Wars’ AI student competition, Microsoft has now announced the start of its fourth annual international student competition, the Imagine Cup. The winners of last year’s event were announced in August, with an online music collaboration tool from Team OminiMusic becoming the overall winner. This year’s competition will involve six invitationals with a combined prize fund of $125,000. As before, the Imagine Cup includes the Project Hoshimi competition where students will be asked to write code representing the behavior and strategy of a team of characters going through different types of mission, using a background story, comic style graphics and pre-set challenges. Microsoft academic manager Kevin McDaniel said, "Project Hoshimi pits a student's skill, expertise, determination and flare against their peer's. It's a fast paced development competition that plays out on a virtual stage. If you think you've got what it takes to be a great developer, this is the place to show off and prove it!" The other five categories in the Imagine Cup 2006 are Software Design, Short Film, Algorithm, IT and Interface Designer. This year’s final will involve an all expenses paid trip to Delhi, with further information available at the official website.