Serious Games

This is some information about the ABC grant I was talking about in Week 1. At the bottom of this post is the direct link to the PDF, but here are some excerpts from the document.

Games provide a powerful opportunity to communicate with a broad,
contemporary audience, so Screen Australia and ABC TV want to give the
opportunity to a range of media professionals to develop and produce a serious
game.

We are looking for game IDEAS that address issues that may be in the field of
society and culture, health, relationships, history, science, politics or the
environment. The game will explore this topic in an imaginative, creative,
entertaining and innovative way, with a strong game narrative and solid
underlying educative aspect.

The creative collaboration of professionals with complementary expertise can
engender an environment ripe for innovation.

Basically, how it works is that you come up with an idea for a game, and submit it in the format outlined in the PDF, then you may one of 3 groups/individuals to be selected to attend a Workshop. At the Workshop you develop your ideas with local and international professionals.

The 3 teams also receive $15, 000 to 'consolidate their idea into a Game Design Document' within 2 months of the Workshop.

One of the three teams ideas will be chosen to be put into full production with a grant of $325, 000.

Dates:
APPLICATIONS CLOSE 5pm, Friday 24 April 2009.
Successful projects will be announced in late May 2009.
The Serious Games workshop will take place during June 2009.
Development delivery items will be due in late August 2009.

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/seriousgames/pdf/seriousgames_guidelines.pdf