Microsoft, Rare, and Lionhead Studios are collaborating on a game design contest where entrants are challenged to create an AI-themed game for the Xbox 360 or Windows using Microsoft XNA Games Studio 2.0. The contest is aptly titled "Silicon Minds."
These companies are using the contest as an opportunity to "encourage understanding of how gaming research, artificial intelligence and machine learning contribute to more innovative gameplay and more realistic and fun gaming experiences."
Registration for Silicon Minds is open now, and all entries must be received between December 20th and January 27th. Five finalist teams will be interviewed for a three month internship at any of the three organizing game development studios during the summer of 2008. They will also receive a $3000 stipend, a one-year subscription to the XNA Creators Club, and an invitation to show their work at the 2008 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco.
Entries will be judged on 1) quality of artificial intelligence demonstrated; 2) the level of entertainment the game provides; 3) the production quality of the game.
Good luck to all participants.
