We're excited to announce our request for submissions for the 2012 DCGames Festival!

The important dates to keep in mind:

• September 1: Game Fest Day

• New Date - June 11: All games submissions due

• New Date - July 9: Notification of participation awards sent to developers

This request for submissions is for the Festival to be held Saturday, September 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at West Potomac Park in Washington DC.

DCGames was founded in 2011 as the big/outdoor/urban games organization.  Focused on producing an annual festival as well as workshops, game development sessions and other such events throughout the year, DCGames’ goal is to bring this new and ever growing genre of big/outdoor/urban games to the District of Columbia.

With our playland situated in the midst of the Lincoln, Roosevelt and Martin Luther King memorials for Festival 2012, we have the perfect context for a game fest focused on Washington DC and its communities. We invite you to design a big/outdoor/urban game based on Washington DC – whatever that might mean for you. From the birth of jazz, to the residence of US national politics, from the media centers of National Geographic, Discover and NPR to the sports teams of the Nats, Wizards and Capitals – and from organizations like USAID and the US Institute for Peace to headquarters of LivingSocial – DC is a unique epicenter which brings many and varied communities together. DCGames believes in capturing that diversity and reflecting it through games designed and played by the community.

Click here to submit your game design.

Send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with any comments or questions.

Below is a Q&A list that provides further details about the event and the submission request:

What is a big game?

Big games are also know as urban, outdoor or street games. They are games played usually outside of buildings (though this is not necessary) and can involve technology or be completely analogue. Truly, the limit of what this can be is up to your imagination. For examples of big games, please visit our website and Come Out and Play, the group that started it all.

What do you mean by the word ‘game’?

A game to us is any interactive play format that involves more than one person and which includes game mechanics, and is complete in and of itself each time each time it is played. We believe that most human/human-non-human interactions can be made into games so our definition is pretty broad. If you have questions about whether your game idea qualifies, contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Can you give us some examples of games which fit the description of big games?

We want games that provide a fun, meaningful and unique experience to the players. This is a broad goal and we want to give a few examples to help spark your imagination: Journey to the End of the Night, Joust, Killer Queen, Hunter Gatherer, Humans v. Zombies and Assassins.

Is there a theme for the festival/what types of games are you looking for?

All games sent to us will be considered by our jury for acceptance into the festival. We are hoping that you will be inspired by and take advantage of the fact that the festival is taking place in the unique location, which is our nation’s capital.

Should the games be designed for a particular age group?

The game festival area is near the Washington Mall, as such we expect many people from all age groups. In the application, please include the age range of people who can play your game. We want to be sure that younger children (ages 5-9; and 10-15) can also play some of the games. If you come up with a game that is appropriate for these younger age groups that would be wonderful. It is not necessary, but we appreciate you keeping this request in mind. Please indicate on the submission which age groups can play your games.

You are dividing the day into two sessions of multi-hour game play. Tell us more and how long can the games be?

We anticipate having a morning and afternoon round of games. You will have one 3.5-hour period for your game. Keep in mind you will want people to be able to experience your game either multiple times or go and play other games as well, so keep the game play time long enough to allow for a complete experience of the game, while short enough to allow for multiple sessions.

If there is a limit to the number of people who can play your game, consider running multiple simultaneous sessions. Please indicate in the submission the length of play time, a whether you may want/need to have multiple sessions of your game being played simultaneously.

How many people can play a game at one time?

That decision is completely up to you. Just make the numbers fit your game design appropriately. And be sure you will be able to manage that number of people. Tell us in the game submission what the optimal number of players would be for your game.

How much space will be allocated to each game?

West Potomac Park is very large. We will be dividing it up according to the needs of you, the developers. Please be sure to tell us how much space you need. It is OK to keep the game small too. We want the space used to be appropriate for the game.   If you have a game idea that needs a different space, please reach out to us and let’s see if we can find a way to make it happen.  If you have an idea, and want to run it by us, just This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we will chat about it.

Who is eligible to apply for DCGames?

Anyone who wishes may submit their game designs to DCGames. We invite everyone, whether you are new to game design, a hobbyist or a professional. The game you design will speak for you and the jurors will determine the final selection of games.

If I have an idea for a game but I need help or guidance, can I contact you?

Absolutely. We have game developers that are part of our volunteer group who will be happy to brainstorm and guide you through the development process. Just This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Does my game need to be finished in order to submit?

No, your game does not need to be finished, but keep in mind that whether it is finished will be part of the judging criteria. We need to understand the full game play proposed. If you need assistance, or have questions about this, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

May I submit more than one game?

Definitely. Each game you submit will be assessed and juried independently.

May I update my entry after it has been submitted?

Yes, until the close date of submissions which is June 11th.

Can I enter a game designed by another developer or mod a game developed by another?

We expect all entries to properly respect intellectual property rights under the law. It is your responsibility and you will warrant upon submission of the application that you own the game or have acquired any permissions or licenses needed. DCGames reserves the right to deem ineligible any submission which violates intellectual property rights.

What are the intellectual property law guidelines of DCGames?

All games played at DCGames are and remain the intellectual property of its creators and owners. DCGames makes no claims to any intellectual property rights of games that are not of its own making.

DCGames retains the right to use finalists works in its promotional materials, but does not claim ownership of those materials.

How will I be notified if my game has been chosen as a finalist?

You will receive notification of receipt of your entry within one week. You will be notified by email if you are a finalist prior to that list being made public. If your game is not chosen this time, you will be notified by email.

Who are the jurors?

The jurors are comprised of game developers, game designers, storytellers and other game professionals.

What are the criteria against which my game will be reviewed?

The judging criteria are:

• Clarity of vision
• Clarity of game play design
• Is the game design fully thought out
• Does the game design make sense
• Does the game play out (we will be play-testing) as described on paper/as anticipated
• Is the game fun

While it is not a formal criteria, we would encourage designers to consider incorporating some aspects of the DC Metro area in their game (cultural/historical references, local organizations, famous people, etc).

To submit your game, please click here and fill out the application form.
Thanks for your submission! Can’t wait to play your game!

DCGam.es is a non-profit organization that creates "Big Games" in Washington D.C. Our 2011 inaugural games festival attracted hundreds of diverse attendees, and we are rapidly expanding. We would like to work with you to create a Big Game that showcases your mission for a large, diverse population of socially active youth and adults in the mid Atlantic region! Our next festival is September 1, 2012, or we can work with you to select another venue and date to unveil your Big Game.

DCGam.es Mission: Big Games bring together the surrounding community to play games in public spaces as part of a shared and social experience, often using mobile or digital technology. Highlighting games that take place in physical, real-world spaces to help broaden the definition of games, DCGam.es aims to be the ultimate community-based experience in combining fun, gameplay and exploring the Washington, D.C. area.

Below is a link to a brief survey (only 9 questions!) that will help us pinpoint NGOs interested in working with us to create a Big Game. If you are interested, please click the link to access the survey:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7J6PV53

For any specific questions or for more information you can also contact:

Nathon Maton
Co-Founder of DCGam.es
T: 301-641-8246
E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Interested in designing your own games? Pressure from your boss to apply “gamification” to your next project?  Wondering what all the hullabaloo and rigmarole is??  Join this workshop to make a game and find out! On FEBRUARY 25th at 1:00pm we’re hosting a workshop for people interested in making games.  Show up! Make a game! Have fun!

In this workshop, we’re going to take a careful look at how to use game mechanics to address issues you are already working on using Grow-a-game.  This workshop is the first in an introduction to game design series that will continue through Spring 2012.

Let us know if you're coming to the Game Design Workshop on our Facebook event page!

Location:

Affinity Lab
920 U St, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 332-1360
affinitylab.com

Google Maps Link

Agenda:

• 1pm: Introduction
• 1:20: Grow A Game game design exercise
• 2:50: Break
• 3:00: Play test the games designed
• 3:30: Debrief – talk about how we can build the community in DC and brainstorm how your organization could use games in its work
• 4:00:  Conclude

Equipment Needed:

• Yourself (and preferably your creative mind too)
• Two or three problems in your work involving the community you serve that may improve through creating a game.

More information on Grow-a-game here: http://www.tiltfactor.org/grow-a-game

This was a wonderful fest with fun, challenging, mind grabbing, antic creating games.  And yet there had to be a favorite.  Thank you to all the players who played and voted.  Your votes counted 75% toward the final tally.  And thank you to Daniel Greenberg of MediaRez for bringing his many years of game design experience to help judge the remaining 25% of the vote.

It was a close vote - the games rocked!  But one stood above the crowd - congratulations to Grant Reid and Rob Meyer on winning the Best Game of DCGames Festival 2011! The Escort Quest was the highest ranked game and we are delighted to award you the $1,000 prize.

We also thank Digital Capital Week for donating the prize.