The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) today announced the continuation of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) College Game Competition. The E3 College Game Competition provides colleges and universities with video game development programs an opportunity to showcase their game at E3. Each higher education institution can submit one game and finalists will receive a display space at this year’s E3 – the world’s premier trade show for computer and video games.

Competing schools are required to submit story details and content assets from their own playable video game, which will be judged by a panel of game industry veterans and media professionals. Previous E3 College Game Competition winners include The Savannah College of Art and Design (2014, 2013) and the University of Wisconsin-Stout (2013).

“The college competition encourages, honors and rewards the best in student video game design,” said Rich Taylor, senior vice president for communications and industry affairs at ESA. “These programs offer a wealth of innovation and talent that will shape the future of our industry and create the next generation of games that will entertain consumers around the globe.”

The competition will target nearly 400 U.S. colleges, universities, art and trade schools offering video game courses, certificates and degree programs. Five competition finalists will present their games at the Los Angeles-based E3 show where they can mingle with top game industry figures including publishers, developers, analysts and marketing executives.

“It was an honor to be a winner of the second E3 College Game Competition in 2014,” said Tony Tseng, program coordinator of Interactive Design and Game Development at SCAD. “Our faculty and students were thrilled to be part of this fascinating expo and showcase the game our students produced at SCAD. The game industry is changing and the demand for games grows each year. By incorporating this college game competition into E3, and by bringing student spirit to the expo, the ESA once again demonstrates a clear understanding of the latest trends in the industry.”

ESA will provide complete instructions to participating schools including guidelines on specific design, concept and key asset requirements.

Important competition dates are:

• Submissions will be accepted beginning March 16, 2015.
• The final deadline for submissions is April 20, 2015.
• Finalists will be notified on May 11, 2015.

The winner will be announced during E3.

Universities and colleges interested in more information on competition rules and submission requirements should email ESA@theESA.com.