IC Tomorrow opens £125,000 games competition

IC Tomorrow has launched a £125,000 competition for UK developers to develop game prototypes.

The Digital innovation Contest for games will have five different challenges, which are Second-screen Use in a Game, New Markets and Perceptual Computing, Wider Games Distribution on Mobile Web, Open Street Map Data and Games and Cinema.

Successful applicants to the competition will receive £25,000 in funding, and will retain control over their IP. They will also get the chance to work with companies such as Google, Intel, Crytek and SCEE on their titles.

The competition is open to prototypes from small-to-medium sized companies. All entries will be asses by an independent set of adjudicators. The top three game prototype submissions will go forward to a final, and will be judged by a panel of judges including the challenge’s partners.

IC Tomorrow is a Technology Strategy Board programme designed to help stimulate economic growth in the digital sector.

“There are very talented developers and tech companies within the UK game sector,” IC Tomorrow programme manager Matt Sansam told Develop when asked of the importance of such an event for UK developers.

“With a relatively low capital barrier to entry, there are good numbers of start-ups but there are significant challenges to getting an idea to market. Essentially there is great potential but the risks are quite high, so even relatively modest amounts of help, support and intervention can go a long way.”

He added: “The game industry is hugely important to the UK economy, but while there are new companies entering the market, we also see a high number of failures. Supporting start-ups from the beginning is vital.”

A special briefing event for the competition will take place September 19th at the Rich Mix in London outlining the opportunities and event requirements. The event will also be livestreamed.

The deadline for applications is October 16th. The contest final will take place on November 13th.

Visit the official website for more information.