SGS&C winners announced at I/ITSEC; first international partner winner

The 2015 winners of the Serious Games Showcase & Challenge were recognized on Dec. 3 at an awards ceremony at I/ITSEC.

The Serious Games Showcase & Challenge (SGS&C) winners were recognized at the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) on Dec. 3. Eighteen finalist games were showcased on the floor during the four-day I/ITSEC show, where close to 15,000 attendees had the opportunity to play a diverse cross-section of serious games for lazy eye, medical communication, computer cybersecurity, forensics, retail management, and a variety of education, medical, and military topics.

The 2015 SGS&C winners are:

• Best Business-Developed Serious Game – Project Desal, Monkeystack (also this year’s SimTecT winner)
• Best Government-Developed Serious Game – MUM-T Strikeforce, U.S. Army PdM- Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems
• Best Student-Developed Serious Game – Healthx, University of Utah
• Best Mobile Serious Game – Project Desal, Monkeystack (also this year’s SimTecT winner)
• Best Social Media Crowdsourcing Game – Unsavory, University of Miami
• Students’ Choice – Particle in a Box: The Quantum Mechanics Game, Georgia Institute of Technology
• People’s Choice – MUM-T Strikeforce, U.S. Army PdM Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems

The goals of the Serious Games Showcase & Challenge are to recognize excellence in the field of Serious Games, to stimulate creativity, and to generate institutional interest in the use of game technology and game-based approaches to training and education. For the last 10 years, the Challenge has provided an opportunity for game developers to put their work in front of some of the best gaming and simulation companies in the world. Submissions are developed by students, small and large businesses, and government organizations. The games can target training in any segment, including academic, corporate, or military.

“As we celebrate the 10th anniversary for Serious Games Showcase & Challenge, we are amazed at the growth we’ve seen throughout the years, including the partnership with Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) and their commitment to the Students’ Choice award, and the international partnerships that have developed with Australia’s SimTecT conference and the Brazilian Independent Games (B.I.G.) Festival,” said Kent Gritton, SGS&C founder. “We continue to see participants from previous years returning to our Challenge, and that in itself says a lot about the experience and the benefits received by game developers.”

“Every year our developers raise the bar on innovation, and 2015 is no exception,” said Lisa Scott Holt, Ph.D., this year’s industry lead for SGS&C. “We had some added excitement this year because it’s the first time for an international challenge partner game to win! We look forward to expanding our relationship with our international partners and adding others in the future.”

SGS&C finalists were reviewed by an esteemed panel of worldwide evaluators to determine the winners for each category. For more information about this year’s finalist games, contact Team Orlando or email Serious Games Showcase & Challenge.  To learn more about SGS&C or details regarding submissions, which open August 2016, visit www.sgschallenge.com.