NSF Game Maker Awards Competition

With about a 10 billion dollar budget per year, NSF (National Science Foundation) is one of the largest government agencies supporting fundamental research at universities and research institutes in the US. To commemorate its 75th anniversary,  NSF is hosting the NSF Game Maker Awards Competition to encourage students in grades K-12 to imagine life in the year 2100, and the role science and technology will play in shaping the future. This is an amazing opportunity for students to showcase their creativity, technical skills, and passion for game design.

We are very excited to support students in participating in this competition by hosting mentoring classes for Scratch, Minecraft, Roblox, Unity, and Unreal. You can join one of our pre-scheduled classes or request new sessions based on your own availability. 

We will also be hosting a series of free events with game experts to learn about their experiences and tips for developing great games. You might even be able to get feedback on your own ideas. 

Before you start, here are several important things to note:

• Only U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents are eligible to enter the competition.

• Games should be inspired by the theme "Life in 2100".

• The Game also needs to be aligned with one of the 15 NSF focus areas.

Key logistics about this competition:

• Submissions are due on Jan. 31, 2025, at 5 p.m. EST. 

• There are a series of awards for both the game developers and mentors. Top team may win up to $8,500.

• Games are evaluated in two age groups: grades K-6 and grades 7-12.

• You can use any game development platforms such as Scratch, Minecraft, Roblox, Thunkable, Unity, and Unreal.

• Games must be age appropriate, no human-to-human or any other kind of violence, or any offensive, discriminatory, age inappropriate content. 

• Students can participate individually or in teams of up to 5 members. 

NSF suggests the following themes for the two age groups:

• Grades K-6: Focus on creating games that address futuristic scientific themes, such as using cool technology to protect Earth's ecosystems (like oceans, rainforests, and coral reefs), discovering and learning about the universe, or imagining the world of work and transportation in 2100.

• Grades 7-12: Develop games that address one or more NSF focus areas in the context of "Life in 2100," such as creating sustainable ecosystems, managing futuristic cities, expanding diversity in STEM, or advancing medical technology.

Learn more on the NSF Game Maker Awards website. Here is how to register. Entrants under 13 years old must be entered by parents/guardians. There is also a lot of helpful information, including demos, in this recent webinar recording NSF Game Maker Awards: Informational Webinar.

Start imaging what life might be like in 2100! Brainstorm game ideas, team up with friends who share a passion for game development with you, and sign up for mentoring classes if you would like some extra help or feedback.

These mentoring classes focus on helping students to create a game for the competition. The first couple of sessions will focus on coming up with a game idea and defining key features. The remaining sessions will focus on building the game. For best use of class time, we recommend students spend as much time as possible in between sessions to build the game, and use class time to work with teachers on any issues they might have and/or brainstorming new features. We are here to support you!