Experimental Gameplay

By: Derek Yu

On: July 27th, 2006

Wow, the Experiment Gameplay Project has really grown since last time I checked up on it. Started by four grad students at Carnegie Mellon, the project’s aim was to prototype over 50 new game ideas in a short amount of time. Each game was made in less than 7 days, by one person, and was based around a single theme, like “gravity,” “vegetation,” etc.

Two semesters and 50-plus games later, and the site has been completely redone. Now anyone can join the project, and each member will have their own page where they can showcase their games and receive feedback. Great job, guys!

Oh, and to top it off, they’re holding another competition: design a non-dance game using a dance pad by Red Octane (publishers of Guitar Hero).

Posted in Community, Competitions

anonymoose

As an entrant in their last competition, I was disappointed that they were pretending to host an “experimental competition” for an intern job doing the least experimental grunt-work possible. I described it to a friend as “like holding a stand-up comedy competition for a job as a mortician”. Lo and behold, they awarded the job to the two least experimental entries in the competition.

This one has a lot more promise, since Red Octane’s a much more experimental company, and even though I’m not interested in the internship I might enter this one just for the swag.
Jimmy

Yeah, holding a competition with the prize of an *interview* for an intern job is just an insult to the competitors. It’s like they think all hobby developers are undergraduate kids desparate for a taste of the game developer lifestyle. Gee. No thanks.
Derek

I think the prize has more to do with the fact that they wouldn’t be able to have a competition without a sponsor with some dough. Although I definitely see where you guys are coming from.
Pasodio

Eureka, I’ve got it:
Super Penis Slapper – The Game!

There’s a hot (asian) 3D chick on the screen, and you have to slap areas of the dance pad that correspond to her hot, hot body with your unmentionables.

I’ll be riiich!
failrate

Breakin’ 3: Cyber Boogaloo?
Kyle

The reason it is an interview, is because most companies are unwilling to take people who win outside contests on good faith. Not to mention they have to screen for whackos – so if you’re talented AND prove yourself to be normal, you’re a better candidate for a job then someone who can program Doom 3 by himself, but chops up his neighbors and buries them in the backyard.

It has nothing to do with hobby developers are not. Also, it should be noted that by definition people who are eligible for internships have to be in school.
Jimmy

“It has nothing to do with hobby developers are not.”
English much?
Jimmy

I understand that they can’t offer a job as the prize, but it doesn’t make the false prize of an interview any less, well, insulting and audience-limiting.
Jimmy … again

“they wouldnâ€™t be able to have a competition without a sponsor with some dough”

An odd view to have, considering that the whole “Experimental Gameplay” project is basically a copy of, and (in my view) generally outclassed by, the rapid development competitions in the hobby community (Ludum Dare, Speedhack, etc) which don’t have any prizes at all.
bc

You guys are funny. The whole point of “Experimental Gameplay’s” competition is to help talented students get a foot in the industry.
Rich

Wow Jimmy, you sound a bit bitter…I take it you were one of the competitors that didn’t win. Move-on and get over it.
Jimmy

Well, no, I wasn’t a competitor, but wow, I was really bitter sounding up there. Sorry about that. I guess I was having a bad day.

In rebuttal to myself, I’m sure the Experimental Gameplay people aren’t trying to insult anyone, and that the competitors were happy to get a chance at industry recognition. Go for it, competitors! Don’t let random disgruntled internet people let you down :)
b

The two winners (the guys who got internships) in experimental gameplay’s last competition posted today about their internships here and here:
http://www.experimentalgameplay.com/blog.php?b=38
http://www.experimentalgameplay.com/blog.php?b=58