DREAM BUILD PLAY 2008
FAQ
Our judging panel chose the 5 Warm-Up Challenge entries with the best game A.I., production quality and fun factor. The creators of these winning games won some terrific prizes:
  • $3,000 stipend and expo passes to the 2008 Game Developers Conference
  • Interviews for internships at Microsoft Research, Lionhead Studios and Rare Ltd.
  • 1-year subscription to the XNA Creators Club

Check out what makes each winning entry special, and get inspired to make your own game for the main contest.

The 2008 Dream-Build-Play Main Challenge puts more great prizes at stake. Watch for more details on the Main Challenge coming soon!

Conquerator
Nicholas Barratt & Gillian Allen
www.dollarshortgames.com

In this two player strategy game, each player controls nodes on a map. By defending your own nodes and attacking the nodes of the other player, your goal is to eliminate your opponent from the map. Compete with a friend or battle one of three AI players.

Hive
Nancy McCourt
http://handkor.googlepages.com/hive%27sprojectpage

This game puts you in the middle of a “hive mind” colony of robotic creatures. You can't control the hive, but you can use your individual robot to influence the colony to attack, defend or harvest resources. To win, master the complex hive communication system, and build new attack robots to destroy enemy bots.

iSheep
Markus Jost & Remo Zehnder
http://jost.kicks-ass.org/isheep/index.php

You're a sheepdog, tasked with herding a flock of AI sheep into a pen. The challenge is to anticipate the flock's behavior before they run away. As you move through the progressive, timed levels, learn to manage speed, direction changes and distance between animals. Once you master the flock, you win!

Orblast
John Montemorano
whataboutgameplay.com

Based on the maze arcade games of the early 1980s, Orblast is modernized with AI innovations. While you run the maze, AI enemies seek out and attack you using a two-tiered AI system. Train the erratic AI orbs to work with you, not against you, and you'll have what it takes to win the game.

> Specimen
Brent Strandy
www.strandyfamily.com/Specimen

You are a scientist researching a new specimen with the hopes of finding a much-needed cure. Your research partner: An AI who helps you along the way, but seems to have an alternate agenda. While you breed the specimen, it learns and adapts—making it harder to control. To win, outsmart the evolving specimen and your AI to find the cure!