GEE! Award Official Rules

Requirements

  • All Game Applications must be received on time. No exceptions will be made.

  • Finalists must provide a video featuring gameplay for judging and website use by the due date to be considered for judging.

  • Finalists to the Analog category must provide 1 copy of the game to Judges in Madison, WI by the due date (June 21st) to be considered for judging. Return shipping will not be provided.

  • Finalists receive a free registration to Play Make Learn, and are required to attend the hybrid award ceremony.

  • Winners are required to participate in the hybrid GEE! Award Winners session.

  • A $150 fee is required for entry for all categories other than the Small/Indie and Analog awards.

Eligibility

  • The game must be designed with defined educational or learning goals

  • Competition Chairs cannot apply

  • Judges/Leads and their host organization cannot apply within their own category - contact us if you believe an exemption is merited 

  • The game must be functional/playable

  • The game must not have been submitted for a previous GEE! Award

  • The game must not violate copyright or any other laws

  • To enter for the Small/Indie competition, the applicant must have received <$100k in funding for the game, including staff time, grants/gifts, & organizational materials

  • The game must must not require hardware to run other than a computer or tablet (iOS or Android). For example, no VR, etc.

  • The game is not a quiz or workplace training game, those are outside the scope of this award

Prizes

  • Finalists and Winners will receive a license to use the GEE! Award Mark on their promotional materials

  • Winners will be featured together at a dedicated session at Play Make Learn

  • Finalists and Winners will be shown online

  • Winners are offered free registration to next year’s Play Make Learn

Other

  • GEE Game Design Awards may adjust the number of categories/awards based on the number of submissions

  • If the game requires fluency in a language other than English, please check with us before submitting

Judging Rubric

All competitions will use the following rubric as a baseline, but can add additional metrics as necessary

  • Does it promote learning in the terms James Paul Gee described? See Jim Gee Principles on Gaming. 

  • Is fun and/or compelling? 

  • Does it look cool and work accurately?

  • Is it original? 

For the People’s Choice award, finalists can begin campaigning as soon as being notified they are a finalist. Votes are collected via form.

Categories

  • Formal Education (Learning games for use contexts like K12 and higher ed)

  • Informal Education (Home, Family, Museums, Libraries, etc.)

  • Analog Games (Board, Card, or other non-digital games)

  • Small / Indie Studio

  • People’s Choice

Schedule and Deadlines

  • March 1 - Applications open for Games, Judges and Competition Leads

  • May 1 - Judges and Competition Leads applications due

  • June 1 - Game Applications due. Judges and Competition Leads announced

  • June 9 - Finalists Announced, People’s Choice voting opens

  • June 21 - Analog Games must have been received by mail

  • July 10 - Judging complete. Recommendations Due to Chairs. Announcement video template available.

  • July 17 - Announcement videos due to Chairs

  • July 18 - Winners announced at Play Make Learn and online