Dream Build Play (also known as Dream-Build-Play, Dream.Build.Play, and DreamBuildPlay) is an annual $75,000 [1] Microsoft video game contest used to promote Microsoft XNA Game Studio and eventually Xbox LIVE Indie Games. It was announced in 2006, [2] started in 2007, and ran until 2012. In 2008 and 2009 it spanned over 100 countries [3] [4] and in 2010 it spanned 110 countries. [5] It was restarted in 2017 as the Dream.Build.Play 2017 Challenge. Notable winners include Dust: An Elysian Tail [6] and The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai . [7]
Dream-Build-Play, as it was first called, is a game development contest designed to promote and encourage experienced game developers and enthusiasts to create innovative and fun-to-play indie games for Windows and Xbox 360 using Microsoft XNA Game Studio. [8] In 2017, the contest was relaunched to challenge indie game developers to create UWP games across four categories.
Many winners have gone on to be published on Xbox LIVE Arcade:
Here is a breakdown of all Dream Build Play Challenges, including lesser known Warm-Up Challenges:
Microsoft offered a Relatives of Spacewar Warm-Up Challenge precursor to the first Dream Build Play, awarding US$500 to the top five entries. [9] The entries had to create a game based on the Spacewar Starter Kit. [10]
Also known as Dream-Build-Play 1.0, [13] this is the first Dream Build Play Challenge. In it, Microsoft offered an Xbox LIVE Arcade publishing contract to the top four entries out of 4,500 participants, with the top two "1st Place" winning $10,000 each and the next two "2nd Place" winning $5,000 each. [14] [15]
2nd Place:
3rd Place:
Blazing Birds , The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai , Yo Ho Kablammo! , HurricaneX , and Shuggy all eventually were published on Xbox LIVE Arcade. HurricaneX was eventually released as Kung Fu Strike [18] [19] and Shuggy as The Adventures of Shuggy .
Also known as the Silicon Minds Warm-Up Challenge, [20] it was a precursor to the main 2008 Dream Build Play Challenge, announced in late 2007 [21] this one centered on artificial intelligence and promised an opportunity to interview for at an internship with Microsoft Research, Rare, or Lionhead Studios. [22]
The 2008 Dream Build Play Challenge marks the first time the contest offered $75,000 worth of prizes. First place won $40,000, second place won $20,000, third place won $10,000, and fourth place won $5,000. [25]
Top 4 Prize Winners: [26]
Top 20 (in alphabetic order): [27]
HurricaneX2 and Zeit 2 were eventually released on Xbox LIVE Arcade.
Weapon of Choice made it into the Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition . [28] HurricaneX2 was eventually released as Kung Fu Strike . [29] [30]
Top 4: [31]
Top 20 (alphabetic order): [32]
Cloudberry Kingdom , Dust: An Elysian Tail and HurricaneX2 Evolution were eventually released on Xbox LIVE Arcade. Score Rush Extended , a spiritual prequel to Duality ZF , was eventually released on PS4.
HurricaneX2 Evolution was eventually released as Kung Fu Strike . [33] [34]
This year, in addition to the $75,000 in prizes for the top 4 entries, there was an additional $60,000 Old Spice prize. This allowed a single team to potentially win $100,000 in prizes. [35]
The standard prize money split, labelled a bit differently: $40,000 grand prize, $20,000 first prize, $10,000 second prize, and $5,000 third prize. [36]
In 2010, Old Spice launched four scents inspired by Matterhorn, Fiji, Denali, and Cyprus. The contest asked indie game studios to use these same places as inspiration for a funny and entertaining Xbox 360 game, the winner to be used to produce the products. [37]
Top 20 (alphabetical order) [40]
ARES and Capsized eventually were published on Xbox LIVE Arcade. Prismatic Solid was eventually published to PS4. [41] [42] Score Rush Extended , a spiritual prequel to Duality ZF , was eventually released on PS4.
The Bridge was published to Xbox LIVE Arcade.
Top 4: [47]
Top 4: [48]
Finalists:
Finalists:
Finalists:
Finalists:
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