Contests Asks Kids for Game Pitches; EA to Develop Winner’s

Best Buy and Electronic Arts, in association with The United Inventors Association and By Kids for Kids, have announced the National Invent-A-Game Challenge, a competition offering America’s young people a chance to design an online game that Electronic Arts will produce. The grand prize winner will also receive a $10,000 (face value) U.S. Savings Bond. The Invent-A-Game challenge is open to all American youth between the ages of 5 and 19. The contest period runs from December 3, 2008 until March 31, 2009. The complete contest rules and submission guidelines are available online at www.bkfk.com. “Best Buy is excited about the opportunity to tap into the knowledge, innovation and talent of our youth to develop an online game,” said Jill Hamburger, vice president of gaming for Best Buy in a press release. “We’re especially interested in how kids tell us they use gaming in new and innovative ways to improve and enrich their lives.” “EA is thrilled to give today’s youth the opportunity to see their idea made into a video game that people all around the world can enjoy,” said Daniel Hagerty, a producer at Electronic Arts. “We are eager to see the thought and creativity that kids put into this challenge and the ideas that are brought to the table.” In another, similar contest, Game Active is also asking youth to consider how active gaming could improve one’s life. For more information, visit www.bestbuy.com/familygaming.