Microsoft Imagine Cup Sees Three Games in U.S. Finals

Three student game projects will compete in the U.S. Finals of the Microsoft Imagine Cup, which will take place next week, April 20 to 22. Microsoft’s Imagine Cup, now in its sixth year, challenges students to create groundbreaking technology-based solutions to real-world problems. This year’s challenge was to use technology to help sustain the environment by submitting a project in one of three categories: game development, software design, or photography. Of the three game projects that have made it to the U.S. finals, two come from California State University--Fullerton, and the third is from George Washington University. The George Washington University students, going by the team name Ligersoft, created a project called Ecocism, an arcade-style shoot-em-up and real-time strategy hybrid game that takes place in the future, when the earth has become inhabitable to humans. One of the California State teams, known as CTW, created a project called Clean the World, in which the player uses cleaning supplies as weapons to clean up the earth. The other California State team, calling themselves The Green Pill, came up with a project named LATROP, which stands for Last Attempt to Rescue Our Planet -- a multi-level game that challenges players to race against the clock to put soda cans into a recycling bin. At stake for the U.S. finalists are cash prizes, exposure to experts in entrepreneurship and innovation, and a springboard to start their careers, as well as the chance to move up to the worldwide finals, which will take place in Paris in June. Additionally, prizes will be given to one winner in each category, including the opportunity to have a booth at the Penny Arcade Expo, and a two-page spread in American Photo magazine. More information about the Imagine Cup, descriptions of the student projects and details about the worldwide finals in Paris can be found at www.imaginecup.com.