Microsoft Announces Dream-Build-Play Contest Winners

As part of Microsoft's Gamefest 2007 event this week, the company announced the winners of its earlier announced Dream-Build-Play game development contest, offering four contestants the opportunity to publish their titles over Xbox Live Arcade. The contest challenged experienced and up and coming game developers to "dream big and build an original game" for Windows or Xbox 360 using XNA Game Studio Express. The four winners were selected from the previously announced 20 finalists, which were recognized from the challenge's more than 4,500 participants. Among the four selected winners of the competition were David Flook of Ontario, Canada, and James Silva of New York, who both tied for first place with their respective games. Bryan Trussel, director of content and portals for Microsoft Casual Games, noted in a statement that “it's aspiring, independent developers like these who are really driving our industry.” Flook's entry, Blazing Birds, is described as “an action-packed, robotic sports game modeled after the game of badminton,” while Silva's project, The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai, is noted as being “a highly stylized game of mayhem and revenge.” For their efforts, both developers received publishing contracts with Xbox Live Arcade, as well as $10,000 and other prizes. The two other runner-up selections cames from Steve Olofsson of Sweden and Daniel McGuire of the United Kingdom for their respective submissions, Gravitron Ultra and Yo Ho Kablammo!. Both Olofsson and McGuire were also extended invitations to publish their titles over Xbox Live Arcade, along with other prizes including $5,000. "The games we received in the Dream-Build-Play competition are truly inspiring," said Chris Satchell, general manager of the XNA organization at Microsoft. "Created in just four short months using XNA Game Studio, these games demonstrate an incredible range of innovation, fun gameplay and technical achievement."