Thanks to everyone who entered our Gamefroot student competition. You really took up the challenge and created some awesome games. We’re delighted to announce that the winners are …

From moas and meres to pistols and possums, there were plenty of excellent game design skills on display in our student competition using the game-creation platform Gamefroot.

Using templates we’d provided, the challenge was for students to showcase their coding and design skills by creating their own, unique New Zealand-themed game.

Entries were judged on:

• Coding skill: The proficiency and complexity of the programming;
• Creativity: The design and look of the game, and the extras added;
• Playability: How well and efficiently the game played; and
• Wow factor: Judges’ discretionary points.

We were blown away with your content and engaging ideas for twists and turns in the games. Well done to everyone who took part. But there could be only one winner in each age category. So, without further ado … this year’s winners are:

Junior (Years 1-6)

• Jackson Pinique, Mangere Bridge School, Auckland
• Game title: Jackson Pinique’s Game
• Description: My game is about the Tiriti o Waitangi. The aim of the game is to collect the signatures from the chiefs who forgot to sign.

Intermediate (Years 7-8)

• Jasper Stott, Clarkville School, Christchurch
• Game title: Exterminator Aotearoa
• Description: The aim is to make your way to the giant Moa egg. There are stoats and rats in your path. To clear the path players must collect muskets and a fact will appear about New Zealand history.

Senior (Years 9+)

• Carlos Latu, Campion College, Gisborne
• Game title: Mashinator
• Description: This is a game that moves through different terrains with switches and dangers.

A trip to Wellington

There were three prizes up for grabs. The overall winner gets to visit Gamefroot’s studio in Wellington. Congratulations to Jackson Pinique, we hope you enjoy your day! The other two category winners each receives a Kaiser Bass X2 Action Camera (featuring 8-megapixel photo resolution and 1080p video resolution, 170-degree wide angle, and time lapse) and Essentials Kit.

“Jackson created a great game, animating the playable character and coded it mostly himself (not just using existing code from our prefabs),” said Gamefroot founder Dan Milward, who kindly judged the competition. “It was a good idea that piqued my imagination and got me thinking about the Treaty and what it must have been like.”

Looking forward to 2020

We had a great response to this year’s competition and are keen to continue next year. We’re currently talking to Gamefroot and hope to announce our plans in the next issue. Watch this space!

OUR THANKS TO DAN MILWARD FOR SETTING UP AND JUDGING THE COMPETITION. FOR MORE ON GAMEFROOT GO TO MAKE.GAMEFROOT.COM

WHY NOT GIVE IT A GO YOURSELF …

The competition may be finished but you can still experiment with the templates. You will need a Gamefroot account and know how to use the program. If you’re new to it, there’s plenty of help, advice and tutorials to get you up and running.

Go to make.gamefroot.com/tuia and you will find a selection of templates – pick the one for your age category.