2009 Life. Love. Game Design Challenge Winners Unveiled

@Malaky: Haha dude, that is EXACTLY what I was thinking when I finished the article lol.

FISSIONMAILEDGF

This is really, really awesome. I love it. Kudos. And keep it going.

@TaggarT6 coming soon to a theater near you!: FYI I mean waste time in a completely positive way. I love flash games!

@AngryEddy: Fuuuug! You made me sing that out loud.

Endless Fighter

@KingSeafoam: Its a charity. Hell any decent person would refuse the payment.

@Teancum: I think its because that was the only game to literally direct all attention to teen date violence. Though, Destination: Love had a good concept of working out problems to make them good.

The winning game was probably awarded for giving the audience that sort of "Oh shit, somebodies going to get hurt" feeling (even though nothing rly happened)...

Weak Prizes... 2nd Runner up should have at least won a slightly bigger check...

@Teancum: SPOILERS PEOPLE

OK when you launch the winning entry, click on the tree to the right (left side the tree). Once the dialogue has played, go left, top window of the apartment.

Then when that has played through, the tree again.

Very well designed I must say.

@Jon: And my axe!

In all seriousness I applaud this kind of approach to game design.

THERE ARE TWO CRECENTE? Does he have the same luscious hair and sparkling smile?

Did I miss something? The winning entry was just the ability to direct a bird around with your mouse.

weeeee.....

Teancum

@webkatt: You could make it yourself if you wanted to. Or just ask someone who makes ps3 themes to make it for you.

Anybody even considering a snide or humorous remark on this news can quite frankly go and f*ck themselves.

I have watched this from last year and I eager to see the winning entries myself. Anything that raises awareness of the problem is a good thing whatever the medium.

As someone who works with people who have been on all side of such a situation, it strikes a note with me - not as much, however, as you Mr. Crecente, You have my support now as always, along with everybody here who knows the situation I am sure.

@Komrade Kayce - Soviet Attack Dog: I just hope that everyone else can show a bit of respect in their comments like you have. Interesting game...I never went through something like this and I hope that it never happens to me or anyone I know (or anyone else for that matter but that might be wishing for too much), but my girlfriend's ex was an abusive ahole who cheated on her all the time and manipulated her into staying with him, so I think I have an inkling of an idea as to how horrible this can be.

So great to see gaming mojo focused on helping to alleviate/eliminate the ills of this world.

If enough nerds put their minds to it, anything can be accomplished. Kudos.

@Komrade Kayce - Soviet Attack Dog: I am sure your cute wittle puppy will make you feel better.

Fear-The-Unknown

@JustAnotherBrazilianGuy: With a new story every 20 minutes during the day US time, there's no need to go to any other website.

@AngryEddy: The loooove boat...da da da da da daaaaaa

Fear-The-Unknown

I wish I could make a witty comment or joke like I'm sure some others will, but I kind of remember why the subject is so important to you, Brian, and why Valentines Day still sucks. It's just a heap of sad. :(

Thanks for the update on where this contest went. I'm excited to see what kind of creativity will come out here.

@AngryEddy: It's only exciting when it's new. :P

JustAnotherBrazilianGuy

Love....Exciting and new...
Come aboard, we're expecting yooooouuu!

More ways to waste time at work! I <3 kotaku!

looks like a cool ps3 theme. sony make it now! go go go

webkatt

@Jon: In all honesty, it wasn't really well designed, no offense to the cause. I mean, the player has to fly around arbitrarily, as there are no indicators, until something happens.

It's too bad that better games weren't designed for this contest. The others didn't really get any point across at all :C

Shinra1003

Hey Guys - thanks for the great comments!

A few notes:

* 60% of the scoring is based on "educational" value so you should definitely see a bias toward the educational aspect of Teen Dating Violence in the winning games

* we saw a 40% increase in the number of entries this year!

* we also received entries and requests for info from several different countries representing four continents - and one of the winning entries is from Mexico!

Thanks again to Brian and the Kotaku community for the tremendous support that Jennifer Ann's Group has received.

I'm currently in Europe for law school and am spreading the word about teen dating violence here. Today I was fortunate enough to meet with a Supreme Court Justice of Austria while in Vienna and briefly spoke with him about our efforts and the need to educate teens / young adults about this very real issue.

And... for those of you wondering about the "luscious hair and sparkling smile" I can only say that we *do* share the smile. Check out our website if you wanna see the hair!

Again, thanks!
Drew Crecente
Executive Director, Jennifer Ann's Group
(and proud father of Jennifer)

@Shinra1003: "No indicators until something happens."

Well, in this kind of relationship, there usually IS no indicators to the outside world of what is going on until something happens. This could quite legitimately be a game design choice.