GEE! Award Official Rules

All game applications must be received on time. No exceptions will be made.
Finalists must provide a video featuring gameplay for judging and website use by the due date to be considered for judging.
Finalists to the Analog category must provide 1 copy of the game to Judges in Madison, WI by the due date (June 21st) to be considered for judging. Return shipping will not be provided.
Finalists are required to attend the hybrid award ceremony at Play Make Learn.
A $150 fee is required for entry for all categories other than the Small/Indie and Analog awards.

The game must be designed with defined educational or learning goals.
Competition Chairs cannot apply.
Judges/Leads and their host organization cannot apply within their own category - contact us if you believe an exemption is merited.
The game must be functional/playable.
The game must not have been submitted for a previous GEE! Award.
The game must not violate copyright or any other laws.
To enter for the Small/Indie competition, the applicant must have received less than $100k in funding for the game, including staff time, grants/gifts, & organizational materials.
The game must must not require hardware to run other than a computer or tablet (iOS or Android). For example, no VR, etc.
The game must not be a quiz or workplace training game, those are outside the scope of this award.

Finalists and Winners will receive a license to use the GEE! Award Mark on their promotional materials
- Awards announced at the Play Make Learn conference
Winners will be featured together at a dedicated session at Play Make Learn
Finalists and Winners will be shown online

GEE Game Design Awards may adjust the number of categories/awards based on the number of submissions
If the game requires fluency in a language other than English, please check with us before submitting

All competitions will use the following rubric as a baseline, but can add additional metrics as necessary

Does it promote learning in the terms James Paul Gee described?
- See Jim Gee’s Principles for Game-Based Learning.
Is fun and/or compelling?
Does it look cool and work accurately?
Is it original?

For the People’s Choice award, finalists can begin campaigning as soon as being notified they are a finalist. Votes are collected via form.

March 1 - Applications open for Games, Judges and Competition Leads
May 1 - Judges and Competition Leads applications due
June 1 - Game Applications due. Judges and Competition Leads announced
June 9 - Finalists Announced, People’s Choice voting opens
June 21 - Analog Games must have been received by mail
July 10 - Judging complete, recommendations due to Chairs. Announcement video template available.
July 17 - Announcement videos due to Chairs
July 18 - Winners announced at Play Make Learn and online