FAQs Q: What is Best Licensed IP Based Game ? A: IP stands for Intellectual Property. Best Licensed IP Based Game is a game that revolves around a fictional character, a celebrity, a TV show, a song or any other original creation such as Superman, Harry Potter, Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Big Brother, Kate Moss, Hotel California etc. Mobile games based on consumer brands and which are part of an advertising campaign are also accepted in this category. Q: I have made a game for a local beer brand. Can I enter this game? A: Yes. Branded games can be entered into the Best Licensed IP Based Games. You do need to have permission from the owners of your local beer brand to enter the competition. Q: I want to develop a mobile game based on the character of Dr. Snuggles, but I can’t get permission from the owners of that character. Can I still send in my game? A: No, you can’t enter this game without permission from the owners of the IP. You need to obtain their permission to enter the IMGA competition. They should also be aware of the fact that if the game is nominated, we will promote the game worldwide in the context of the IMGA campaign. Q: I saw you changed the category “Best Interactive Experience” into “Excellence in Gameplay”. Why? A: Good question! We think “Excellence In Gameplay” fits better with the other categories and clearly focuses on the game and less on the interface. This doesn’t mean we aren’t very, very interested in new game interfaces and controls, such as voice, movement and gestures, the camera as a control, etc. Q: I saw that IMGA received 387 entries from 42 countries last year. How many do you expect this year? A: The competition is growing very fast, but this year the entry procedure requires a little bit more time; we require a videofile in addition to the three pictures and description and we are only allowing unpublished games to be entered. We would be very happy if we get the same number of entries this year. Q: We are developing games for I-Mode can we participate? A: Yes. Flash, Java, Brew, I-Mode etc. IMGA is platform independent. Of course the games need to be playable on mobile devices. Q: We are a Russian company, based in Minsk, can we participate? A: Yes, the contest is international, so wherever you are, you can submit a game by using the on-line entry form at www.imgawards.com. Q: We are developing games for PC and want to enter one of our PC games, can we participate? A: No, we are only looking for mobile games. Q: I don’t know anything about mobile games, but I think I have a great idea, can I participate? A: Yes, but be aware that you are competing with the rest of the world and with very skilled mobile game developers. But if your idea is excellent, you could still stand a chance of winning. Q: Last year I was able to participate with a published game. What about this year? A: True, in 2006 IMGA was open for both published and un-published games. This year we have gone back to the original format: IMGA is only for games that are not published on 24 September 2007, which is the deadline for the competition. Q: I have a great mobile game that is available through T-Mobile live. Can I participate? A: No, the competition is only for un-published games. Q: My game is in development, we are working on a pilot, can we send in a description and a few screen shots? A: Yes, you can submit a pre-pilot or a pilot. Refer to the guidelines for our minimum requirements. In addition to the three screenshots, you need to send in a video or an animation showing the game play. Q: I have developed a game with a character that is developed by another company. Can I still participate? A: Yes, you can if you obtain permission from that company to enter the competition. If you can’t get permission, you can’t participate. Q: We are developing games with our own engine and middleware. Can we participate? A: Yes, as long as the game works on a regular mobile device you can. If the game you develop is not intended for mobile devices that are available on the market, you cannot participate. Q: If our game is chosen, are we required to submit an actual handset with the game for the jury to play? In place of the handset, can we submit a video for the game play since our connected games only connect on U.S. wireless networks? A: If necessary, you can send us your game installed on a device, which we will return after the Award Ceremony in person or by post. Otherwise, in case of connectivity issues, please send us a demo video explicitly showing the game play: i.e. someone playing your game. Q: If you really need the game to actually demo on a handset, do you have any judges in the U.S. who can be assigned to judge Namco’s games to avoid the connectivity problem? A: It is not possible for us to split the judging session. It will be held in Marseille, France, in October. Please refer to the response above. Q: Is it ok if we send you jar and jad files instead of mobile phone? If yes what is your testing mobile phone model? A: Yes of course you can email us your apps available on Nokia phones (S60, Nseries) Q: I don’t want my entry to be seen by publishers or operators, but I do not mind to showing it to a professional jury. How can you assure me of your confidentiality? A: All entrants have the right to ask for confidentiality. In that case the entry will not be used for promotional purposes and will only be seen by the jury. The jury does contain one member representing Orange Partner Programme, one of the sponsors, but all jury members are tied by a confidentiality agreement. Q: I don’t want you to publish any information about my game without my permission. Can you guarantee that you won’t? A: On the entry form we ask you if you give us permission to use your material for promotional purposes. If you have stated that you do not give us that permission, we will not use the material. However, if you do give us your permission we will send your material to the press and will do our best to have your credits published. Q: What is the difference between the 2006 edition and the 2007 edition? A: The differences between 2007 and 2006 are as follows: - The 2007 International Mobile Gaming Grand Prix (no change) - The 2007 International Mobile Gaming Excellence in 3D Award (no change) - The 2007 International Mobile Gaming Excellence in Connectivity Award (no change) - The 2007 International Mobile Gaming Excellence in Gameplay Award (previously called ‘best interactive experience’) - The 2007 International Mobile Gaming Best Licensed IP Based Game Award (new) - The 2007 International Mobile Gaming Best Casual Game Award (developed in Flash, Java, etc.) (new) - IMGA event documentaries and video-interviews are posted regularly on the IMGA ON TV section. We have also created dedicated pages for our media and promotional partners online to enable the public to know more about them.