I'm a Finalist in the National STEM Videogame Challenge!

scitunesscitunes Member, Sous Chef Posts: 4,047
edited November -1 in Miscellaneous
Just wanted to take the time to let everyone know how much I appreciate all of the support I have gotten both recently and over the last two years in general. I could not have made the game that got me into the finals without help from the beautiful people on this forum.

Thanks to GS for the awesome software!

You guys are the best!
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Comments

  • tenrdrmertenrdrmer Member, Sous Chef, Senior Sous-Chef Posts: 9,934
    Congrats scitunes!!!
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  • VoidedSkyVoidedSky Member Posts: 1,095
    Congratz! Now what? What's next?
    ~CTM
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  • magic101himagic101hi Member Posts: 713
    CONGRATS!!!

    -Josh
  • mynameisacemynameisace Hull, UKMember Posts: 2,484
    Well done mate, you deserve it.

    Ace
  • ScootsScoots Member Posts: 507
    Congrats !
  • scitunesscitunes Member, Sous Chef Posts: 4,047
    CowTechMan said:
    Congratz! Now what? What's next?
    ~CTM

    Well, the STEM people don't seem to be too organized. Originally I would go to the finals which were going to be held in LA the same week as SXSW. But I just found out on Friday that they switched it to the end of march in DC due to scheduling conflicts. So now I go to DC and make my "quick pitch" - a 10 minute presentation. I'm pretty stoked because they told me that I am one of 3 finalists. What I am not sure of is whether or not that means 3 total or 3 finalists in the professional category and more in the collegiate category or if the 3 is the overall total. If there are 3 pro finalists then it means that there are 3 teams competing for two prizes ($50K and $25K) and one team going home empty-handed. But there is also 1 collegiate prize of ($25K). So if there are only 3 finalists total then everyone is going home with some serious cash. So I am either guaranteed of some good money and great exposure/connections or I've got a 2 out 3 shot - not sure. Either way I'm giddy!
  • bgappsbgapps Member Posts: 183
    congrats!!!
  • beefy_clyrobeefy_clyro Member Posts: 5,394
    Huuuge congrats mate :)
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  • simo103simo103 Member, PRO Posts: 1,331
    scitunes said:
    So now I go to DC and make my "quick pitch" - a 10 minute presentation.

    Any idea what your quick pitch can be like ... ie: a Keynote? Or just you talking? Either way perhaps you'd consider letting the community review/help out/be a sounding board so 'we' can win this for the home team!

    Edit: not to blow my own horn .. but I pitched my business plan to a Venture capitalist incubator and was one of three companies out of 200 that got funded years ago and I was selected on a tourism committee to pitch a national tourism plan to a caribbean nations Government so I've done a few in the past.
  • NachozNachoz Member Posts: 52
    Congrats and best of luck in DC!!
  • RiffelRiffel Member Posts: 1,272
    Congrats, good luck!!

    www.marcosriffel.com

  • azavegaazavega Member Posts: 362
    Hey congrats buddy!!! you can count on me any time...
  • MotherHooseMotherHoose Member Posts: 2,456
    Ah... Dan... had to only look at your work and know you were going!... and got a strong feelings you are going to win this one!

    your pitch is the perfection of your project.... and also the vital need that our youngsters know how their bodies work as that is something they use everyday.

    your little 'beta-testers' gotta be so proud of their contribution!
    and, you are one of the best of the best!

    MH
  • scitunesscitunes Member, Sous Chef Posts: 4,047
    MotherHoose said:
    Ah... Dan... had to only look at your work and know you were going!... and got a strong feelings you are going to win this one!

    your pitch is the perfection of your project.... and also the vital need that our youngsters know how their bodies work as that is something they use everyday.

    your little 'beta-testers' gotta be so proud of their contribution!
    and, you are one of the best of the best!

    MH

    Wow. i don't know what to say. Other than I love this community!
  • scitunesscitunes Member, Sous Chef Posts: 4,047
    Just a quick update. I'm off to DC tonight and will make my "quick pitch" tomorrow in front of the judges.

    Wish me luck!

    I'll report back on wed or thurs to let you know how it turned out.
  • beefy_clyrobeefy_clyro Member Posts: 5,394
    Best of luck matey, the spirit of GS will be with you :)
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  • butterbeanbutterbean Member Posts: 4,315
    Good luck Scitunes!!
  • butterbeanbutterbean Member Posts: 4,315
    Good luck Scitunes!!
  • simo103simo103 Member, PRO Posts: 1,331
    Good luck .... worthy winner imo!
  • RHRH Member Posts: 1,079
    Missed this thread in the first place, that's amazing though! Good luck
  • ozboybrianozboybrian PRO Posts: 2,102
    Awesome mate! you deserve it! you don't need it but I will be praying for ya mate :) Can't wait to hear about your awesome win :)
  • ScootsScoots Member Posts: 507
    Go get em Scitunes!
  • scitunesscitunes Member, Sous Chef Posts: 4,047
    Thanks, guys!
  • apps4everyoneapps4everyone Member Posts: 103
    Brilliant matey - congratulations. Here's hoping you can go all the way.
  • CannonFodderCannonFodder Member Posts: 230
    Good luck mate.
  • scitunesscitunes Member, Sous Chef Posts: 4,047
    Well guys, I am sad to report that I did not bring home a prize. I am even sadder to report that the experience has really jaded me. The winning entry was made by Filament Games, a pro game studio with 17 employees. They have strong connections to the same groups that provided the funding and the judges. They made a middle school game instead of an elementary game. The rules state that teams can have no more than 4 members and cannot be affiliated with the prize affiliates. They also state that the game must be for preK - 4th grade. What makes me so mad is that Filament didn't even try to hide any of this.

    Then we found out that the winners of the collegiate award and impact prize have a former Coonie Center (organization the funds Sesame Street and this entire contest) employee. So basically the judges gave the money to their buddies - it was downright shameful.

    The positive - The other contestants were incredibly supportive and even had one engineer offer to work for me for free as she was so inspired by my presentation - I was flattered to say the least! Many of the judges also had really positive things to say as well and I met a lot of great people.

    I will say that as of now it wasn't worth it. If you were thinking about entering it next year I would advise against it. When I spoke to the other Dev team that did not win, they asked me if this was my first time doing something like this. I asked why and he replied that all of the people at these conferences are the same people that travel from conference to conference. It was clear that he was not surprised at all by the outcome of the contest based on the way this group of ed-tech people opperate.

    Hopefully some of the connections I made will lead to something down the road.

    Well, I'll quit whining. Live and learn. Now back to work - got to prove those STEM bastards wrong!
  • butterbeanbutterbean Member Posts: 4,315
    So sorry to hear about that, it's such a shame that the contest was rigged the entire time.... Still, the fact that you were even considered a finalist is amazing in and of itself. Onwards and upwards, and keep making great apps and games! :)
  • scitunesscitunes Member, Sous Chef Posts: 4,047
    butterbean said:
    So sorry to hear about that, it's such a shame that the contest was rigged the entire time.... Still, the fact that you were even considered a finalist is amazing in and of itself. Onwards and upwards, and keep making great apps and games! :)

    Thanks, butterbean. I am hopeful that good things will come from it. It's hard to see that side of it right now as I am stuck in the phili airport after TWO flight cancelations which has caused me to miss a day of work (and probably a day of pay) and kept me away from my kids an extra day.

    I just thought that the people behind sesame street would be different. I'm so naive...
  • jonmulcahyjonmulcahy Member, Sous Chef Posts: 10,408
    wow, that sucks about the whole behind the scenes stuff.

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  • tenrdrmertenrdrmer Member, Sous Chef, Senior Sous-Chef Posts: 9,934
    No kidding. But honestly if its a legit contest and they broke there own rule if you will willing to report they could prob get in a lot of trouble. Theres actually federal and state laws that can enforce a contest operating on the up an up.
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