"iNTO THE PIXEL" ART EXHIBIT NOW ACCEPTING 2014 SUBMISSIONS

The annual “Into the Pixel” (ITP) art exhibit is now accepting submissions for the 2014 collection. Now in its 11th year and co-produced by ESA and the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS), ITP honors video game artists who continue to push the interactive entertainment art form forward. The 2014 ITP collection will premiere at E3 2014, the world’s leading computer and video game event, from June 10-12, and will continue its tour to industry events including PAX, South by Southwest, and the D.I.C.E. Summit. Video game artists and representatives can submit their in-game or concept art for consideration at www.intothepixel.com until Friday, March 28. 

NEW MOBILE GAME TACKLES CANCER RESEARCH

A new crowdsourcing mobile game holds tremendous promise for helping researchers find a cure for cancer.

Created by Cancer Research UK and available for free on iOS and Android devices, Play to Cure: Genes in Space enables gamers to contribute to vital research by coding vast amounts of data about cancer genes as they play.

Screenshot from Play to Cure: Genes in Space

In the game, players maneuver a spaceship around obstacles to collect “Element Alpha,” a valuable material that players use to retrieve protective equipment and tools. As they navigate the course, players cross treacherous valleys and mountains representing areas of a genome that could contain cancerous cells. Players ultimately trace a course that helps scientists identify genetic mutations, which often predict the development of cancer. 

“Every single second gamers spend playing our smartphone game directly helps our work to beat cancer sooner,” said project lead Hannah Keartland. “Our scientists’ research produces colossal amounts of data, some of which can only be analyzed by the human eye – a process which could take years.”

The game is Cancer Research UK’s second crowdsourcing game. In 2012, the organization released Cell Slider, a game that provided scientists with data illustrating how breast cancer cells react to different treatments. More than 200,000 people played the game and classified an astounding 2 million cancer images six times faster than it would have taken a team of scientists.

Cancer Research UK scientists are optimistic that crowdsourcing games such as Genes in Space and Cell Slider will enable them to find a cure for the world’s deadliest diseases by tapping the collective brain power of citizen scientists. “It brings forward the day we can beat cancer at its own game,” said Tony Selman, a Cancer Research UK citizen science ambassador. “But it’s not just a game; it’s a way of saving lives.”

To learn more about Cancer Research UK and its game-based projects, visit: http://bit.ly/Ms1xfd.

VIDEO GAME TEACHES CIVICS, HELPS STUDENTS BUILD A MORE VIBRANT COMMUNITY

Researchers at Tufts University’s Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service and Emerson College’s Engagement Game Lab are turning to a video game to help students get active in their communities.

Despite their good intentions, charitable organizations often find that students are sometimes ill-prepared to volunteer, causing headaches and setbacks for organizers. To address this challenge, Tufts and Emerson researchers created Civic Seed, a multi-player online game that helps students practice effective and collaborative civic engagement strategies before they begin volunteering.

Screenshot from Civic Seed

In the game, players navigate a virtual town that is mysteriously void of color. Players must interact with each other, students, professors, and community organizers to solve the mystery. Players win seeds for every positive interaction and each question about civic involvement that they answer, which they can later plant to add a layer of color to the community. As students advance, they learn to think critically about moral values, community ethics, collaboration, and career goals, and gain a better understanding of the philosophies behind meaningful and effective civic engagement.

Upon successful completion of the game, students receive a community certification from their school to volunteer at local organizations. Students also build a résumé-profile that tracks their interactions, performances, and unique strengths. Community organizers can review student profiles to learn about their background, skills, and goals, helping them recruit volunteers whose personalities and achievements best align to their organization’s overall mission.

Creators plan to release Civic Seed at Tufts and Emerson this spring and hope to expand the game to other colleges and universities through partnerships with groups such as Campus Compact, an organization of colleges that promotes civic engagement at institutions of higher education.

To learn more about Civic Seed, visit: http://civicseed.org/.

SMITHSONIAN LAUNCHES NEW EDUCATIONAL GAMES FOR YOUTH

The Smithsonian Institution is using video games to engage youth in history, science, and culture.

Most recently, the Smithsonian Institution released Hidden Expedition: Smithsonian Hope Diamond. Designed for youth age 8 and older, the game takes players on a worldwide adventure from Switzerland to India to find pieces of the Hope Diamond, one of the world's largest blue diamonds and among the most popular exhibits at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. In the game, players are hired by the "Hidden Expedition League of Preservation” to secure pieces of the Hope Diamond before a group of thieves gets to them first. As players advance, they search through accurate representations of Smithsonian buildings, discover lost and hidden symbols, and learn about the Hope Diamond’s 400-year history, including previous owners such as King Louis XIV, King Louis XV, and Marie Antoinette’s husband, King Louis XVI.     

Screenshot from Hidden Expedition: Smithsonian Hope Diamond

Additionally, the Smithsonian Science Education Center released Shutterbugs: Wiggle and Stomp, a free educational app for children ages 3 to 5 that aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards, Common Core, and previous national standards. Players follow Ada, the zookeeper, around a cartoon version of the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park in Washington, DC, and keep a lookout for animals that are swimming, running, wiggling, and stomping. As they explore new areas of the zoo, players identify and name animals’ different motions and take pictures to capture the movements. Once players master a vocabulary word, they can print out a coloring page of the animal print that they snapped during the game.

Both games underscore the Smithsonian’s recognition of video games as cultural artifacts and educational tools, which also includes “The Art of Video Games,” a first-of-its-kind exhibit that explores the rich history and evolution of video games. Originally displayed at the American Art Museum in Washington, DC, the collection of games and consoles has been traveling to museums around the country. It is currently on display at the Hudson River Museum in Yonkers, NY, where museum-goers have the opportunity to attend and participate in educational programs about video game art, development, and programming.

By leveraging entertainment that all young people enjoy, the Smithsonian Institution is delivering rich and exciting experiences that educate today’s digital generation about important historical and educational concepts.