Category Archives: STEM Challenge

The National STEM Video Game Challenge has motivated interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in nearly 20,000 middle and high school students since launching in 2011 by harnessing their natural passion for playing video games and inspiring them to design games of their own. Presented by the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop and E-Line Media with founding sponsor the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the STEM Challenge has named 113 youth winners – including 40% female –…

Olivia Thomas was one of the winners of the National STEM Video Game Challenge (2015-16). Now studying computer science and games, interactive media, and mobile development at Boise State University, Olivia recently shared her experience with the STEM Challenge in the “Youth-to-Industry Pipeline: How Challenges and Game Jams Create Career Pathways” panel at the 2017 Games for Change Festival in New York City.  When I was younger, I either wanted to be a video game designer or an entomologist. Then I grew…

Saida Woolf, age 13, created Twisted Petals in hopes of producing a game that she and her friends would enjoy playing together. The point-and-click adventure integrates a unique soundtrack, original art, and engaging animations that accompany players as they attempt to escape from the mysterious game world. Built using the Adventure Game Studio engine, the Tehachapi, California-based game designer won the Middle School Open Platform category in the 2017 National STEM Video Game Challenge. “It helps to have everything planned out ahead of time when developing a new…

Explore an alien world and solve the mystery of your missing crewmates in The Trappist Incident, an original side scrolling shooter game created by 14-year-old Sam Raymond of Midlothian, Virginia. Inspired by his love of Star Wars and Star Trek, Sam’s engaging storyline and exciting gameplay won him the Middle School Unity category of the 2017 National STEM Video Game Challenge. “Once I realized that coding and designing games wasn’t some form of magic, I thought it would be cool to learn the process…

Journey to the majestic “Aisle of Fish” in 14-year-old James Nguyen’s original video game, Ultra Fishing. From colorful character profiles to a strong catch-and-release message, the Portland, Oregon-based designer drew inspiration from his love of fishing and passion for playing video games in conceptualizing the 2D strategy game. James’ attention to detail in developing Ultra Fishing floored the judges of the 2017 National STEM Video Game Challenge, winning him the High School Written Game Design Document title. While developing his game…

Can you stomach the fun of playing a video game while learning about science and the human body? In 10-year-old Zoe Plunkett’s original game, The Digestive System, players learn about a new step in the digestive process as they move through each level. With well-executed mechanics and thoughtful graphic design elements, the Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based designer won the Middle School Scratch category of the 2017 National STEM Video Game Challenge. At age 7, Zoe learned about Scratch from her mom, and was excited for the chance to easily create…

Hot on the heels of his 2016 National STEM Video Game Challenge win for the music-themed game Allegria, 18-year-old Connor Shugg was even more ambitious with this year’s submission. Inspired by his experience in the classroom, Connor’s new platformer game The Calculus Test utilizes word problems as themes for each level, with test-taking stress manifesting as enemy sprites and weapons representing various mathematical operations. Thanks to his inventive concept and detailed original assets, including music and graphics, Connor, from Apex, North Carolina, won the High School GameMaker title in the 2017 National STEM Video Game Challenge.…

Aspiring movie director Himani Chonkar, age 11, from Waukesha, Wisconsin, shows a clear sense of cinematic vision in her original video game concept, STEM Obstacle Course. Positioned as the “ultimate challenge” in gaming, the players are offered a preview of upcoming levels at a distance and the opportunity to select the avatars and abilities best suited to complete required tasks and puzzles. Judges were impressed by her plans, which integrated a variety of key STEM concepts, and named her game the winner of the Middle School Written Game Design Document category…

The dynamic developing duo is at it again! In 2016, 14-year-old Lucas Armand of Malvern, Pennsylvania and 14-year-old Shrey Pandya of Exton, Pennsylvania wowed STEM Challenge judges with their science-themed game, Outbreak: Cellular Warfare, winning them the Nat Geo Explore Middle School Playable Game title. This year, the teammates took home their second National STEM Video Game Challenge victory, earning the Team Middle School Open Platform award for their latest design, Mainframe. With a narrative that follows the evolution of computers over recent decades, their real-time strategy game asks players to build, research, manage resources, and…

Inspired by a wide variety of movies and games, the top-down shooter game Keeper is an ode to classic 16-bit era video games featuring vibrant graphics, music, and sounds. Created by 16-year-old Jude Morey of Beech Grove, Indiana, Keeper took home the High School Open Platform title in the 2017 National STEM Video Game Challenge. “I started out making 2D and 3D models and animations,” explains Jude. “Through that process I became more interested in making games.” When he learned about the National STEM Video Game Challenge after a search…