DETROIT: The Ford Smart Mobility Game Challenge, announced at Gamescom, one of the world's largest computer and video games events, offers a top prize of €10,000 (RM43,000) to the developer with the best gamification take on public transport.
(It's a worldwide contest, so Malaysians can take part in it as well).
Gamification is proving to be a powerful tool for solving problems and for accelerating research, be it in filtering cancer data, helping people lead healthier, more active lifestyles, or educating drivers as to how best to use their cars to save on fuel and protect the planet.
And now Ford wants to harness it in a bid to turn integrated urban transport - everything from commuter trains to bus routes and walking - into an engaging online game.
"The Smart Mobility Game Challenge is designed to harness the creativity of the gaming community and empower gamers to take a fresh approach to tackling today's global mobility issues," said Ken Washington, vice president, Ford Research and Advanced Engineering.
"Applying the fun, engaging and rewarding aspects of games to journey planning can allow people to improve their commutes, track their success and become aware of how their behaviour impacts the transport infrastructure as a whole."
The competition was developed in partnership with the Cologne Game Lab, which is part of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at the University of Cologne, and its co-director, professor Bjoern Bartholdy, will be one of six judges who decide on five finalists as well as the overall winning entry.
"Games are designed to entertain, but for the developers it's a serious business that requires astute problem-solving abilities as well as creativity - exactly the qualities needed to tackle the challenge of integrating existing transport systems," Bartholdy said.
Developers have until Oct 1 to submit their entries at (a href="http//www.ford-smart-mobility-game-challenge.com/" target="_blank")www.ford-smart-mobility-game-challenge.com . As well as a prize money, the winner will get the chance to present his or her work at the 2016 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.
"Gaming offers a degree of user engagement and empowerment that you don't get from other mediums," Washington said. "By using these qualities the Smart Mobility Game Challenge can help develop solutions that enable travellers to take control of their journeys."
