Semi-finalists have been announced for the $500,000 Developing Beyond competition organized by Epic Games and Wellcome. The Europe-based competition, themed "Transformations", runs over the course of a year, awarding finalists increasing funds through each stage to help complete their game. Each semi-finalist receives $15,000, and they are matched with a scientist to help further develop their concept.
The next milestone is in July, where three finalists will be selected and receive $60,000 to continue development. The winning game will be announced in January 2018 and receive $150,000.
The six semi-finalists include:
- Cure Me! by Sluggerfly, a multiplayer game where three scientists try to prevent an evolving entity's breakout from quarantine
- Ecce Homo by Holy Warp - 3D action adventure game that explores the evolution of humans.
- Seed by All Seeing Eye - Virtual reality game where players are able to discover, grow and engineer generative plant life.
- Singularity by Random Logic Games - Interactive story game where an AI transforms constantly in order to adapt itself to new obstacles.
- Terramars by Untold Games - A game in which the player adapts the environment of Mars by exploring the physiological changes required for humans to live on a different planet.
- Winter Hall by Lost Forest Games - Narrative exploration game about the legacy of the Black Death.
