Microsoft offering incentives to game developers for Windows 8 support

In the form of a competition, Microsoft is offering incentives to developers that submit their Windows 8 supporting game for judging. If selected, the titles will receive a professional trailer, developer mentoring and a month’s worth of marketing.

Those submitted for judging will be graded on originality, audio, visuals and design and use of the Windows 8 app features. Playability will also be taken into consideration, though that would seem a given with a competition centred around games. The judges will be a few companies, including Microsoft, YoYo Games, Nokia, Dolby, UKIA, TIGA and GamesIndustry international.

“With the very recent launch of Windows 8, the innovative Microsoft Surface and announcements on Windows Phone 8 there has never been a better time to develop game apps for the Windows platform and be seen potentially by millions of consumers in the UK,” said Andrew Webber (via GamesIndustry), UK marketing lead for UK Indy Game App Builders.

“We hope to attract new and existing game developers to publish their Windows 8 game app in time for Christmas to the Windows 8 Store and also stand the chance of winning a great prize bundle which is focused on helping both the developer and their game title be as successful as possible.”

Runner up prizes for the competition will include smartphone – presumably from Nokia – mentoring from a member of TIGA and a £250 gift card. The winner however will receive marketing worth several thousand pounds, a £500 gift card and mentoring from Eidos Chairman Ian Livingston.

KitGuru Says: This seems like an effort by Microsoft to counteract the bad publicity Windows 8 received before release from public figures like Gabe Newell and Marcus Persson, who said that they felt Windows 8 would be awful for the games industry.

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