The Philippine Science Heritage Center (PSHC), the country’s resource center highlighting the significant contributions of Filipinos in the world of science, will start becoming interactive in 2015 as the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), through its advisory body, the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), launched the Salinlahi Evolution: Game Development Competition last December 5, 2014 at PSHC in Bicutan, Taguig City.
The competition, open to college students with the skills and talent for creating digital learning games anchored on science and technology (S&T), features group and individual categories. The computer games should run on Windows while mobile games should run on Android devices. They should be in English and may be played even without internet connectivity.
The winning digital games will be featured at the PSHC, which is under the management of DOST-NAST. The plan is to have it exclusively distributed in the center for six months.
“Being a vital partner in education, centers have now ventured into the use of digital technology, especially interactive digital exhibits, to increase engagement of the public and to facilitate learning better,” said Dr. Jaime C. Montoya, executive director of DOST’s Philippine Council for Health and Research Development (PCHRD) and focal person for PSHC.
Dr. Montoya added that it is preferable that the games are not time consuming and should incorporate S&T concepts reflecting PSHC’s aim to honor and promote Filipino scientists and their contributions. They should not contain vulgarity, violence, defamatory language or any other subject deemed inappropriate for the tone of the competition.
The criteria for the competition are: 20 percent for relevance to the topic, idea/enjoyability, and game mechanics; 15 percent for graphics and sound; and 10 percent for trailer. Other details are still being finalized.
