LeveLappi is once again offering students the opportunity to take part in the Finnish Championships of game development, the Bit1 competition. If you have a video game in development that you’d like to show to others, this is a great opportunity to do so! The competition is not about highly polished or technically or commercially perfect games, but about good ideas.
Bit1 has three stages. The first stage is already coming up in a couple of weeks! Luckily, participating is easy. Check the schedule and instructions below.
Why participate?
The best that can happen: You win the entire competition and get to attend the Finnish Game Awards to receive your prize!
The worst that can happen: Your game doesn’t make it to the finals from the Rovaniemi qualifier, but you’ll receive valuable feedback for further development — and people will become aware of your game!
Stage 1: Online Pre-Registration
Time: The deadline for competition entries is Sunday, February 22 at 11:59 PM
Place: The form on the Bit1 competition website
Instructions:
- Create a gameplay video showcasing your game’s core loop (maximum length 1 minute), upload it online, and make the link public.
- Fill in the game design canvas provided by Bit1, upload it online, and make the link public. (Download the canvas: PDF, Word)
- Fill in the registration form. Attach the links mentioned above. Select Rovaniemi as your pre-qualification location.
- Read more detailed instructions for this stage on the Bit1 website.
Stage 2: Rovaniemi Pre-Qualification (PreBit Rovaniemi)
Time: Wednesday, March 11, starting at 4:00 PM. Duration is 1–3 hours depending on the number of participants.
Place: Showroom (A147), Jokiväylä Campus, Lapland University of Applied Sciences
Instructions:
- Prepare to give a 3-minute pitch presentation about your game in English. You may use your own pitch deck or this template: (link)
- Be prepared to answer the jury’s questions about your game in English.
- Submit the latest playable build of your game to us no later than the day before the qualifier. You may continue developing the game between pre-registration and the qualifier!
- You may also update your gameplay video before the qualifier. The maximum length is still 1 minute.
- If your game cannot be played on a PC, bring your own device for playing.
See more instructions on the Bit1 website.
Alternative to On-Site Participation
Remote participation in the nationwide PreBit Online qualifier is also possible. It will be held on March 11. If this is the best option in your case, select PreBit Online in the pre-registration form by February 22. See the Bit1 website for participation instructions, including how to submit your build in advance.
Stage 3: Finals
The teams selected by the jury from the pre-qualifier will advance to the finals, which will be held in Helsinki in early May. The jury may also decide not to send any teams forward if the overall level is deemed insufficient.
Before the final, the judges from the qualifier will mentor the finalists in further developing their games.
Previously, teams from Lapland that have reached the finals include the developers of Wiljami by Night and Welehola, and both received positive feedback. The new contacts gained during the trip and the overall experience have also been valuable for the participants.
Travel to the finals will be supported through relevant projects at the University of Lapland and the University of Applied Sciences by providing overnight train tickets for a limited number of participants. The entire trip takes place over two overnight train journeys and the competition day in between.
The winner of the finals will receive their award at the Finnish Game Awards, which are typically held in May.
Further Information
Feel free to ask for more information:
heikki.tikkanen [at] ulapland.fi
+358 40 489 0964