2024-25 Competitive Events Guidelines

Computer Game & Simulation Programming

Computer Game & Simulation Programming provides members with the opportunity to design
and implement a computer game or simulation based on a specific topic. Interactive
computer games and simulations have achieved broad implementation in a wide variety of
business and educational disciplines.

Event Overview
Division: High School
Event Type: Team of 1, 2 or 3 members
Event Category: Presentation
Event Elements: Presentation with a Topic
Presentation Time: 3-minute set-up, 7-minute presentation time, 3-minute question & answer
time
NACE Connections: Career & Self-Development, Communication, Critical Thinking,
Leadership, Professionalism, Teamwork, Technology

2024-25 Topic
Create a game that encourages critical thinking and decision-making.
Include:
• Scenarios with ethical challenges
• Multiple outcomes based on player decisions
• Scoring (examples include points system, leaderboards, etc.)

The game must:

• Be playable on the student device using Windows 10, Mac OS, a modern web browser,
or a mobile platform
• Be secure
• Have no game-breaking bugs

Games should consider accessibility features to accommodate players with disabilities.

This topic was created in partnership with code.org. Learn more about code.org,
resources available, and expanding computer science in your school or district at this
link.

District/Region/Section
Check with your District/Region/Section leadership for District/Region/Section-specific
competition information.

State
Check with your State Leader for state-specific competition information.

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National

Required Competition Items

Items Competitor Must Provide Items FBLA Provides
Preliminary • Technology and presentation • Table
Presentation items • Internet access
• Conference-provided nametag
• Photo identification
• Attire that meets the FBLA Dress
Code
Final • Technology and presentation • Table
Presentation items • Internet access
• Conference-provided nametag • Power
• Photo identification • Projector with HDMI
• Attire that meets the FBLA Dress cord
Code • Projector screen

Important FBLA Documents

• Competitors should be familiar with the Competitive Events Policy & Procedures
Manual, Honor Code, Code of Conduct, and Dress Code.

Policy and Procedures Manual

• Competitors should be familiar with the Competitive Events Policy & Procedures
Manual, found on the Competitive Events page on www.fbla.org.

Eligibility
• FBLA membership dues are paid by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on March 1 of the current
school year.
• Members may compete in an event at NLC more than once if they have not previously
placed in the top ten of that event at NLC. If a member places in the top ten of an
event at NLC, they are no longer eligible to compete in that event.
• Members must be registered for the NLC and pay the national conference registration
fee to participate in competitive events.
• Members must stay in an official FBLA hotel block to compete.
• Each state may submit four entries.
• Each competitor can only compete in one individual/team event and one chapter
event (American Enterprise Project, Community Service Project, Local Chapter Annual
Business Report, Partnership with Business Project).
• Only competitors are allowed to plan, research, prepare, and set up their
presentations.
• Each competitor must compete in all parts of an event for award eligibility.
• All members of a team must consist of individuals from the same chapter.
• Picture identification (physical or digital: driver’s license, passport, state-issued
identification, or school-issued identification) matching the conference nametag is
required when checking in for competitive events.

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• If competitors are late for their assigned presentation time, they will be allowed to
compete with a five-point penalty until such time that results are finalized, or the
accommodation would impact the fairness and integrity of the event.
• Some competitive events start in the morning before the Opening Session of NLC. The
schedules for competitive events are displayed in the local time of the NLC location.
Competitive event schedules cannot be changed.

Recognition
• The number of competitors will determine the number of winners. The maximum
number of winners for each competitive event is 10.

Event Administration
• This event has two parts: preliminary presentation and final presentation
• Preliminary Presentation Information
o Equipment Set-up Time: 3 minutes
o Presentation Time: 7 minutes (one-minute warning)
o Question & Answer Time: 3 minutes
o Internet Access: Provided (Please note that internet reliability at any
conference venue cannot be guaranteed. Always have a backup plan in case
internet connections are lost or are unable to connect to your device.)
o The presentation is judged at the NLC. Preliminary presentations are not open
to conference attendees. The presentation will take place in a large, open area,
with a booth size of approximately 12’ x 12’.
o Competitors/teams are randomly assigned to sections.
o Timing: The presentation time is exclusive to the allotted times. Once the set-
up time has been reached, the presentation time automatically begins. The
presentation time shall not exceed the stated time, meaning that the set-up
and Q&A time cannot be used as presentation time.
o Technology
 Competitors present directly from a device which includes a laptop,
tablet, mobile phone, or external monitor (approximately the size of a
laptop screen). Competitors can present with one or two devices. If
presenting with two devices, one device must face the judges and one
device must face the competitors.
 Projectors and projector screens are not allowed for use, and
competitors are not allowed to bring their own.
 Wireless slide advancers (such as a presentation clicker or mouse) are
allowed.
 External speakers are not allowed. Only device audio can be used.
 Power is not available.
o Non-technology Items: Materials, notecards, visual aids, and samples related to
the project may be used during the presentation; however, no items may be
left with the judges or audience.
o Restricted Items: Animals (except authorized service animals), Food (for display
only; may not be consumed by judges during the presentation), Links and QR
codes (for display only; cannot be clicked or scanned by judges before, during,
or after the presentation)

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o Teamwork: If performing as a team, all team members are expected to actively
participate in the presentation.
o Presentation should cover the following aspects of the program:
 Choosing a programming language or game/animation engine to create
a standalone executable program that will display creativity,
programming skill, and convey the message of the topic.
 The development, usability and functionality of the program must be
demonstrated and explained to the judges.
 Data must be free of viruses/malware.
 Must be graphical in nature, not text based.
 Must have an initial title page with the game title, user interface control
instructions, and active button for Play and Quit.
 Must have a quit command programmed to the escape key.
 Competitors must provide comprehensive documentation including a
readme file, source code, templates/libraries used, and documentation
of any copyrighted or open-source material used.
 The presentation should follow the rating sheet and include the
following:
• Concept and Design of the Game: What are the game rules? Are
they easy to understand? Do the rules address all aspects of the
game?
• Implementation of the Concept & Design: What process was
used to turn the concept and design into software? How was the
art/sound built?
• User Experience: Does the user have a good experience with the
interface?
• Final Presentation Information
o Equipment Set-up Time: 3 minutes
o Presentation Time: 7 minutes (one-minute warning)
o Question & Answer Time: 3 minutes
o Internet Access: Provided (Please note that internet reliability at any
conference venue cannot be guaranteed. Always have a backup plan in case
internet connections are lost or are unable to connect to your device.)
o An equal number of top scoring competitors/teams from each section in the
preliminary round will advance to the final round. When there are more than
five sections of preliminary presentations for an event, two competitors/teams
from each section will advance to the final round.
o Final presentations may be open to conference attendees, space permitting.
Finalists may not view other competitors’ presentation in their event.
o Timing: The presentation time is exclusive to the allotted times. Once the set-
up time has been reached, the presentation time automatically begins. The
presentation time shall not exceed the stated time, meaning that the set-up
and Q&A time cannot be used as presentation time.
o Technology
 Competitors can present with one or two devices which includes a
laptop, tablet, mobile phone, or external monitor (approximately the
size of a laptop screen). If presenting with two devices, one device must

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be connected to the projector or facing the judges and one device must
face the competitors.
 The following will be provided for the final round if it occurs in a
conference room: Projector, projector screen, power, and table.
 Competitors using laptops or other devices that do not have an HDMI
port will need to provide their own adapters.
 It is up to final-round competitors to determine if they wish to use the
technology provided.
 Wireless slide advancers (such as a presentation clicker or mouse) are
allowed.
o Non-technology Items: Materials, notecards, visual aids, and samples related to
the project may be used during the presentation; however, no items may be
left with the judges or audience.
o Restricted Items: Animals (except authorized service animals), Food (for display
only; may not be consumed by judges during the presentation), Links and QR
codes (for display only; cannot be clicked or scanned by judges before, during,
or after the presentation)
o Teamwork: If performing as a team, all team members are expected to actively
participate in the presentation.
o Presentation should cover the following aspects of the program:
 Choosing a programming language or game/animation engine to create
a standalone executable program that will display creativity,
programming skill, and convey the message of the topic.
 The development, usability and functionality of the program must be
demonstrated and explained to the judges.
 Data must be free of viruses/malware.
 Must be graphical in nature, not text based.
 Must have an initial title page with the game title, user interface control
instructions, and active button for Play and Quit.
 Must have a quit command programmed to the escape key.
 Competitors must provide comprehensive documentation including a
readme file, source code, templates/libraries used, and documentation
of any copyrighted or open-source material used.
 The presentation should follow the rating sheet and include the
following:
• Concept and Design of the Game: What are the game rules? Are
they easy to understand? Do the rules address all aspects of the
game?
• Implementation of the Concept & Design: What process was
used to turn the concept and design into software? How was the
art/sound built?
• User Experience: Does the user have a good experience with the
interface?

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Scoring
• The preliminary presentation score will determine the finalists.
• The final presentation score will determine the winners.
• Judges must break ties.
• The decision of the judges is considered final. All announced results are final upon the
conclusion of the National Leadership Conference.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

• FBLA meets the criteria specified in the Americans with Disabilities Act for all
competitors with accommodations submitted through the conference registration
system by the registration deadline.

Recording of Presentations
• No unauthorized audio or video recording devices will be allowed in any competitive
event.
• Competitors in the events should be aware FBLA reserves the right to record any
presentation for use in study or training materials.

Penalty Points
• Competitors may be disqualified if they violate the Code of Conduct or the Honor
Code.
• Five points are deducted if competitors do not follow the Dress Code or are late to
their assigned presentation time.

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Computer Game & Simulation Programming Presentation Rating Sheet
Below Exceeds Points
Expectation Item Not Demonstrated Meets Expectations
Expectations Expectations Earned
Concept & Design
Concept / topic not User with no knowledge
Concept / topic are
fully developed, and Fully addresses the of the concept/topic
Game addresses all parts not addressed, and 3
one or two concept/ topic and can identify it based on
of the concept/topic and or more guidelines
guidelines not followed all guidelines use of project and
guidelines not followed
followed followed all guidelines
0 points 1-8 points 9-12 points 13-15 points

Rules contain Rules contain errors Rules are error free as

Game rules are well- At least one advanced
substantial errors that have minimal discovered through
defined and clearly rule feature available
affecting game play impact on game play basic game play
explained
0 points 1-2 points 3-4 points 5 points

User can navigate the

Game is overly Game can be game with rules as
Game is challenging
Game is challenging, but simplistic and/or completed but is defined and several
and can be completed
can be completed cannot be completed simplistic outcomes are available
for completion

0 points 1-2 points 3-4 points 5 points

No innovation or Very little innovation

Game is innovative or Game is innovative and
Innovation and Creativity creativity is or creativity is
creative creative
of the Game demonstrated demonstrated

0 points 1-2 points 3-4 points 5 points

Implementation
Describes programming
languages, graphic design
tools, game engines, or Program Program Program Program documentation
other software used and documentation not documentation documentation is error invites use of advanced
evaluates the technical provided contains errors free features
complexity and
sophistication of the
implementation 0 points 1-2 points 3-4 points 5 points

Graphics are
Graphics & game assets No graphic design Graphics are Graphics enhance the
appropriate for the
are appropriate for principles applied distracting/busy user experience
concept/topic
concept and/or topic
0 points 1-2 points 3-4 points 5 points
Graphics & assets
Graphics & assets not Graphics & assets Graphics & assets consistently applied and
Graphics & game assets
available not consistent consistently applied enhance the user
are consistently applied
experience
0 points 1-2 points 3-4 points 5 points

Color, contrast,
Graphics & game assets Color, contrast, Color, contrast,
background,
are appropriate for the background, background,
No design principles typography, sound,
concept and/or topic, and typography, sound typography, sound, and
applied and design are
their quality and and design are design enhance the user
appropriate for the
consistency enhance the distracting or busy experience
concept or topic
overall user experience
0 points 1-2 points 3-4 points 5 points
User Experience
Title screen provided,
Title screen has Title screen functions
No title screen but allows user to
Title screen functions & limited instructions and provides clear
provided execute without
provides clear instructions and/or functionality instructions
instructions
0 points 1-2 points 3-4 points 5 points

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Below Exceeds Points
Expectation Item Not Demonstrated Meets Expectations
Expectations Expectations Earned
User can navigate
Users can easily navigate
Experience intended the game but User can navigate and Game includes an
between pages, and the
for the game is not experience and complete the game operating multi-player
overall user engagement
defined purpose are not following the rules function
and enjoyment are
defined
considered
0 points 1-6 points 7-8 points 9-10 points

Controls & mechanics

Controls &
Controls & mechanics Controls & mechanics are intuitive and
Game controls & mechanics not fully
aren’t present are intuitive enhance the user
mechanics are intuitive present
experience

0 points 1-2 points 3-4 points 5 points

Presentation Delivery

Presentation flowed in a
Competitor(s) were
Statements are well- Competitor(s) did not Presentation flowed in logical sequence;
prepared, but flow
organized and clearly appear prepared logical sequence statements were well
was not logical
stated organized

0 points 1-6 points 7-8 points 9-10 points

Competitor(s)
Competitor(s) Competitor(s)
Demonstrates self- Competitor(s) did not demonstrated self-
demonstrated self- demonstrated self-
confidence, poise, demonstrate self- confidence, poise, good
confidence and confidence, poise, and
assertiveness, and good confidence voice projection, and
poise good voice projection
voice projection assertiveness

0 points 1-6 points 7-8 points 9-10 points

Interacted with the

Demonstrates the ability Unable to answer Does not completely Completely answers judges in the process of
to effectively answer questions answer questions questions completely answering
questions questions

0 points 1-6 points 7-8 points 9-10 points

Staff Only: Penalty Points (5 points for dress code penalty and/or 5 points for late arrival penalty)
Presentation Total (100 points)
Name(s):
School:
Judge Signature: Date:
Comments:

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