Open street map data

Partner

Crytek UK

Award

£25,000 (excluding VAT)

The Challenge

Procedurally generated content and worlds – generated algorithmically rather than predominantly manually – are much cheaper and more efficient to scale than purely hand-authored work by artists. A key long-term goal for the games industry is the creation of procedurally generated content and open-world environments, which are then rendered in a game engine and could provide an opportunity for developers to save resources.

Many games are modeled on real-world settings and locations, so the rise in availability of open street map data could provide interesting source material for this type of procedurally generated content.

The heart of this challenge is to progress the objective of generating CG game worlds from open street map data in a game engine. This could provide game developers with the chance to create even larger worlds more quickly, and at a lower cost. Whilst open street map data is not at all detailed enough for many gaming applications, it could provide a starting point for procedurally generated content.

This challenge therefore seeks innovative digital applications that can help to more easily render open street map data in a game engine.

Successful solutions should do the following:

• help to integrate open street map data with existing games engines such as CryENGINE®3 Sandbox ™
• access open street map data from www.openstreetmap.org and/or www.skobbler.co.uk

Applicants are reminded that:

• we are seeking technical solutions that are non-game applications
• any size of open street map data can be considered
• any geographical location can be considered
• there is the potential to trial your solution with Crytek UK for a minimum of three months
• there is a wider opportunity to gain exposure of your solution to other engine providers

About Crytek UK

Crytek GmbH ("Crytek") is an independent company at the forefront of the interactive entertainment industry, and is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of gaming by creating standout experiences for Xbox 360, PlayStation®3, PC, mobile devices and games-as-service using their cutting-edge 3D-Game-Technology, CRYENGINE®.

The company's headquarters are in Frankfurt am Main (Germany). Crytek also has studios in Kiev (Ukraine), Budapest (Hungary), Sofia (Bulgaria), Seoul (South Korea), Nottingham (UK), Shanghai (China), Istanbul (Turkey) and Austin (USA).

Since its foundation in 1999, Crytek has consistently been recognized for excellence in its field, earning accolades such as the 2011 Develop Award for Best Independent Studio, and two Red Dot Design Awards (in 2010 and 2013). Its multi-award winning games include Far Cry®, Crysis® (awarded best PC Game of E3 2007 and Best Technology at the 2008 Game Developers Choice Awards), Crysis Warhead® (awarded Best Graphics Technology at IGN Best of 2008 Awards), Crysis® 2 (awarded Best Shooter of E3 2010 and Gamescom 2010), Crysis® 3 and Warface (awarded Best Social/Casual/Online Game of Gamescom 2012). 

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