THEME
Game for Biodiversity: Guardians of Malaysia’s Natural Treasures
Malaysia has amazing forests, plants, and animals that need YOUR help!
🎯 Your Mission? Create a game that teaches people how to protect our wildlife, forests, rivers, and seas.
🌴 Themes to Explore:
- Protecting wildlife – How can we save endangered animals like Malayan tigers, orangutans, or hornbills
- Caring for forests and plants – Why are rainforests, mangroves, and other plants important
- Restoring habitats – What to help damaged forests, rivers, or coastal ecosystems recover
- Balancing nature – How animals, plants, humans, and water ecosystems depend on each other
- Being a responsible guardian – What actions help protect nature for the future
🚩 Design an adventure, puzzle, simulation, or strategy game that inspires players to become guardians of Malaysia’s natural treasures!
🎮 Your game must use:
- open-source software (e.g Scratch, Python, Octostudio), and/or
- open-source microcontroller (e.g Arduino, Raspberry Pi, Micro:Bit)
Are you ready to make a game that helps build a better world? The challenge is on!
SUBMISSION METHOD
- Online video submission
- Qualified teams will advance to showcase their project at State Maker Fair
PARTICIPANT CRITERIA
- Open to primary schools registered in Malaysia
- Two students per team
- Team members can be from different schools (from the same state)
- 9 years old and above
Check out these video to get some inspiration on where to start!
RULES & REGULATIONS
Teachers’ & Parents’ involvement
We love that parents and teachers take the initiatives to help out with the projects, however, we would also like to remind parents and teachers to remember and allow the kids to own and manage their projects.
We understand that as adults, we tend to think that kids are not capable of many things but we can be wrong most times. Allow them to try and fail and try again. Come alongside to encourage, cheer them on and guide them with their projects. Constantly remind them (and yourself) that they own the project.
Disqualifications
- Team will be disqualified if the project is not according to the Competition Theme.
- Team will be disqualified if the project is not showcased at a Maker Fair.
- Team will be disqualified if members do not meet the Participants Criteria.
CITATIONS
Not everything you have built came from your own idea and it doesn’t have to! We understand that innovation comes in the form of building and improving upon existing ideas. If you have referenced your project from a website or Youtube video, please make sure to mention them in your work.
Let’s show our respect to the hardwork done by the original authors by acknowledging and crediting them. To show your thanks, please include them through citation in your project presentation. Detailed Terms & Conditions can be found here.
JUDGING CRITERIA
The judging criteria for the competition puts a greater emphasis on how well your team express their creativity instead of how well-versed you are technically. You will also need to ensure the games you create are addictive, visually pleasing, and easily understood.
Creativity (20%)
Your game should connect clearly to the theme, not just mention it, but show it through your story, characters, or gameplay.
You should also show original thinking. This could mean creating something completely new, or taking an existing idea and improving it in a meaningful way.
👉 Ask yourself:
- Does my game naturally show the theme?
- What makes my idea different from others?
Communication (30%)
You should be able to present your game clearly and confidently, showing your passion and helping others understand your idea.
Your game should also have a clear message or purpose. What do you want players to think, feel, or do after playing?
Most importantly, you should be able to explain your decisions. Show that you understand why you designed your game this way.
👉 Ask yourself:
- Can I explain my game in a simple and exciting way?
- Do I know why I made each design choice?
Mechanics (25%)
Your game should be complete and well-designed, where all parts (story, gameplay, visuals, sound) work well together.
It should also be fun and easy to play, with clear goals and a good level of challenge that keeps players interested.
Finally, your game should feel polished, with consistent visuals and thoughtful details.
👉 Ask yourself:
- Is my game enjoyable and easy to understand?
- Does everything in my game feel connected and complete?
Technical (25%)
Your game should work smoothly and reliably, without major bugs that stop people from playing. It should also be easy for new players to use, with a clear and simple experience.
Most importantly, you should be able to explain how your game works, including your code or hardware.
👉 Ask yourself:
- Does my game run properly from start to finish?
- Can I explain how I built it?
NATIONAL PRIZES
🏆 CHAMPION
🏃 1st Runner-Up
🏃 2nd Runner-Up 🏃
🏃🏃 3rd Runner-Up 🏃
🏅 Consolation Prize x 2
🎵 Notes: Items are subject to change
For Students
Through Junior Innovate, students are able to gain co-curricular points for the program and competition. Teams participating in their State’s Maker Fair will be able to receive State Level Awards & State Level Certificates. While teams eligible to compete at the National Final will receive National Awards & National Level Certificate.
For Teachers
Teachers participating in the Junior Innovate program and competition will receive:
- hands-on training*,
- SPL-KPM recognition through training, and
- a State and National Level Certificate.