The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is one of the heavy hitters when it comes to video games in mainstream media, legitimizing the medium through recognition with the annual BAFTA Video Game Awards. Now, the organization steps it up with a Young Game Designers competition.

BAFTA kicks off 2010 Young Game Designers competition

Aimed at 11-16-year-olds, the competition invites would-be video game designers to creative, plan, write, and illustrate their idea for a new video game. Participants work in teams of three to better their understanding of the different roles within the field of game design. The winning team will be announced at the EA British Academy Children’s Awards in November. The winning designers have the chance to work more on their game at EA studio Bright Light and on a prototype of their game to be developed with Abertay University. Win or lose, all entrants keep the right to shop their game around for development and publication.

Actor Matthew Lewis (a.k.a. Neville Longbottom) serves as Ambassador on the Young Game Designers competition. Starting with a launch event today (July 14) at the Walthamstow Academy, he’ll be promoting the competition to the media.

The judges are looking for paper design docs only, not software. Find out more details about the competition here.

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