Open exclusively to SAE students, alumni and staff, this opportunity includes flights, accommodation, and full exhibitor access.
Whether you’ve built a passion project or polished a portfolio piece, this is your moment to share it with thousands of players, industry professionals and fellow developers.
What’s On Offer?
- A spot to exhibit your game at PAX Australia 2025 – 10-12 October, Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre
- Flights and accommodation for up to two creators of the game (one must be the alumni/staff/student of SAE who submitted the application)
- Your game promoted across SAE media channels
- The opportunity to represent SAE on a national level
Who Can Apply?
To submit your game into this competition, you must be:
- An SAE student, alumni or staff member
- Aged 18 years and older
- An Australian citizen or resident, currently residing in Australia
- An individual SAE-affiliated games developer OR a group with at least one SAE-affiliated games developer
What You’ll Need to Submit
- Your full name
- A personal website or LinkedIn profile (optional)
- Your SAE affiliation (student, alumni or staff)
- A gameplay screen recording
- An EPS file of game graphics that will be used for promotional purposes
- A link to your game
- A 300-word statement on how SAE helped you develop the game
- A short bio and headshot
Key Dates
- Applications Open: Monday 28 July, 2025 at 5:00PM AEST
- Applications Close: Sunday 31 August at 5:00PM AEST
- Winners Announced: Monday 15th September
Judging Panel
A panel of SAE staff from across the creative and academic spectrum will assess submissions based on:
- Originality
- Relevance to the brief
- Technical execution
Judging Panel Includes:
- Ron Marc
- Anthony Robinson
- Matt Dyet
- Divya Seengal
- Zhia Zariko
Note: Panelists are not eligible to enter the competition.
Panel Bios
Meet the judges behind the decisions.
Anthony Robinson
Anthony Robinson is a Games and Animation facilitator at SAE Adelaide. With a past working in film and the indie games space, Anthony has worked on productions for studios such as Warner Bros, Netflix and Stan. Outside of teaching and freelancing, Anthony is the creative director of an indie game scheduled to release this October for early access called Blood Vow: Survive the Night.
Divya Seengal
Dr Divya Seengal’s research in human computer interaction (design) is focused on people and their experiential interactions with technology. With over 15 years of experience working in industry and academia, Divya specialises in the design, use, and integration of interactive media, including Game Design, and Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR) research-creation.
Currently, serving as a Lecturer in the School of Games & Technology at SAE University College, Sydney, Divya’s professional journey also includes teaching courses on Digital Technologies and Interaction Design, at both the University of Tasmania and the University of Newcastle. With a PhD in HCI (Design), Divya is actively engaged in scholarly research having her work published in international journals and presented at various conferences.
Divya’s work continues to explore the evolving landscape of different technological media forms and its impact on user experience. Her research and practice are multidisciplinary, bringing together the fields of education technologies and digital humanities.
Matt Dyet
Matt is a man of many hats. Following his IGDA Foundation scholarship in 2013 he began working in the games industry as a producer, and continues to do so while teaching at SAE University College. He’s passionate about games development not only as a creative but also as a researcher, and his book on leadership practices in the games industry was published by Routledge in 2024.
Ronald Marc
Ronald Marc has been in, around, under, and on top of the video games industry for more than two decades. He has worn a variety of hats: Game Designer, Art Director, 2D Animator, UI Artist, 3D Modeller, Co-founder, Business Partner, and University Lecturer. His contributions to video games include art and design for Spyro: A New Beginning and its sequel The Eternal Night, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, Happy Feet 2, and Star Wars Duels, to name just a few.
Zhia Zariko
Originally a written and media communications major, Zhia took an elective in games, industry, culture, and aesthetics during her undergrad and completed a hard right in her career path. Since then, Zhia has completed an honors thesis on Commander Shepard from Mass Effect, a Masters on Let’s Play Videos, and became a lecturer in game design and media cultures. Zhia has experience in delivering talks at GCAP, an opening keynote at FINS (Festival of Interactive Narrative and Storytelling in Dunedin, NZ), and the IGEA Educates summit. Zhia also decided to take a running leap into the deep end of industry from academic theory and opened her own game development studio, Were You Followed, in 2022. She and her team are currently working on their first title, which responds to the misappearance of intimacy and romance in video games by challenging the conventions of the genre of ‘romance’ in games. Zhia has successfully applied for government grants for her game production, totaling over $100 000 AUD.
What’s in it for the Winners?
Our two lucky winners (or groups of winners!) will receive:
- Return flights to Melbourne for PAX 2025
- Accommodation for the duration of the event
- Promotion through SAE channels and media
- Networking opportunities with industry professionals and fellow developers at the event
Intellectual Property & Privacy
Some important things to note:
- You get to keep full copyright of your game
- SAE may promote your entry with your permission, including your name, bio, image, and game link
- Your data is only used for competition purposes and won’t be shared externally
Conditions of Entry
- You must be available to attend PAX Australia on the event dates
- All participants must follow SAE’s code of conduct
- Prizes are non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash
What is the PAX 2025 SAE Competition?
SAE University College is offering the chance for two selected SAE-affiliated creators to exhibit their game at PAX Australia 2025 in Melbourne (10–12 October, 2025), with flights and accommodation fully covered.
Who is eligible to enter?
To be eligible, you must:
- Be 18 years or older
- Be an Australian citizen or resident
- Be a current SAE student, alumni, or staff member
- Have at least one team member affiliated with SAE
- Be available to attend PAX in person and represent SAE
What do I need to submit?
You’ll need to submit the following via the official entry form:
- Full Name
- Personal Website or LinkedIn (optional)
- Indication of your eligibility (Student, Alumni or Staff)
- A link to your game
- A screen recoding of game play.
- A 300-word max statement on how SAE helped you build the skills to make the game
- A short bio and headshot (sent separately to the Events and Student Experience Manager)
When are entries open and closed?
The competition opens Monday 28th July 2025 at 5PM and closes Sunday 31st August at 5pm. All times will be based on AEST.
Winners will be announced via SAE social media and email on Monday 15th September 2025.
Who will judge the entries?
- A panel of SAE staff with diverse experience in academia, game production, and industry will judge submissions, including:
- Ron Marc
- Anthony Robinson
- Matt Dyet
- Divya Seenga
- Zhia Zariko
Note: Panellists cannot enter the competition.
What do winners receive?
- The opportunity to exhibit your game at PAX 2025
- Flights and accommodation paid for
- Possible promotional opportunities through SAE
Do I keep the rights to my game?
Yes! You retain full copyright of your game.
By entering, you give SAE a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use your game, name, bio, and image for promotion of the competition.
How is my data used?
- Your data will be used for competition administration and judging
- SAE may feature your name, game title, game footage, and related materials in marketing and promotional content (such as social media posts, websites, and press releases and relevant materials at PAX)
- SAE may showcase your game and participation in highlight reels, interviews, or future case studies
- It will be securely stored and not sold
- You can request to access or delete your data at any time by contacting the competition coordinator
Is there anything else I should know?
- Winners must be able to travel to Melbourne between 9th – 13th October 2025, – The prize cannot be transferred or exchanged
- All entrants must adhere to SAE’s code of conduct
- Further event terms: https://aus.paxsite.com/en-us/info/safety-and-accessibility.html
1) Overview
We are delighted to announce that SAE University College is running a competition offering the chance to exhibit at PAX 2025. Selected Australian-based SAE students, staff and alumni will receive flights and accommodation to showcase their game at PAX. Pax 2025 runs from 10 – 12th October, at MCEC, Melbourne.
2) Eligibility
2.1 Entrants must be aged 18 years or older.
2.2 Entrants must be Australian Citizens or Residents, currently residing in Australia.
2.3 Entrants must be current SAE students, alumni or staff members.
2.4 At least one member of the development team must be affiliated with SAE.
2.5 Winners must be available to travel to PAX 2025 and represent SAE, speaking about their game and experience.
3) Submission Requirements
All entries must be submitted via the official entry form and include the following:
- Full Name
- Personal Website or LinkedIn (optional)
- Indication of eligibility (Student, Alumni or Staff)
- Link to the Game
- A 300-word (max) statement on how your time at SAE helped you learn the skills to develop the game
- Short bio and headshot (sent separately to the Events and Student Experience Manager)
4) Competition Period & Winner Announcement
4.1 Entries open: Monday 28th July 2025 – 5:00PM (AEST)
4.2 Entries close: Sunday 31st August 2025 – 5:00PM (AEST)
4.3 Winners will be announced on Monday 15th September, via SAE social media and email correspondence.
By entering, participants consent to SAE using their full name, image, game link and promotional information in media and social channels.
5) Judging Panel
Entries will be assessed by a panel of staff with diverse expertise in academia, industry, production and funding. The panel includes:
- Ron Marc
- Anthony Robinson
- Matt Dyet
- Divya Seengal
- Zhia Zariko
Panellists** will review the submissions, play the games and collectively determine two winning entries based on originality, relevance to the brief and technical execution.
**panellists cannot enter the competition to avoid conflicts of interest.
6) Prize Details
6.1 Two winners will be selected to exhibit their game at PAX 2025, with flights and accommodation provided.
6.2 Additional recognition and promotional opportunities through SAE may be included
7) Additional Conditions
7.1 Entrants must agree to abide by SAE’s policies and code of conduct
7.2 Winners must be able to travel on dates aligned with PAX 2025
7.3 The prize is non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash or an alternative
7.4 Winners must participate in marketing, media and PR opportunities in collaboration with SAE.
8) Copyright & Data Use
8.1 Entrants retain full copyright of their game and creative works.
8.2 By entering, you grant SAE a non-exclusive, royalty free worldwide license in perpetuity to promote your work (including your game, name, bio and image) for competition-related marketing..
8.3 SAE will treat all personal data with confidentiality and only use it for competition administration.
9) Marketing and Publicity Consent
9.1 By entering, participants consent to being featured in promotional content related to the Competition and SAE University College, this includes but is not exclusive to:
- Display and promote the submitted game and related materials for promotional purposes.
- Use game footage, screenshots, and descriptions on SAE’s website, social media, and marketing campaigns.
- Feature the names, photos, biographies, and likenesses of participants in press releases, interviews, and promotional content.
9.2 SAE may contact entrants to participate in interviews, panels, or case studies to promote their games and achievements.
9.3 Entrants agree to allow SAE to use their game’s name, logo, branding, and promotional assets in marketing materials.
9.4 Should they win, entrants agree to create and appear in 3x videos for use on SAE University College’s marketing channels including social media during the PAX event.
9.5 Entrants may opt out of certain publicity activities by contacting [email protected] before the winner announcement.
10) Privacy Policy
10.1 Entrants agree that their data (name, contact, bio, game link etc) may be shared internally among SAE staff for judging and administration purposes.
10.2 Data will not be sold or used for unrelated purposes and will be securely stored.
10.3 Entrants may request access to or deletion of their data at any time by contacting the competition coordinator
11) Agreement
By entering this competition, participants agree to comply with these Terms and Conditions. Any breach may result in disqualification. SAE University College reserves the right to update or modify these Terms at any time, with prompt communication to all participants. Further terms and conditions for PAX can be found here – https://aus.paxsite.com/en-us/info/safety-and-accessibility.html
