Notes

Approximately 500 million people spend 3 billion hours every week playing video games. Video games have

become increasingly technologically advanced since their humble beginnings in the 1970's. Contemporary

video games are multi- level experiences complete with intricate story lines and innovative avatars. Titles such

as Kid Icarus and Zeus: Master of Olympus combine modern video game technology and Greek mythology.

For this problem, we challenge Odyssey teams to combine video games and the Greek myth Pandora’s Box. In

the classic myth, Pandora released evil into the world but managed to preserve hope. Let’s see what happens

when teams create their own video game based on Pandora’s Box!

A. The Problem

In this problem teams will put a video game spin on the story of Pandora’s Box. During the performance a

Gamer Character will take on this team-created multi-level “game” inspired by the Greek myth. The game

will include a prologue that depicts the original story of Pandora’s Box, three avatars representing different

evils that escaped from the box, sounds to indicate the beginning and the end of each level, and a power

meter that represents the Gamer Character’s energy. To beat the game, the Gamer Character will advance

to the final level where it will release “Hope” into the world.

The creative emphases of the problem are on the performance, the Gamer Character, the video

game, how the avatars represent forms of evil, the power meter, and the depiction of Hope and how it is

released into the world.

The Spirit of the Problem is for the team to create and present an original performance that includes

a prologue about the original story of Pandora’s Box, a Gamer Character that plays a multi-level video

game based on the story, sounds that indicate the beginning and the end of each level, three avatars that

represent evils, a power meter that measures the Gamer Character’s energy, and Hope being released into

the world.

B. Limitations

1. The time limit for the competition, including setup, style, and performance is 8 minutes.

2. The materials used to solve this problem cannot exceed a $90 value.

3. The performance must include:

a) a prologue that shows the original story of Pandora’s Box and a representation of the box.

b) a Gamer Character.

c) a representation of a multi-level video game, with sounds, that is based on the story of Pandora’s

d) three avatars that each represent a different evil.

e) a Power Meter.

f) a representation of Hope.

Box.

4. The prologue:

a) will be the team’s interpretation of the story of Pandora’s Box as taken from Greek mythology.

b) can be shown to take place in any time period but must include the characters, a representation of

the box, and basic details from the original myth.

c) may be presented in any way and in an medium.

d) can be any length.

e) must take place before the first level of the game is played.

5. The Gamer Character:

a) can be portrayed in any way.

b) can be portrayed by one or more team members. In this problem, the Gamer Character may be a

composite of multiple characters. If it is multiple characters all will be considered when scoring D4.

c) may “play the game” any way the team wishes.

8. The video game:

a) can be represented in any way as long as it has levels and the Power Meter. b. must have a

theme that is based on the story of Pandora’s Box.

b) must have a minimum of three levels.

c) When one goal is achieved, the Gamer Character advances to the next level and is presented with a

different goal, and so on, until the goal at the third level is completed and Hope is released.

d) will include different sounds that indicate the beginning of a level and the completion of a level. The

sound for beginning a level must be different than the sound for completing a level.

e) will include at least four characters as part of the game: three avatars that represent evils and a

tangible representation of Hope.

f) may be presented continuously or in parts throughout the performance.

g) does not require a character that appears to be playing the game and/or manipulating the Gamer

Character.

9. The three “evil” avatars:

a) can be portrayed in any way as long as they are tangible and are a part of the video game.

b) can be portrayed by one or more team members.

c) each must represent a different evil from the myth. One evil will be team-created but two must be

taken from this list:

(1) spite

(2) disease

(3) sorrow

(4) hate

(5) greed

(6) distrust

(7) envy

(8) anger

(9) misfortune

(10) plague

10. The Power Meter:

a) will measure the Gamer Character’s energy at least three times during the performance. This

measuring can be done in any way.

b) may be used at any time during the performance.

c) must be visible to the judges to receive score.

11. The representation of Hope:

a) may be anything, as long as it is tangible.

b) must be released into the world by the Gamer Character at the final level of the video game.

C. Site, Setup and Competition

1. A stage or floor areas a minimum of 7’ x 10’ (2.1m x 3m) will be used, but a larger area is desirable.

2. It will be the team’s responsibility to complete the problem within the 8 minute time limit. The team

must give a signal when it is finished.

3. Prop disassembling and cleanup may be done after the time ends.

D. Scoring

1. Creativity of the overall performance (originality, effectiveness)

2. Quality of the performance (audibility, movement, stage presence)

3. How well the prologue explains the myth of Pandora’s Box

4. The Gamer Character

a) Creativity of its portrayal

b) Effectiveness of its role

5. The video game

c) Is portrayed as a game

d) Has three levels

e) Creativity of the game (all aspects)

f) Sounds are used to indicate the

g) beginning and end of each level

6. The three avatars

a) Creativity of how the first evil from the list is represented

b) Creativity of how the second evil from the list is represented

Originality of the team-created evil and how it is portrayed

7. The Power Meter

a. Measures Gamer Character’s energy at least 3 times

a) Creativity of how it functions

b) Effectiveness in the performance

8. The representation of Hope

a) Originality

b) Creativity of how it is released into the world

c) How well Hope is integrated into the

E. Penalties

1. Spirit of the problem violation

2. Unsportsmanlike conduct

3. Outside assistance

4. Over the cost limit

F. Style

1. Artistic quality of the box that Pandora opens in the prologue

2. (Free choice of team)

3. (Free choice of team)

4. Overall effect of the four Style elements in the performance

I. Problem Glossary

avatar – a character that looks and behaves in a manner that reflects the selected evil in B9c.

evil –something that is perceived as bad or negative, depending on the circumstances surrounding it.

multi-level video game – a virtual game with rules and scoring where the gamer is defeated or advances to

the next level.

representation of the box-can be anything as long as it is something tangible that is opened to release evil

into the world as described in the myth.