Konami wants YOU to design a character for Contra 4
Design your own monster and see it in a mobile game
Who said mobile game designers had to have all the fun? Hot on the heels of Vivendi Games Mobile putting a mobile gamer into its upcoming Crash of the Titans game, now Konami is surfing the user-generated content zeitgeist. Or something.
The publisher is currently working on Contra 4, a new game celebrating the 20th anniversary of its console franchise. And as part of the celebration Konami has launched a competition to design a character for the forthcoming sequel, with the winning entry actually making it into the game.
The closing date for entries is October 1st, and Konami is publishing some of the best on its website. The criteria? Simply come up with "a creative new character that demonstrates the true meaning of the classic Contra game".
We suggest something with tentacles, seven guns and a leopard-print thong.
Contra 4 is due out this autumn in the US, and sadly for us Brits, you have to live in the States to enter the competition.
Oh, before you get out your crayons, note that the terms and conditions specify that Konami owns all entries, and "it and its designees may exploit all elements of such entry in any and all media now known or not currently known… without compensation to Contestant."
In other words, enter the contest, and your character could turn up in any Konami mobile game in the future, without earning you a dollar. The company isn't being particularly sneaky, but these kinds of rights issues are one of the lesser-reported elements of UGC competitions that many entrants won't be aware of.
Anyway, check the Contra 4 competition website for more details.
