UAH opens signup for Charger Innovation Challenge: Serious Games Edition, Spring 2026, to design impactful games for prizes, publishing opportunities

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (JAN. 28, 2026) – The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of The University of Alabama System, is accepting student applications for the Charger Innovation Challenge (CIC): Serious Games Edition, a semester-long 'hackathon' launching in Spring 2026. Open to students of all majors, the challenge invites participants to design and develop "serious games" – games created to educate, train, improve health or drive social impact. Sign up by February 11th.

The challenge is hosted by the UAH Invention to Innovation Center (I²C) in collaboration with Dr. Chuck O'Brien, lecturer of game design in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. The initiative supports UAH's growing game design offerings, including the new Serious Games course and the Game Design program launching in Fall 2026.

Participants will work individually or in teams of up to four students to develop a feature-complete game over the course of the semester. Teams will receive mentorship from Dr. O'Brien and the I²C Innovation Team while gaining hands-on experience in innovation, collaboration and pitching their creations.

Cash prizes from a $1,000 prize pool will be awarded, and top teams will have the opportunity to publish their games online.

Challenge Focus Areas include:

Education and learning

Health and wellness

Community and society

Training and simulation

Key Dates and Phases:

Phase 1: Ideation & Sign-Up (Weeks 1–4)

Define the problem, audience, gameplay mechanics and impact

Sign up by February 11, 2026

Phase 2: Development & Mentorship (Weeks 5–13)

Build a feature-complete game with guidance and feedback

Pitch deck due April 8, 2026

Phase 3: Final Showcase & Pitch (Week 15)

Demo your game and pitch to judges at the I²C

Demo Day: April 22, 2026

Awards:

First Place: $500 + opportunity to publish online

Second Place: $300 + opportunity to publish online

Third Place: $200 + opportunity to publish online

Honorable Mentions: Certificates of Innovation

Whether a developer, designer, artist, storyteller or problem solver, all students are encouraged to participate. To learn more or apply, visit: Charger Innovation Challenge Information. For questions: Contact the I²C Innovation Team, the CIC or Chuck O'Brien.