Atari has challenged developers to submit their ideas for an iOS reimagining of the 1972 arcade classic Pong.

The winning developer will be awarded up to $100,000 worth of funding to develop the game, a $50,000 cash prize, and a three-year full revenue-sharing publishing agreement including marketing and PR support.

Valid and proper

Nine other finalists will also receive publishing agreements and cash prizes of varying amounts, as well as a place on Atari's developer spotlight – an online showcase of entries which will include developer profiles.

The Pong Indie Developer Challenge is limited to US developers, and entrants must already have an Apple developer ID and been behind a "valid and proper Apple iTunes US App Store game" to qualify.

The submissions don't necessarily need to be the finished article, however. Atati has claimed entrants can send anything from a detailed design document to a fully playable prototype.

The closing date for submissions is 15 April, at which point the entrants will be judged by a panel which includes Atari founder Nolan Bushnell, Dave Castelnuovo of Bolt Creative, and AOL Tech Media Group's lead editor Mike Schramm.

What's in it for me?

David Whatley of Critical Thought Games will also sit on the judging panel, and he said the association with Pong could give a newcomer that first key break in the industry.

"The Pong Indie Developer Challenge is a great opportunity for an indie developer to jumpstart their career by gaining instant recognition for their work and placing high on the App Store charts," he opened.

"Pong is a classic IP that audiences far and wide still recognize after 40 years, and the association with that and the Atari brand will no doubt provide a platform for participants to showcase their talent to millions."

For more information, check out the Pong Indie Developer Challenge webpage.

[source: Atari]