Microsoft invites budding game designers to enter their new XNA Game Development Competition, with £5,000 GBP worth of prizes up for grabs. The theme is ‘Ocean Odyssey,’ and and everyone is welcome - from programmers to pianists, sculptors to scriptwriters who are UK & Ireland residents of 16 years of age or older at time of entry.

Artwork, Music and Gameplay (coding) are the three categories in which people can enter, with entrees to the first two categories seeing their work used in the final category - which will actually see a game or two being made. The competition is of course designed to highlight the power of the XNA development platform, which can aid even bedroom coders in creating their own games for the Xbox 360. Deadline 12 June for music and artwork, 15-17 June for game play entries. Visit the site for details.