If you’ve ever felt the auto industry game overlooks creative designers in favor of predictable engineers, now’s your chance to show everyone what designers can do. From the comfort of your own living room, you can flex your composition muscles and win a nice entertainment package in the process. You might even get to present your skills to Derek Jenkins, Mazda’s director design, in person!
In yet another way to publicize the upcoming 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata release, the automaker has teamed up with Forza and Xbox to promote interest through the virtual world in a MX-5 Livery Design Contest. If you want to enter, simply color a Miata on Forza Horizon 2 however you want.
Design a Winning Livery for the Miata on Forza Horizon 2 and Get Noticed
Mazda is looking for video game players and designers to use in-game customization methods to create a unique racing livery (coloring and design scheme for the shell) for the 1994 Miata featured in Forza Horizon 2.
“In addition to shining the spotlight on the 2016 Mazda MX-5 through the partnership, we also wanted to give Forza fans a way to engage and pick up some cool prizes and see their work featured in the game,” said Russell Wager, vice president of marketing of Mazda North Amierca.
The original Forza Horizon game was released on the Xbox 360 in 2012 and was a spin-off of Forza Motorsport series. The sequel, which hit home consoles in September, features hundreds of cars that can be driven in a vast open road setting with dozens of terrain variants. A customization contest fits this game perfectly, considering the variety of cars offered includes everything from rally cars and hatchbacks to trucks and vintage rides.
This 1994 MX-5 Miata will be your canvas in the digital world. Any ideas coming to mind?
Photo: steews4 via CC
To get in on the contest, find the 1994 MX-5 Miata on Forza Horizon 2 and follow the in-game instructions to create a livery. Then, save the design with the name “MX5contest” and upload it to the game’s storefront. A panel of judges will select semi-finalists whose designs will be publicly voted on through Xbox Live. The two finalists will be taken to the SXSW Festival and evaluated by judges that include Derek Jenkins, who will decide the winner.
When you’re conceptualizing your design, make sure you strive for strong originality, aesthetics, and technical proficiency; those are the categories Mazda will evaluate. If you win, you’ll be in gamer heaven with a new 55″ curved TV, Xbox One Kinect, full sound system, and MadCatz Racing Wheel. But for the hard-core designers, the real prize will be the winning design’s presence in the game as a free gift to all users.
If you want to participate, and we think you should, head to Mazda’s hub via Xbox 360 or Xbox One. You have until January 4th, 2015 to submit. If you miss out because of the holidays, Mazda says another contest with Microsoft will be announced at the upcoming SXSW 2015 festival.
We can’t wait to see what the winning design will be. Best of luck to all the entrants!
The News Wheel is a digital auto magazine providing readers with a fresh perspective on the latest car news. We’re located in the heart of America (Dayton, Ohio) and our goal is to deliver an entertaining and informative perspective on what’s trending in the automotive world. See more articles from The News Wheel.