Estonian Defence Forces 02.04.2014
The winner of a NATO-themed game creation contest organized by the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Education and Research and the Estonian Atlantic Treaty Association was announced today. Pärnu Sütevaka High School of Humanities took top honours with a card game entitled “NATONIA”.
Announced in autumn in connection with the 10th anniversary of Estonian NATO membership, the goal of the contest was to create NATO-themed board games, card games or digital games that would test players’ NATO-themed knowledge. The Ministry of Defence also plans to purchase finished copies of the game for all schools teaching national defence.
A total of 28 entries were received, from 12 different schools. Five were digital, four were card games and 19 were board games.
The card game designed by the SÜTE team from Pärnu Sütevaka High School, “NATONIA,” was the overwhelming favourite of the judges, being a social game with an irresistible, participatory quality to it. In addition to testing knowledge about NATO, NATONIA also puts geography knowledge to the test.
The chairman of the judges, Asko Künnap, noted the high calibre of the games that were entered in the contest. “Besides the contest rules, the judges also evaluated whether the games conformed to NATO fundamentals. In this sense, NATONIA clearly stood out as it required cunning and cooperation with other players,” said Künnap.
The members of SÜTE – Airiin Antson, Joanna Juhkam, Julius Koppel, Juulia Juhkam, Mihkel Tomberg and their tutor Joonas Mengel, win a trip to NATO headquarters in Brussels and Polar pulse watches.
Minister of Defence Sven Mikser said today at a ceremony honouring the winners held at the Tallinn Secondary Science School that national defence was not just the province of Defence Forces members, officials and diplomats. “It’s important for young Estonians to also actively participate in thinking on national defence and security topics and it’s hard to find a better example than a game designed by schoolchildren for their peers,” said Mikser.
Second place went to the Võnnu Secondary School team LELMO consisting of Mihkel Sari, Raimo Solba, Alver Palk, Cristella Saar, Lissu Kapsi and their tutor Tiit Viileberg. Third place went to the Kiili Gymnasium team: Jörgen Norkroos, Kennet Krüner and tutor Riina Juga.
The second and third place teams received iPad Minis and their tutors got e-readers.
The judges also gave our special prizes: for strategic thinking (Secondary School No. 21 in Tallinn), best design (Secondary School No. 21 in Tallinn), wit (Tallinn Kesklinna Russian Gymnasium) and educational value (another team from Sütevaka, the “Sütevaka Horses”).
The teams that won special prizes receive coffee thermoses and flashlights with the Ministry of Defence logo. The Estonian Atlantic Treaty Association also gave the seven teams in the finals the book “Estonia’s NATO story. 1991-2004”.
The judges included the designer and game creator Asko Künnap, film producer Artur Talvik and journalists Evelyn Kaldoja and Viktoria Ladõnskaja, Ministry of Defence Undersecretary Sven Sakkov, Ministry of Education and research general education department chief expert Kersti Kivirüüt and Estonian Atlantic Treaty Association chairwoman Krista Mulenok.
NB! Photo Gallery of the “NATO game” winners’ announcement ceremony held at Tallinna Reaalkool:
http://pildid.mil.ee/Loomekonk... 