So, if you hadn't known, our team won the competition at our library for operation game creation. That means we got a cash prize (woot) and a chance to compete at the young inventor's challenge at CHITAG this year (Chicago Toy and Game convention). We thought we had a good chance of winning.

I woke up at 6AM today to just get ready for this. Shower, shave, dress shirt, pants, tie, I was lookin' pretteh cool. Went to the library at 7:20 AM, and carpooled all the way to navy pier. Got there at 8:30, so we had first choice of where we wanted to be.

We set up, and two of our guys left to come bring people over to the young inventor's section when it got busy. the remaining teammate and I remained at the table to help explain everything. about 8 hours later (I pretty much talked with a very raspy voice at the end), judging began, and they announced the winners. We recieved 2nd-ish place (they really didn't say that much). 2nd and 3rd received no prize, just honorable mentions. Honestly, I felt jipped, once I looked at what First place got.

YIC Page> [link]

~Dinner for winner and their parents with Mike Hirtle, Head of Global Product Acquisition and Inventor Relations for Hasbro, following the Award Ceremony on November 21st.
~Winner featured in Inventor's Digest
~Inventor's Digest subscription for one year
~VIP Tour by Bruce Lund of Lund and Company Invention LLC of their workshop and offices (www.lundandcompany.com). A peek into Santa's Workshop!
~VIP behind-the-scenes tour and general admission for four to Strong National Museum of Play® in Rochester, New York. Strong is home to the National Toy Hall of Fame® and the world’s largest collection of toys, dolls, games and other items that celebrate play.
~3 tickets to the Toy of The Year Awards on 2/13/10 (winner and 2 parents/guardians, 6 tickets total if the team wins)
~Opportunity to co-present an award at Toy of The Year (award is still being determined)
~2 - night hotel stay in NYC
~Toy Fair pre-show tour on Sunday morning (2/14/10) from 8 - 9:30 am (this is prior to show hours)

All in all, it was a meh experience. Got some good advice, lost my voice, my feet hurt, felt sick in the car. win? lose? I say tie.

(Btw, I was the only one that had a tie. I felt awesome.)