Food and music game-inspired competitions hit Melbourne

The Australian Centre for Moving Image (ACMI) in Melbourne has announced two all-ages competitions to coincide with its Game Masters exhibition, which honours some of gaming history's greatest developers.

The first competition, Game Masters Super Chef, opens today. Entrants will be tasked with creating a gaming-inspired dish, savoury or sweet, that will appeal to a hungry gamer. The competition is all about food styling, so entrants are encouraged to make their entries look good, as well as taste good. Entries can be submitted in the form of a photograph, which will then be judged by food critic, co-host and judge on MasterChef Australia, Matt Preston, who will pick a winner.

There's also a competition for entrants under the age of 16. The winner of each category (both junior and senior) will receive a Game Masters prize pack, which includes a Sony PlayStation Vita console and game, a double pass to the exhibition and a Game Masters book signed by Tim Schafer and Warren Spector. A bonus prize will go to the winner of the Audience Award, for each of Game Masters Super Chef and Junior Game Masters Super Chef, judged by ACMI's Facebook fans (determined by number of "likes").

Entries for Game Masters Super Chef (junior and senior) open today and close Monday, September 17. Winners will be announced Monday, October 1.

The second competition, Sonic Sensations, challenges entrants to create and record their own original video game-inspired composition (either a song or a tune). ACMI is looking for .wav files between one and three minutes in length.

The competition will be judged by game composer and designer Steve Fawkner (Warlords, Puzzle Quest series). The winner will receive a Game Masters prize pack, and there are also prizes for the runner up, who will win a Game Masters t-shirt, Game Masters book (unsigned) and an ACMI Membership.

Sonic Sensations opens on Friday, August 24 and entries close Monday, October 8. The winners will be announced on Monday, October 15.

For more information and competition details, check out ACMI's Game Masters website.