Publish your best apps and games in the Windows and Windows Phone Stores – and have a chance to win big cash for your creative efforts – in the Windows Game Developer Contest, running now through March 20, 2015. A Microsoft panel will judge submissions based on quality (50%), creativity (30%), and technical excellence (20%), with First Place winning USD$10,000, Second Place winning USD$5,000, and Third Place receiving USD$3,000. Ten Honorable Mentions will win USD$1,000 each. Submissions can be either original games or games ported to Windows or Windows Phone from existing published games on other platforms. You’ve got the games and apps, now enter them with a chance to win big cash and a bigger audience.

We’re also stirring up a global creative buzz about games through our partnership with Global Game Jam – with even more rewards to be won. The Jam is a worldwide game hackathon event where developers come together to share their experiences, participate in fun challenges, and explore the development process from programming to design to storytelling. It’s this weekend, taking place in a number of physical locations. If you haven’t participated in the Jam before, take a look at their website to find an event near you. As a developer, you can also enter your Game Jam projects in the Windows Game Developer Contest and earn extra bonuses to redeem at DVLUP.com or devcenterbenefits.windows.com. Everybody wins, so make sure you don’t miss it.

For official rules, app submission instructions and other information, see the official contest page.