Two teams from the University of Houston are among 10 finalists in a national computer game design competition sponsored by Microsoft.

The eight computer science students have earned an all-expense paid trip to Washington, DC in April where they will vie for a grand prize of $8,000.

Team Ifrit Salsa, comprised of graduate student Daniel Biediger and undergraduates Alaa Gharandoq, Jesus Hernandez and Arifur Sabeth – qualified with their game “RoboRecycler.” The team’s mentor is computer science instructor Dr. Chang Yun.

Graduate student Yu-Chao Chen and undergraduates Reggie Tye, Paul Diaz and Syung Whan You, known as Team Level 13, created a game called “Antitoxin Squad.” The team’s mentor is computer science instructor Jose Baez-Franceschi.

The theme of the game design competition was to “imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems” such as poverty and environmental sustainability. Using the United Nations Millennium Development Goals as guidance, teams were encouraged to have fun while tackling global issues.

The Imagine Cup is an annual competition that draws thousands of the world’s brightest young techies who vie in several software categories, including game development. The very best will compete in the International Imagine Cup later this year in Poland.