Now that the 2015 Gospel App & Game contest is underway, you may be thinking about creating an app, polishing a submission that is in progress, or finding someone to help you develop an idea that has been stewing in the back of your mind into a really awesome app. Good sources for information to get you started, and collaboration tools with like-minded creative people are available at LDSTech in the Wiki and on the Forum.

To get started, follow this link to the Registration Form. Use search fields in the wiki and forum and the links below. Help is on the way!

The Contest Page is where you will find a lot of help getting started. Check this out to find what you need to know about contest deadlines, rules, submission categories, and the submission process. Remember you must both register for the contest and submit your entry by the dates specified.

For app ideas go to http://tech.lds.org/wiki/Apps_ideas. You will find lots of ideas for apps for every contest category, from games for children to utilities that help members with their callings. These ideas will help get you started on something that will be appropriate for the 2015 theme: “Create Something Worthy.”

Help is available from the FAQs at https://tech.lds.org/wiki/ContestFAQ.This wiki page anticipates most needs. For all else, email your questions to gameappcontest@lds.org to put you in touch with contest organizers who will be happy to answer your questions. You will also find important links to the 2014 Winners.

As details are falling into place for both the contest and the conference, putting a “watch” on any one of the wiki pages page will trigger an email that will send you updates if anything changes. Remember, you must be signed in with your LDS Account to see the “watch” tab at the top of a wiki page.

The Forum is for collaboration. Forum moderators have set up a specific forum sub-category for the Gospel App & Game Contest, and you will find this the best place to go if you are looking for help with graphics, or someone to bounce your ideas off of. Anyone can ask a question or reply to someone else’s question when signed in with an LDS Account. To discuss your idea off-line with someone with specific skills, post a new topic and ask. Leave a contact email address if you have set up a Forum profile (which enables off-line messaging).

Take time to see what the forum community has discussed about last year’s contest. There are some valuable leads for software tools that will help simplify app development.

Your web browser search engine is another good source for help and free resources online. Progress begins with the first step. Do not delay getting started!