Schell Games, a leader in transformational games, has been chosen as a finalist for the 2013 Design, Art and Technology (DATA) Awards, sponsored by the Pittsburgh Technology Council. Two of its games, Tunnel Tail and PlayForward: Elm City Stories, were selected for the Joystick category, competing in a field of nine nominees. This year’s finalists will be reviewed not only by a panel of judges, but will also be evaluated by the general public in an online voting process.

In its fifth year, the DATA Awards honor projects that demonstrate the highest levels of creativity in a technological pursuit. The Joystick category awards a company or individual who has created the most compelling electronic game, including but not limited to video games, animation, edutainment or gaming crossover. The nominees are judged on creativity, innovation, use of technology and the overall success of the project.

Both games nominated for this award are examples of transformational games, or games that change people for the better. Schell Games developed Tunnel Tail in association with BEST Foundation, an organization dedicated to drug use prevention. The game helps young teens develop the skills necessary for eluding and diffusing unsafe social situations. Like Tunnel Tail, PlayForward: Elm City Stories has ambitious social goals, Made in partnership with Yale University School of Medicine, this role-playing game for the iPad aims to prevent HIV infection among ethnic minority adolescents.

“We are quite thrilled to be nominated for this award,” said CEO Jesse Schell. “It is entirely representative of what we aspire to accomplish at our company. We want our games to be fun but educational, and to transform the player in a fundamental way. Our nomination for this award validates our success with these games.”

Winners will be announced on Wednesday, May 15, 2013, at a special ceremony to be held in Pittsburgh, PA.