picoCTF 2013 - Toaster Wars: When interactive storytelling game meets the largest computer security competition

Abstract

Computer security competitions have become a great resource for students who are interested in computer science as a career. Most of these computer security competitions, commonly known as CTFs (Capture the Flag), are presented in a Jeopardy Board style of gameplay. This type of presentation only displays the problems and lacks a compelling storyline, interaction, or player immersion. A team of five graduate students (dubbed Team Osiris) from Carnegie Mellon University's Entertainment Technology Center worked with Carnegie Mellon's Hacking Club PPP to create `picoCTF,' a computer security competition to encourage U.S. middle school and high school student's interest in computer science. It was Team Osiris responsibility to add gamification to picoCTF; to push the game presentation beyond a static Jeopardy Board. Team Osiris created game design, art, animation, and programming around a fun, interactive story. The result of this effort was Toaster Wars, a CTF game experience. The competition took place from Apr. 26th to May 5th 2013, were almost 10,000 players participated. By adding gamification to picoCTF 2013 or Toaster Wars, players had a more immersive learning and competition experience.