RENO, Nev. (KRNV & MyNews4.com) -- A different kind of competition is heating up in Reno this weekend, as computer software developers face off in a 24-hour contest.
Microsoft Licensing is teaming up with EDAWN and PC Doctor to host the event - and they're calling it the Reno Hackathon.
It's a whole new world of technology since "WarGames" hit the big screen in 1983 or "Hackers" debuted in 1995. Organizers say the developers competing in the Reno Hackathon aren't hacking by traditional definitions.
"There's no security stuff going on," said Michael Palermo, Microsoft technical evangelist. "It's just about creativity."
"Hack really in the context of a 24-hour event like this is how do you hack something together so it'll hold up well enough to win the prize," said Douglas Erwin, EDAWN vice president of enterpreneurial development.
So hacking like this isn't what you'd see in the movies.
"A lot of clicking sounds, a lot of people being very intense on the projects that they're working on, lot of people drinking lots of energy drinks," Palermo said.
Since it's 24-hour straight competition, they've provided lots of caffeine and snacks for the hackers.
Hackathon contestant Storm Dain says the adrenaline is good for creativity.
"A friendly competition like this can actually spark ideas," Dain said.
Ideas that Erwin says could launch businesses.
"Who knows what will come out of it," Erwin said. "It could just be a fun app or it could be the next Google."
