For those interested, the Game Chef 2007 (http://www.game-chef.com)RPG design competition is starting soon.
It should be a lot of fun.
I've always wanted in...maybe I'll try this year.
I'm reasonably certain I'll be in for this year's. I did it two years ago and had a good time with it. Last year, I thought the "ingrediants" were a bit stupid, and I couldn't come up with a good time-themed game. Hopefully, this year will have something more palatable to my tastes.
I've always thought about taking a run at it, but just never have the time. I guess if this year's ingredient really interest me, I might give it a crack, but I doubt I'll ever finish. :p
I'm going to give it a try, no matter the ingrediants. If they are really bad, I'm not sure how I will do though.
Quote from: CodexArcanumLast year, I thought the "ingrediants" were a bit stupid, and I couldn't come up with a good time-themed game.
Yeah, I admit, things were a little "experimental" that year. It was a good experience, though, in the "don't ever do this again" category. :-)
This year, we're taking it Back to Basics. Simplicity. I can't give away more (just two more days), but let's just say that if before people were mad at too much constraint, they might be mad this year at too little...
-Andy
Are the winners traditionally "Forgey"* games? I am mostly a mainstream RPG guy, so should I even try or is it futile? I'm not opposed to things like diceless games, but my approach would be distinctly traditional.
*I use the term "Forgey" rather than indy, because indy is a broad category that can cover anything from the next D&D or Shadowrun to My Life with Master or Dogs in the Vineyard.
Quote from: Monster ManuelAre the winners traditionally "Forgey"* games? I am mostly a mainstream RPG guy, so should I even try or is it futile? I'm not opposed to things like diceless games, but my approach would be distinctly traditional.
*I use the term "Forgey" rather than indy, because indy is a broad category that can cover anything from the next D&D or Shadowrun to My Life with Master or Dogs in the Vineyard.
Well since mostly "forgey" types of designers have participated, yes most of the games are "forgey". My impression is that the idea of the contest is more to get people to design games than trting to be the winner. That said, I think more traditional games would be welcome as well.
Quote from: McrowWell since mostly "forgey" types of designers have participated, yes most of the games are "forgey". My impression is that the idea of the contest is more to get people to design games than trting to be the winner. That said, I think more traditional games would be welcome as well.
Ok, thanks. That makes sense. And just so no one bites my head off, :) I used the word "forgey" not as a pejorative, but because I didn't know how else to sum up what I was talking about in a word.
A whole system from scratch. Hm. Might give it a shot.
Quote from: McrowWell since mostly "forgey" types of designers have participated, yes most of the games are "forgey". My impression is that the idea of the contest is more to get people to design games than trting to be the winner. That said, I think more traditional games would be welcome as well.
True, True and Very True. In fact...
Well, I won't spoil it. The previous 'winners' are creating these optional goalposts/awards this year. You don't have to do anything like them to "win" or whatever, they're kinda like "side missions" in a video game: Go for them if you want, otherwise ignore them. Like I mention elsewhere, some (lame) examples might be "best use of d12 dice" or "coolest space setting" or "uses colors in the game system". Stuff like that, but better.
Anyway, keep an eye on those optional awards when they're revealed on Saturday.
There's one in there I think a lot of folks here will like.
Hey Andy, does one have to sign up to participate? I don't quite understand how the whole thing works.
It seems to me that you just do it and talk about it over on the game chef boards?
Is that all, or do I have to sign up and stuff?
Quote from: joewolzHey Andy, does one have to sign up to participate? I don't quite understand how the whole thing works.
It seems to me that you just do it and talk about it over on the game chef boards?
In the past, all you needed to do was start it whenever you wanted, finish it whenever you wanted, turned it in, then reviewed other games. No official "sign in".
This year, we're doing sign ins because there's a big emphasis on reading others' ideas and the like, helping folks out if they need it, running ideas past each other, etc. So you'll have to "sign in" at some point.
how it works is this: There's the forums at the game-chef.com site. You can sign up for those whenever you want (everyone gets approved). You can hang around, talk on threads, just see what's going on.
The ingredients and rules are revealed Friday night.
Whenever you feel like participating (whether you are ready to go evern before the rules are revealed, like some have; or if you want to strategically wait until the ingredients are posted and you have a chance to see if you can work with them or not), you "tap in" to that stickied "Tap In Here" thread at the top of the forum. You get assigned into a feedback group, and then you're on your own.
From that point on, if you want to design in silence, or if you want to post updates, or if you need help, you can post to your group (or not post at all) as you want.
When you're done, you'll turn in your game. Then after the deadline, everyone will get a small number of games to help review (others' work, basically). We take the final scores and declare the "winner", and then turn around and give another award for the person who's been giving the most/best/yadda feedback to others.
That's basically how it all works.
-Andy
That's pretty cool. I may jump in this year...I want to see the ingedients first, though. I'll go sign up on the board.
I signed up, as well. It should prove entertaining, if nothing else.
Quote from: Andy KAnyway, keep an eye on those optional awards when they're revealed on Saturday.
There's one in there I think a lot of folks here will like.
OK, the INGREDIENTS are not posted online yet. But the OPTIONAL AWARDS that I mentioned are posted:
http://www.game-chef.com/workshop/comments.php?DiscussionID=36&page=1
The one I was referring to was the "Hidden Under the Soap" award: The honorary award meant to wash away the hippie stink of forgie RPGs*.
-Andy
(* is one way to think of this award, if that's your bend)
So, did anyone here that participated end up finishing their game for the contest? There's too many handles and pseudonyms to remember who was who.
-Andy
Quote from: Andy KSo, did anyone here that participated end up finishing their game for the contest?
Unfortunately, not me: too many other issues kept interfering. I did end up with a little draft which I might still develop further into something more worthwhile, though.
Not I, sorry...
unfortunately I had a lot of stuff pop up right in the middle of the Game Chef, that is now resolved.Mostly.
I hope to finish the game at some point.
Cool: I know that I've had to back out of two contests before as well because of real life (2 completed, 2 quit). Hopefully, if you started working on something you like, you'll get a chance to finish it.
Good luck!
-Andy
I'm another one who had to back out. are we still expected to review other games? My situation is going to remain hectic but if so, I'll have to manage, of course.
Quote from: Monster ManuelI'm another one who had to back out. are we still expected to review other games? My situation is going to remain hectic but if so, I'll have to manage, of course.
No, that's ok. You can help review if you want to (and have completed a game in the past), but once you tap out you can stay out (because most people get caught up in stuff, and can't dedicate time to reviewing and the like after that).
Reviewing is only mandatory for folks who submitted a game.
Thanks!