I've updated this post withg some new info and clarifications. I've also transported my dickishness to another thread:
http://www.goplaypdx.com/forum/index.php?topic=600.0[/b]]http://www.goplaypdx.com/forum/index.php?topic=600.0!!! Jake's Awesome Fantasy Game Contest !!!I want to start a design contest. Joel and I discovered a game called Mythweaver:Reckoning on RPGNOW. Here's the link:
http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=63114.While the game is actually pretty good, the copy in the RPGNOW listing is pretty awful. It's kind of everything I hate about generic fantasy games. But... At the same time, maybe these are parts that could make an awesome whole? Here's the idea:
Challenge: Build an awesome fantasy game. Your game must meet these requirements.
-Must be 48 pages.
-Must include a distinctive core mechanic.
-Must include complete rules for character creation.
-Must include complete rules for magic.
-Must include a flexible skill system.
-May include guidelines for resolving actions during the game.
-Must cost just $3.00
-Must be made available for sale on RPGNOW
Deadline: Last day of August! We'll play the games at the August Go Play SE PDX, or I'll play the games in my spare time.
Prize: I'll do the art for your game. At least a cover and 4 illustrations. I'll provide publishing support as well, if needed.
Progress? This thread will act as a home for the contest. You can post questions, ideas and drafts here.
Who can participate? You can!
Who Judges? Me. I'm looking for creativity, originality and innovation. Solid design is a bonus as well. I'll be choosing whichever game i like the best, and my tastes are what will guide me.
More on the requirements:-Must be 48 pages: I mean 48 pages as a finished product. With art and layout and stuff. Since this is a design contest I doubt anyone will be taking their game that far before the deadline (but I can hope, because I love finished products). So what I'm looking for is a text that will be about 48 pages when/if it becomes a published game. Does that make sense? So aim for a 48 page publication, not 48 pages of text!
-Must include a distinctive core mechanic: Distinctive meaning whatever you think it means.
-Must include complete rules for character creation: Or character generation and distribution, really. Don't feel tied to any traditional character creation ideas.
-Must include complete rules for magic: Or powers. Have fun with that.
-Must include a flexible skill system: The neat thing here is that there's no requirement for a combat system of any kind.
-May include guidelines for resolving actions during the game: Please.
-Must cost just $3.00: See below.
-Must be made available for sale on RPGNOW: This is not actually a requirement. I just think it would be fun to flood RPGNOW with a bunch of cool, cheap fantasy games.
UPDATE JULY 29thHi. We're one month into the contest, and right at it's middle point. Up until now I've been kind of vague about a few things, so now is the time for me to get specific.
Contest deadline: 11:59 PM (Pacific time), August 31st 2009. No games will be accepted after this time. I'd encourage all of you to send your games in sooner then that if possible.
Acceptable formats: Anything is really fine. I'm expecting to receive most of the games as either Word or PDF files or Google Docs. Posting your content online is fine. Just make sure I know where to go to read it. Please do not send me scanned, hand written pages. I won't be able to read them. If you're going the extra mile and uploading your game to RPGNOW, make sure you send me a comp copy.
How to send me a copy of your game: You can email me at
jake@atarashigames.com. You can attach the file to the email, or include a link in the email. You can also post a link on the official thread at the Goplaypdx forum (link below). You can also upload files to the Goplaypdx Downloads page (link below). Please do not post links on the Story-games forum, my blog or anywhere else. I may not notice them.
What I will do with the games: I will read every game submitted. I will play as many of them as possible. At this point I don't anticipate being able to play every game, so I'll be focusing on games that I feel need to be played in order for me to understand them.
My judging criteria: As I've said before, I will be judging using my own personal tastes as a guide. I value originality, creativity, unique experiences. More then any of that, I value the unexpected. The game that wins will likely do so because it captures my heart completely by showing me something I've never seen before. Or maybe it won't? maybe I'll be won over by a nice, solid, traditional design?
Of course, I'll also be using the contests requirements as a guideline. I'm not just looking to see how closely these games followed the requirements, but also in what interesting ways the designers worked around them. These requirements were chosen because they represent much of what I typically don't like in a a game, so I'm very curious to see what you all have come up with.
As noted by several people, those of you who know me and share my tastes may have a better chance of winning this contest. That's just the way it is. I'm a big believer in designing for specific audiences. That said, I think the best way to win this contest is to show me something I've never seen before.
Awards: I'll be giving out a Grand Prize Award and two special category awards. The Grand Prize Award prize is the art package. The special category awards won't include a prize. Each of the three awards will come with a special graphic that the winners can display on their site, blog, or game (or have tattooed on their arm or printed on their underwear).
Additionally, I'll be providing written feedback for each game.
Time frame: I plan to announce winners on September 26th. there may be delays if I recieve more games then I'm anticipating receiving, so let's keep that as a tentative date.
Questions?
Contact Jake:
jake@atarashigames.comOfficial Contest Thread:
http://www.goplaypdx.com/forum/index.php?topic=595.0Go Play PDX Downloads:
http://www.goplaypdx.com/forum/index.php?action=tpmod;dl
Author
