My Game Chef Rant
Submitted by JoE PrincE on Fri, 16/03/2007 - 11:03.
Here are my opinions on last years game chef. A blow for faux politeness but a victory for honesty.
I entered game chef last year but my experiences of it were not particularly good. I enjoyed writing my games but...
Maybe I was just spoilt by the Ronnies - a single judge who is an authority on theory and design seems a much saner way to go.
I didn't really get any feedback of value on either of my Game Chef entries. The reviews not being posted for months didn't help either. I also had to review a dozen games which were mostly unplayable pretentious twaddle.
It basically comes down to a popularity contest. By the time the top ten were announced I couldn't be arsed to read any more pdfs so I just voted for who I knew.
How good a product looks does have a massive impact. Last years winner was the best looking game by a mile.
There's no consensus of opinion on game theory, design or anything else. People basically go "I like it!" or "I don't like it!". Rationality is optional. A single bad score will also completely scupper a game's chances.
Of the 60+ entries last year I only know of one game actually being published. You get little exposure and no-one gives a crap about your game unless you're one of the Forge/Story-games inner circle already.
It was far too big, perhaps the feedback groups will help with this - time will tell.
So why am I entering?
I'm a sucker for games design comps and under the veil of a pseudonym I can actually be honest. Like I am here, which is refreshing if a tad negative. :-)
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I've never entered before
Submitted by Andrew Kenrick on Fri, 16/03/2007 - 18:03.
I've never entered before but in previous years I've certainly got the impression that people offered feedback on friends designs, and other people got left out. I certainly think that the design and feedback groups will go a long way to help mitigate that.
Game design competitions are
Submitted by Matt on Fri, 16/03/2007 - 18:13.
Game design competitions are most useful, to my mind, in providing you with an unusual framework and a deadline. They're great for thinking differently.
That said, I haven't entered Game Chef since it moved from The Forge in 2003 (largely cos it moved to a site that was a pig to use, so I lost interest). Now it has its own dedicated forum, I'll see how it goes.
That it falls over Conpulsion means we're got a great talking shop to keep us enthused.
-Matt
Realms Publishing
Yeah, got the game design
Submitted by Shevaun on Sat, 17/03/2007 - 01:03.
Yeah, got the game design bug from trying the 24-hour thing, and, even though I still haven't played what I wrote, I did get some sort of game out of it. So Game Chef is on, even if I totally drop out due to Conpulsion. I'll admit, I've only just got the history of the event, and I never knew it started on the Forge. I'm pretty glad its moved away from there just because I can't quite take the heavy-handedness of the Forge, and the slight "Boys Club" mentality there.
(Yeah, I read up on the game theory stuff, and I did take some stuff away from it, but mostly it was about giving your game focus, and I don't think the Forge has a monopoly on that idea, even though it presents it quite compellingly)
Anyhoo, I'm also looking forward to the review side of things. Especially, getting something to read over while I'm in Arizona the next week. Red rocks and indie games are a winning combination, in my head. And being able to contribute positively to someone else's game concept & design is almost like being a contributing author, so either way my ego is salved :D
Shevy
www.conpulsion.org
info@conpulsion.org
Thanks guys good points all.
Submitted by JoE PrincE on Sat, 17/03/2007 - 10:35.
Thanks guys good points all. Have fun in Arizona Shevy!
Let's see how it goes this time, hopefully more of the games will lead to some actual play rather than a pure exercise in design.
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JoE
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Prince of Darkness Games
Rock N' Role-Play....
I agree Joe
Submitted by Gregor Hutton on Thu, 22/03/2007 - 08:33.
There have been some good games out of Game Chef (carry, Polaris, TMW), but my views on it are well known and in line with your rant Joe. I felt that the recent setting-design contest had similar (perhaps unvoiced) problems. It's the nature of a "democratic" rather than "meritocratic" marking system.
Having done the rant thing
Submitted by JoE PrincE on Fri, 23/03/2007 - 08:43.
Having done the rant thing I'm really enjoying Game Chef this year.
Mostly because I'm role-playing all the time and posting in character. It's ace. Man there's a lot of wanky bullshite in the competition!
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JoE
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Prince of Darkness Games
Rock N' Role-Play....