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Similar game design question

8 replies [Last post]
Tue, 07/16/2013 - 20:17
limalima
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Joined: 06/01/2013

I have a general question that I assume I can ask in this forum. I am definitely new to the board game design scene and am amazed at the amount of work that goes into creating games. It is definitely a labor of love.

My question is this: What do most of you do if you come up with a new game design idea and start the ball rolling only to see that there is a game out there already or a very similar idea is being thrown out there on forum such as this one? Do you just scrap the idea? I know I have thought about 2 game designs that I was getting started and playing around with only to see that someone else has something almost like it or found a game in a store just like it. It almost takes the air from underneath you.

Do most of you continue with the idea and see it through or try to redesign it or just scrap it and design anew? Like I said I am very new and am learning as I go. Any advise or experience would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Luis

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Tue, 07/16/2013 - 21:03
#1
Corsaire
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Joined: 06/27/2013
Always a bummer

Sucks the steam right out of me. I have many random ideas, and pet ones, and ones with some progress. The pet ones stick around, others I toss out.

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Tue, 07/16/2013 - 21:29
#2
Stormyknight1976
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Joined: 04/08/2012
It discouraging

Its discouraging to say the least, but don't let this small detail get you down. The hardest thing to get past is when a family member cleans out your room when your gone and throws out all of your stuff to clean up. I was disheartened for an entire month. But even though this has happened many years ago, it was actually for the best. I moved on.

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Wed, 07/17/2013 - 09:19
#3
Procylon
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Joined: 06/27/2012
Use your creativity and

Use your creativity and advance on the idea. If someone already did it, see if you can do it better. While you figure that out, you can let the air out at a more reasonable pace.

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Wed, 07/17/2013 - 10:16
#4
silasmolino
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Joined: 02/01/2013
Make it work

Yes. But it doesn't mean your game has to be exactly like the other. Change a mechanic to one that you think might add flavor or add elegance. Perhaps a similar game is too complex. Perhaps you can simplify it.
With boardgames, I am under the impression that there are no "NEW IDEAS", but that doesnt mean you can't reinvent old ideas. (BTW, there is still a place deep deep deep down inside my heart that thinks there just might be a new idea).

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Thu, 07/18/2013 - 20:51
#5
limalima
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Joined: 06/01/2013
Appreciate the words of

Appreciate the words of wisdom from all of you. It really did suck my enthusiasm from me but that is what makes game design so challenging.

It is funny because my buddy who is also designing a game laughs at me because I have about 4-5 ideas that I am putting in a notebook for future reference. I guess I am not the only one that works a little on multiple projects.

Thanks for all the advice,
Luis

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Thu, 07/18/2013 - 21:03
#6
randomuser
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Joined: 07/12/2013
On one hand it does suck, but

On one hand it does suck, but on the other hand if you see your idea already implemented in a successful fashion, you should also take heart because it means that idea was a good one, so at least you're on the right track!

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Sat, 07/20/2013 - 23:02
#7
oneMeVz
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Joined: 06/08/2013
I don't think its necessarily a bad thing

There are lots of ideas that float around and coincidentally get picked up at the same time. Most of the time they're implemented completely differentby their creators. You could keep working as is and develop something entirely different from the other guy. Or if you feel they are too similar, you could be bold and ask to collaborate together.

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Sun, 07/21/2013 - 03:06
#8
Markus Hagenauer
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Joined: 12/04/2009
it depends

If it is a rather easy game that focuses on idea / gimmick / ... and I´d find out it was done before, I´d drop it.
If it is a more complex game, I think there is more room to work out some differences although the basic idea is simmilar.
So if you have an idea simmilar to Looping Loui, it will be hard to develop it to a game that is not too close to it.
But if you have the idea to make a worker placement game about farming, there is still a lot of room to make it different from Agricola.
But this must be decided form case to case.

There is no clear line to tell what is too close. And legally much more similarity is allowed than I would morally allow myselfe.

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