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[GDS] September "The only way out is up" Comments and Questions

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richdurham
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Use this space to ask questions or comment on the September 2015 GDS, "The only way out is up."

In particular, if you have any examples of vertical games beyond the two mentioned in the showdown description (Terror in Meeple City and Connect Four), please add them below with a link!

Punkage
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OK so I'm brainstorming ideas

OK so I'm brainstorming ideas for this and just had a couple of questions (first time submitting)

Theme: What does this entail? I know it says whatever I want but I don't even know what this means haha Is there an example from previous showdowns that would help?

When people are judging the games, which is obviously very subjective but does a game need to have a lot of detailed depth in the pitch? Has anyone submitted incredibly simple designs and won?

Doing my best to come up with a unique idea, already scrapped two ideas as they've kinda already been done

andymakespasta
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You can view the previous GDS

You can view the previous GDS threads for examples and winners.

This month has no restriction on theme, as long as you "use vertical space".
People generally give fewer points to entries that don't really fit the theme. Sometimes people have different ideas about what fits, but the voters are generally pretty astute.

Question for other contestants: Do you think the camel stacking carrying thing in "Camel Up" counts as vertical space?

Zubonzo
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Stacking?

Is stacking game pieces on top of each other on the game board surface considered "using vertical space"?

537h
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Stacking

I would think that stacking games would fit. Some of the first things I thought of when I read the challenge were kid and/or dexterity games like Super Rhino, Animal Upon Animal, and Jenga.

richdurham
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examples

There are plenty of past examples. Here is the GDS topic with all of them sorted by month.

Vertical space will mean whatever the voters think it means, so you are all on the right track in that you're discussing it ahead of time.

Personally I would not include CamelUp as an example at all. Having a small stacking mechanic to determine order does not make "verticality" the focus of the game. Besides, the main playing surface is still a flat race track. No, nope, nuh-uh.

Jenga is a fine example. Hopefully we don't see half a dozen stacking games, though.

Arthur Wohlwill
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Re: The only way out is up

A vertical game that I really like is Capitol
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1155/capitol

Tyberius
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intellectual property okay?

Can you use someone else's intellectual property as the basis for the contest, like if I was basing it on Disney stuff?

richdurham
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Sure go ahead

There's no prize or publishing at the end of this contest, so go ahead and use whatever theme you like!

MarkJindra
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Vertically Challenged

Personally I feel that stacking games do use vertical space and are valid for this competition. In general when I think about a vertical space game I think of how that after setup the game's footprint on the gaming surface doesn't increase. Not necessarily that you can't play it on a table with a chandelier above it.

Games like Ice House would certainly count as vertical and you can even say that Checkers is a vertical space game as your board never increases in size and pieces can grow vertically because of the "King Me" bit of the game.

The best part about this month's challenge is that it is open to the creativity of the designers and their abilities to make that vertical component shine.

I am really looking forward to seeing how people have used "vertical" in their game ideas.

=M=

richdurham
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vertical but not dominantly so?

Glad to hear your thoughts on "vertical-ness", Mark.

I agree that the game syou mention have a vertical component to them in tha they stack (even checkers). But is the vertical nature of the game the dominant force in the game? Obviously what constitutes dominant is open to interpretation, barring a serious academic survey. And that interpretation is hopefully what will give us some good entries this month!

But again, for the contest, I'm hoping designers went towards "obviously dominant" rather than edge cases that maybe kind of fit in the category of "vertical space games" like checkers.

We'll see what people create!

andymakespasta
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In less abstract games, like

In less abstract games, like those kiddy fishing games or jenga, the game naturally takes place in the real world. Even dexterity type throwing games can be said to use vertical space.

In more abstract games, I think there are two seperate aspects of vertical-ness.

First is the extra dimension. When you stack things, or move in 3d-chess (and variants), you're using an extra dimension that is not there on the 2d board. However, any state change is sort of like an extra dimension. You can always replace checker kings with special king pieces, and 3d-chess is usually played on several boards side by side.

Second is gravity. The vertical space is inherently different from the other directions because of gravity (I'm prejudiced against astronauts). Connect four uses gravity, but does not use the extra dimension. You can always play connect four on a normal board, though it won't be as satisfying.

It's difficult to fulfill both criteria, unless there's a balancing element involved.
</rant>

richdurham
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gravity

Andy I think you've hit the nail(s) on the head. BOTH of those are factors that make vertical-ness matter. In case of this contest, whichever criteria you want to emphasise is fine, just do it a lot. That way it can be the focus of the game.

MarkJindra
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Let The Chips Fall Where They May

I think we will see some creative ideas. Some will most likely make vertical it a primary element some may be more subtle. I would hope we see a mix of abstract games, dexterity games, and hardcore euro's with various stacking or vertical elements so as to make it difficult to judge.

=M=

richdurham
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Deadline is mere hours away!

Get those entries in!

the infamous
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Out of time?

Hi, so I'm new here and still filling out my profile and stuff, but I just so happened to find this thread about design contests, and was kicking myself for not looking into it sooner. (removed stupid question, found answer)

I feel like my game has probably been done to death, but the story and character development aspects would add to the originality.

Since I'm not allowed to enter, can I say that my space battle game would've worked since it deals with 3D space? If not, sorry. Someone else may have submitted something like that anyway.

richdurham
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Wow sorry for missing this

Absolutely you can post about your game outside the contest!

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