I just want to apologize to all BGDF users about the constant spam posts and other sub-optimal parts of this website. For some time I've been meaning to do something about this, but my lack of expertise in this department has caused hesitation and delay. I am gearing up to find (or at least look for) a professional solution - I will let you know more when I figure it out.

Thanks for continuing to come back and participate in the BGDF community despite any irritants and sub-optimal stuff.

- Seth

January 2011 Game Design Showdown - "Remember the Time"

Please Read: Details on entering the Game Design Showdown.

Voting for the January Game design Showdown is now closed!

Kind of a disappointing or anticlimactic month for the GDS - most likely due to the 1-page design contest at BGG. Only 2 entries this month, and each one got 2 votes, for a tie!

So congrats to both entrants this month, you're both winners :)

Hopefully next month the GDS will be more active.

Main Design Requirements:

• Theme Restriction: None! This month feel free to come up with whatever theme you'd like.

• Mechanics Restriction: Memory. For this showdown your game should have a memory element, but not the kind you might be used to - rather than the players needing to remember certain aspects of the game state, the GAME should have some kind of memory or some way to record the game state (or at least part of it), such that the game can be reset to that state on a future turn if need be.

• Mechanics Restriction: Rock-Paper-Scissors. This month's games must use a Rock-Paper-Scissors comparison in a non-trivial way. This does not mean that you must literally use "Rock," "Paper" and "Scissors" in your game, just things that have the kind of relationship. For example, the new Sid Meier's Civilization: the Board Game has a somewhat sophisticated RPS system for combat.

I just read about a little game design contest being held over in the Board Game Design forums at BGG:

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/598336/contest-one-full-sheet-label-

Check it out, the post details how to enter.

Happy New Year!
- Seth

For some the holiday season is a chance to take a break from work and concentrate on their game designs - for others it's a time to take a break from game design and hang out with friends and family... whichever the case may be for you, I hope you have a fun holiday!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

- Seth

Due to a recent rash of spam posts here at BGDF, I tried to improve everybody's experience by playing with the CAPTCHA settings. As it turned out, despite it turning into a very annoying hurdle for the regular users of the site, somehow it did not seem to deter spam posters in any way! I apologize for that inconvenience and have turned off the CAPTCHA stuff (I think!)

However, it's given me an amusing idea for the December installment of the Game Design Showdown...

Voting on the Game Design Showdown is now CLOSED!

Congratulations to this months winner, a landslide victory with 9 votes:
Completely Automated Public Test to tell Computers and Humans Apart: Holiday Edition 2076
by James Ryan (williamj35)

Other entries and votes. NOTE: I missed a vote email earlier - this is the corrected tally: CAPTCHA CAPTURE - 5 votes
It's Beginning to look a lot like Spammas! - 3 votes
Wi$hl!sts - 3 votes

Thanks for playing, have a happy holiday season and I'll see you next year!
- Seth

In case nobody noticed, there was no November GDS. This time of year is always hectic, what with holidays approaching and travel. I personally have been very busy with BGG.con and all of the exciting Tasty Minstrel goings on.

But fear not! The Game Design Showdown will return in December!

- Seth

Following in the footsteps of Alien Frontiers' successful Kickstarter campaign, Tasty Minstrel Games has started a campaign of their own to fund production of my latest game, Eminent Domain!

October 2010 Game Design Showdown - "Herculean Task"

Please Read: Details on entering the Game Design Showdown.

This month's challenge is to design a stereotypical Eurogame about the 12 trials of Hercules.

And the winner is...

The winner of the October/November GDS, "Herculean Task," is Verb The Adjective Noun, by Isaiah Tanenbaum (ilta)!

Second place was The Labors of Herakles by Richard James (rcjames14), beating out Hercules: The Later Years by Dave (dobnarr) by just 2 votes.

Congratulations to all 4 entries, they all really look superb!

September 2010 Game Design Showdown - "Yea, Verily!"

Please Read: Details on entering the Game Design Showdown.

VOTING RESULTS ARE IN for the September 2010 Game Design Showdown entries!

Photo finish this month! Congratulations to Richard James (rcjames) for garnering 8 votes with his cooperative game entry Nottingham!

Runner up in 2nd place with 6 votes was (dplepage) for Sherwood Irregulars.

Thanks everyone for participating, I really liked several of the entries this time! The critique thread is now open for business!

Main Design Requirements:

• Theme Restriction: This month's theme restriction is very rich and recognizable to all: Robin Hood! There have been a few published games with this theme, but none I would consider great... maybe you can do better?

• Mechanics Restriction: To go along with the theme, your game must have some semblance of "stealing from the rich and giving to the poor".

• Mechanics Restriction: Your game must also include at least two different mini-games. For an example of a mini-game, consider Archon, a Chess style game where you play a mini-game to see which piece actually wins in a capture.

August 2010 Game Design Showdown - "Sharing"

THE RESULTS ARE IN...and the winner of the August 2010 Game Design Showdown is...

Don Jon's The Sorcerer's Apprentices, with a final score of 11 votes!

Congratulations to Don Jon, and thank you to everyone who submitted an entry or took the time to vote!