GAME CHEF 2005: AND THE WINNER IS...
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2005 8:43 pmSo, it is my supreme honor, and exalted frustration, to deliver on to you the winner of the 2005 Game Chef contest. I say "frustration" because even though we had about 10 judges assisting with reviews and the like, I ended up reading most of the entries myself anyway, and it was simply frustrating thinking about putting one up on a pedestal- We had so many great ideas, so many solid games that I actually found playable and want to play, that I blanch at the idea of saying "this one's the BEST!"
But that's what we're here for, and that's my task here.
Before I begin, I just want to say that I personally found most of the games entertaining and exciting. Even if they didn't get much "judge cred", in the end I know that if they were polished up and playtested, they could be the Next Big Thing. Remember that most of the Game Chef games from 2004 that are coming out this year, complete with fan base and preorders, didn't even place in last year's competition. Work on it, make it better, and people will play it.
As you all know, the secret judge team reviewed the games solely on the basis of their text and rated the games on four categories:
Use of Ingredients
Style
Completeness
Estimated Effectiveness in Actual Play
The judges combined their totals, and from that list we had nine entries in what we'll call the "Inner Circle" (in no particular order):
Bacchanal
Shab al-Hiri Roach
Carry
1984prime
Malleus maleficarum
City of Brass
Last Supper
Barquest
Beneath a High Pillow
From this list, the finalists and winners were chosen.
Here are the runners up:
Beneath a High Pillow by Jason A Petrasko
With play exmples, summaries, notes and background, this is the most solid contender for "Looks like a published game already!"
The Last Supper by Eric Finley
A roleplaying game that doubles as a dinner party, I have never seen a better game for exploring religion or moral issues that arise from it. It's a passion play with cards and a board.
And the winner is...
1984Prime by Mischa D. Krilov
On the edge of the "Inspired by History" requirement, 1984Prime is through and through a game of drama and conflict. From the start, like a bomb, the roleplaying is primed and the background is set. This game bleeds story.
Congratulations everyone, especially those not mentioned here: You now have something in your hands that with a bit of work could be turned into a wonderful game. Push it to production, and people will play it!
-Andy
But that's what we're here for, and that's my task here.
Before I begin, I just want to say that I personally found most of the games entertaining and exciting. Even if they didn't get much "judge cred", in the end I know that if they were polished up and playtested, they could be the Next Big Thing. Remember that most of the Game Chef games from 2004 that are coming out this year, complete with fan base and preorders, didn't even place in last year's competition. Work on it, make it better, and people will play it.
As you all know, the secret judge team reviewed the games solely on the basis of their text and rated the games on four categories:
Use of Ingredients
Style
Completeness
Estimated Effectiveness in Actual Play
The judges combined their totals, and from that list we had nine entries in what we'll call the "Inner Circle" (in no particular order):
Bacchanal
Shab al-Hiri Roach
Carry
1984prime
Malleus maleficarum
City of Brass
Last Supper
Barquest
Beneath a High Pillow
From this list, the finalists and winners were chosen.
Here are the runners up:
Beneath a High Pillow by Jason A Petrasko
With play exmples, summaries, notes and background, this is the most solid contender for "Looks like a published game already!"
The Last Supper by Eric Finley
A roleplaying game that doubles as a dinner party, I have never seen a better game for exploring religion or moral issues that arise from it. It's a passion play with cards and a board.
And the winner is...
1984Prime by Mischa D. Krilov
On the edge of the "Inspired by History" requirement, 1984Prime is through and through a game of drama and conflict. From the start, like a bomb, the roleplaying is primed and the background is set. This game bleeds story.
Congratulations everyone, especially those not mentioned here: You now have something in your hands that with a bit of work could be turned into a wonderful game. Push it to production, and people will play it!
-Andy
