GAME CHEF 2005: AND THE WINNER IS...

[Andy K]

So, 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

[Rossum]

I'm speechless.

While I hoped to place, I never expected to win. Like most of us, I read almost all of this year's entries (entrees?), and knew the competition was steep. It feels good to share the Inner Circle with such awesome company.

A very big thanks to this year's judges and the Game Chef organizers.

MDK

PS: I will have a book at this year's Gen Con! Send preorder or ad requests to rossum at gmail dot com. :)

[hamsterprophet]

Congratulations to everyone - literally everyone for participating and doing the whole peer review thing, the secret ninja judges for their hard work, and to Jason, Eric and Mischa for their success! Totally awesome!

I'd also like to say that it's a damn fine honor for Carry to be in the same list with those other eight games, and I'm basking in the warm glow of that craziness right now. You guys freakin rock.

Well, I hope to see everyone again next year...

-N

[Harlequin]

Bravo, Mischa, bravo.

And thank you, everybody - entrants and judges alike - for making this contest such a blast.

That's a hell of a thing to come back to, after an evening of being supported wholeheartedly by Judas, having my church founded by Doubting Thomas, playing referee between two Simons writing divergent bibles, and finally being betrayed by Philip of all people. I'm thrilled.

Who's up for IronMan Game Chef - every two weeks for a year? (Duck and cover...)

- Eric

[Tobias]

That's cool - congrats to the prime!

Thanks for the hard work, Andy. Will be seeing a list if numeric scores at some point for the games, or is this is?

And man, you must've done a LOT of reading...

[PlotDevice]

Woot! Congratulations!

1984 Prime is excellent, I look forward to hearing reviews of its print debut!

And special congrats to TLS (Sacrilicious!) and BaHP (Crimulation!), all excellent entries and top choices for top game!

It has been a blast!

Warm regards
Evan

[matthijs]

Congratulations To the winner, to the runner-ups, and to all of us who finished a game! I hope to see published & playtested versions of all these games!

[jmstar]

Congratulations, everyone!

Looking forward to next year, and following all these games as they grow and evolve.

--Jason

[adgboss]

Let me add my voice to the congratualtions. This was an awesome competition and I had a great time. Congrats to the winner!

Sean

[Emily Care]

Congrats, Mischa! And also to Eric, Jason & all that made the top list! Good work! And great work on all our parts! It's been an honor to get to see all your ideas & to be among this number. : )

Thanks also to Andy & the judges, to Mike for the whole shebang, and to everyone who made this another incredibly inspiring addition to the world of indie design.

See ya in the presses!

best,
Emily