The first place winner will also receive a $50 gift certificate to the on-line game store of their choice. The second place winner will receive a $30 gift certificate and the third place winner will get a $20 gift certificate.
Entry Thread: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/article/3867905#3867905
Discussion Thread: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/article/3867888#3867888
The RULES are as follows:
1. Make a new and original themed rummy card game for two (2) players. Merely tacking a theme on to any traditional or previously published rummy game is not a valid entry. It must contain some additional original game mechanism to make it a unique game. You can have cards with special actions, melds with special abilities, wild cards, or any variety of additional game mechanisms.
2. The game can have more players but it also must be playable by two players. The game can have adjustments to accommodate the different number of players (for example: different number of players receive different number of cards to start).
3. The game must be a rummy game. For the purpose of this contest, that means it must have:
3a. Melds – Three or more cards of either Runs (consecutive sequence of three or more cards of the same suit) and/or Sets (cards that are identical or of the same rank).
3b. Draw – Cards are taken from an un-dealt pile OR picked up when thrown away by an opponent. This happens at the beginning of a player’s turn.
3c. Discard – Cards are thrown away from your hand. This happens at the end of a player’s turn.
3d. Laying Melds – During their turns, the players may put a meld on the table.
3e. Layoffs – During their turns, the players may put cards on the table that go with your opponent’s melds.
4. A shut out mechanism is not required but Mike Fitzgerald often uses them and they are encouraged. For example, in the Al Capone Mystery Rummy, if a player has all 8 Al Capone cards on the table, then they immediately win that hand through a shut out.
5. If the game has not been physically published (either by you or a game company) before the start date of this contest, it is eligible. If your game exists but is only on Artscow, a website, or BGG, it is eligible. The game must be a physical card game. Computer programmed versions are not allowed.
6. If Mike Fitzgerald has already played your game, it is not eligible.
7. If you wish, you may incorporate poker chips, coins, dice, glass beads, stones, buttons, games boards, meeples, cubes, pawns, pen & paper, etc. into your design. Heck, add anything (within reason) that works as long as the rummy mechanism is the major focus of the game. Live ammo, flammable substances, livestock, combustion engines and anything that is illegal to send through the US postal system will not be permitted (yes, this is my attempt at a joke but I still will not permit this stuff).
8. You may provide a player aid. But it is not mandatory.
9. Your entry must be themed. Keep in mind that Mike Fitzgerald will be the celebrity judge in this contest… so you might consider a mystery theme. Having said that, any theme is acceptable. Please make an effort to integrate your unique mechanisms with the theme.
10. To enter the contest, post your game on the entry thread via text or link. An entry must have Artscow files to make the deck, Artscow instructions for printing the deck, a list of additional required components, and game rules in English. If any of these is missing, then the entry is not eligible. (Note: I am not affiliated with Artscow – I just prefer it. Having all the cards in one place will just make it easier to print the judges’ decks). The artwork can be clip art or original. Actually, I am not going to be the copyright police (on the art or theme). All that I care about is that you have the proper Artscow files, Artscow instructions and game rules by the deadline.
11. You may submit as many entries as you wish.
12. There is no limit on how many game designers can work on an entry. They should all be listed in the entry, though.
13. If someone legally objects to an entry for any reason, then that will be the submitting contestant’s problem. Entries with any legal dispute will be immediately disqualified.
14. Do not exceed 108 cards (2 Artscow decks) in your game. (Note: In Artscow, each deck (of 54) of cards must have the same back. If you are using 2 decks for your game, the two decks can have the same backs or different backs. You cannot have different backs within the same Artscow deck.)
15. The contestants will NOT have to print out the Artscow decks for the contest judges. They are only responsible for providing the proper Artscow files, Artscow instructions and game rules. I will follow your Artscow instructions to the letter for the printing (so you might want to test it for accuracy). If a contestant or anyone else wants a deck for themselves, they will have to print it out and pay for it themselves.
16. The contest starts NOW (the moment this is posted).
17. The deadline for entries will be Monday, December 7, 2009 at 6 am Central Time. You may begin posting entries anytime before the deadline. Late entries will not be accepted under any circumstances.
18. Approximately one month after the deadline (January 16, 2010) the first round of judging will select the Top 5 entries. The number of first round judges appointed will depend on how many entries we get. (Note: If you are interested in being a first round judge, please contact me privately. The judges will remain anonymous to avoid judge tampering.) The results of that judging will be posted on the game entry thread.
19. One month after that, Saturday (February 13, 2010) the top 3 winners (chosen by Mike Fitzgerald and his hand-selected helper judges) will be announced. The results of that judging will be posted on the game entry thread.
20. This is intended to be a friendly little contest. I would very much like to keep it that way. No promises of any kind (for example: of publication, feedback, eligibility or legal stuff) are expressed or implied. I, Catherine Pfeifer, am the sole party responsible for this competition. If you have a gripe, question, comment, or anything else… please come to me first. If there is any huge uncontained drama, I will simply close it down. Don’t make me pull this contest over!
21. If you have a comment for Mike Fitzgerald, post it on this discussion thread. I notify him of each comment. If any contestant contacts him before the completion of this contest, it will be considered judge tampering and they will be disqualified. I really want to make sure that he has fun doing this – OK? Please, please, please… don’t bother Mike Fitzgerald… he is being a great guy for volunteering to do this.
22. I am not eligible to enter the competition. Contest judges are also not eligible to enter the competition.
23. There will be many related mini-contests connected with this larger contest so please subscribe to the entry and discussion threads and stay tuned.
24. Every entry will receive a microbadge. I recommend that you pick up either the "Mike Fitzgerald Fan" or "Mystery Rummy Fan" badges. Hey, you are big boys and girls... pick out whatever you want!
25. If you have any questions about this contest, or its rules, please post them on this discussion thread. I will answer you as soon as I can.
Have fun and good luck,
Cate
Edits: I am editing for formatting. I don't know how all the hard returns got in there.
Last edited on 2009-09-02 10:25:12 CST (Total Number of Edits: 3)
Posted Wed Sep 2, 2009 4:09 am
