This last Saturday we had a playtest of Department Nine, my 2007 Game Chef game. I've playtested the original rules a few times in a form only slightly modified from the Game Chef version. They always worked, but the game never seemed to be firing on all cylinders. So this playtest had substantial revisions to the setup phase, core conflict and ( Read more... )

Unable to get back to sleep this morning, I had an idea. And I wanted to note it down before I manage another hour of sleep and forget it. So I apologize if it's a bit incoherent or difficult to follow; this is mostly for my own benefit.

One of the flaws of Department Nine, my 2007 Game Chef game, was that the initial setup phase took too long ( Read more... )

Alex who we used to game with was back in town last night (back from California), so we determined that we should gather together again and play something. I proposed playtesting Department Nine again, and there was no dissent. So we did that ( Read more... )

My game came in 11th, out of 83. Which is pretty good, though not good enough to go on to the running for overall winner. A lot of the games rated below mine are actually quite good, too, so I'm happy with my placing. (Though it is a bit like placing fourth or fifth in the Olympics ( Read more... )

The review stage of Game Chef is finally starting to move. Every participant has to review at least five other games entered, mostly from an assigned list. I eagerly had all of my required reviews finished days ago, and then found myself impatiently waiting for people to review my game.

But they are finally coming in, and have been almost ( Read more... )

My final draft (for the contest, anyway) of my Game Chef game lives over here. It's final, because I made it on software we have at work and not at home, so I can't change it again before the deadline without breaking into work on Sunday.

My Game Chef game is entered, but not actually finished. More or less, I wanted to be the first to enter their game. Is this a bad idea? Being overly eager? Filled with divinely punishable hubris ( Read more... )

Second playtest tonight, which went well but not as well as the first ( Read more... )

These are my notes after my initial playtest. A lot of the notes are unclear, as they often refer to bits of the system I haven't posted about. If you've got questions about them, ask away. In general, the game went really well.

( Notes after the break )

It's not important to know anything else about my Game Chef entry (though you're welcome to read my first thoughts thread and comment on the rest of the game) to understand and comment on this question ( Read more... )