I knew the competition Panazol for several years as a colleague of mine lived there and told me about, and I regularly read the trade press, but it also I will come back.
The contest rules were simple: a page rule and a set up by affordable child 8 years (8 years is one year after learning to read, so it is children who know read texts not long). In addition it was good, I have a small neighbor who has hair cell-age ... offset this with my children who are slightly older and significantly more used to playing serious games (Battlelore does not scare them, and I simplified that they try to Caylus). Nevertheless, I preferred not to put any text in the game to be about.
I quickly thought of a short game discard because it is a mechanism that is easy to understand: the winner is he who has no cards! I imagined original cards with several criteria: colors, numbers, sizes and symbols.
But I am struck cons quickly to my main weakness: the design! Offerings for the model was made. No worries so graphic! But then, I had built my game for testing. Here I am
Gimp busy drawing geometric shapes on cards ... Pfui! what a pain! Take over the software was not a problem, the worry was really graphic. I could use drawings stuck on other games, or websites, but I do not like to usurp the work of others, too, I made my triangles and squares in my hand ... it went something like this:
ugly, no?
I test the game after a session cutting and setting sleeve protects card. Action! Even the little 8 year old neighbor has the stuff! TOP, I write the rules! Problem ... What title? My first title
baby rummy not sit anyone, especially not me, but worse, everyone found the game hideous!
Long galley where I presented my game to anyone who approached my table playing for a national title at least ...
Admit that it has no mouth?
geometric forms have become Egyptian symbols, the sizes of the symbols have become a background color, the values are represented, the colors reduced to 3 instead of 4 ... brief 'too early' to paraphrase Chuck (what, I said I will not talk about sports, not TV series)!
now sending everything to Panazol for the 2009 competition ... a box found by chance in a drawer stack format games tins of Gigamic a nice sticker on it and top too! The jury
Panazol has obviously enjoyed too because I'll spare you the details of the selected finished my game among the six finalists! TOP TOO I tell you!
I collected an honorary award, well yes, we can not do second every time, but for a start, I find myself very lucky!
I competed with the Fairy Froutch the excellent Delphine Lemonnier, Saute-Crèpe Pascal Jumel, High Cubes of my namesake Sylvain Duchene, Farfa'dés Pascal Pak Cormier Sapristi Snake Detrez Gregory. Saute- Crèpre and Froutch Fairy was 1st and 2nd respectively Contest Parthenay children (I did not compete) so I knew that I would not be so powerful and effective they exchanged their Panazol place.
But beyond a contest, I met some great people.
Delphine and her companion Yohann, Pascal and his son (and their accents Tarn), Pak and his wife Ivy, Greg who almost regret being published because he could no longer participate in this contest, Sylvain and his gang .. . Very good moments as a test for All of Wizzz Sylvain, Dolly Pak and a very good game of cards Pak also based Escargot de Bourgogne ... prototypes of all those authors who were my co-winners. I felt very small in front of their fervor and imagination to create. Congratulations to you all!
I also had the opportunity to discuss with editors and Yves Renou Mr. Blackrock Edition who taught me a lot about the difficulties of editing and especially to distribute.
A weekend intellectually rewarding to say the least! I hope to propose a new game this year ...
defects Similis
J'n'ai not win. So, there were defects. First I was criticized a visual similarity with another game called Speed ... I do not know. Belote is a kind of Corsican ... bof! I think Nobodies is far enough, but I do not argue: I learn.
most constructive criticism that made me is the lack of 'fun' Speaking of the game for a younger audience, the drawings are too serious and the game too calculative. However, I did play the entire weekend Similis to children's audience, and it is rather the parents who do not follow ... I even had a proposal to purchase the game! IF! But having only one copy, the prototype, I refused!
I hope that I can rework it in some time for making a game more fun! and this will undoubtedly see new graphics and a sudden change some rules. We'll see!
Too bad I liked the graphics Similis! Want a last look over. And promised, I put it for download in a few days.