| 2002 Unequal Forces Game Design Competition - Finalists | |
|
by Erik Arneson
This site, along with the Strategy Gaming Society and Abstract Games Magazine, sponsored the 2002 Unequal Forces Board Game Design Competition. We received about 50 entries with a wide array of mechanics, themes, and complexity.
The goal was simple -- design a great two-player game with unequal forces using pieces most people are likely to have around the house. But achieving that goal was anything but simple. A great game of unequal forces is exceedingly difficult to design.
Here are the finalists for the 2002 Unequal Forces Board Game Design Competition, each a wonderful game in its own right. Congratulations to the designers! The winner will be announced soon.
Defiance and Domain by Arin Sandhop
Gobbler by Luke Weisman
Hackaback by Andrew B. Perkins
Louis XVI by Thiago Migoto
Playground Commandos by L. Lynn Smith
Por'rika by Terry Alber
Praetorian by Kirk Uhlmann
Reviser by Jochen Drechsler
Spyhunting by Chad M. Raeside
Takat by William Wragg
Unlur by Jorge Gomez Arrausi
An abstract strategy game pitting the fiery Rebels against the ever present Imperium.
One player has two pieces (Gobblers) that attempt to eat as many of the other player's 60 pieces (Littles) as possible.
A mix of Backgammon and Mancala.
The king is trying to escape from the people; the people are trying to capture him.
Pogosticks vs. skateboards -- and watch out for the trash cans -- in this clever duel.
The Schelati (amphibians) lay eggs in the Sacred Waters. But the Sacred Waters are in the prime hunting territory for the Ser'ra (large birds of prey).
The police try to hunt down an assassin in this exciting hunt.
A new twist on the classic game Othello.
A spy is trying to travel from one corner to the opposite corner and back, the hunter is trying to shoot the spy before that happens.
A game of stacking strategy.
An abstract strategy game played on a hexagon-shaped tesselation of hexagons with eight hexagons on each side.
