2018 Design Challenge

Because we hit this stretch goal during the crowdfunding campaign, the BGDL will be sponsoring a board game design competition that will run from late April to mid July.

The goal of the contest is to give designers the opportunity to grow and improve at the process that the gaming industry follows. (And to give you a chance to be recognized and win, of course.)

When you approach a publisher about your game, the order of events is typically: pitch, sell sheet, rulebook, prototype.

So, the contest will consist of 4 rounds:

Round 1) Create and submit an elevator pitch for the best game you’re designing. The best pitches will move on to the next round.

Round 2) Create and submit a sell sheet for your game. The best sell sheets will move on to the next round.

Round 3) Create and submit a polished rulebook for your game. The best rulebooks will move on to the next round.

Round 4) Create and submit a prototype of your game. The games will be played, and winners will be decided.

1st Place–$100*
2nd Place–$75*
3rd Place–$50*

(*these numbers are subject to change)

Participants in each round will receive feedback from board game professionals on what they did well and what needs to improve.

And assuming a later stretch goal gets unlocked, all finalists will receive an automatic berth in a second BGDL sponsored design challenge we’re currently calling “BGDL Design Star” that will happen in late 2018.

13 comments on “2018 Design Challenge

  1. I’m pretty excited to hear about the competition. The link doesn’t seem to be working

    1. gabe says:

      That was a typo. This page IS the detailed explanation about the contest.

      1. Np. I think getting feedback from professionals will be really valuable, more so than any money that is offered.

  2. Marc Kirkland says:

    This is a cool idea. Will you be posting more specifics about the competition at a later date? stuff like specific dates, requirements, file formats, information about about what each submission would need, etc.?

    thanks for doing this on top of all the other stuff you’re already doing.

    1. gabe says:

      Yes, all the details will be posted in a few months and will got out to everyone on the BGDL email list.

  3. Snarflcat says:

    Its hours away from 4/20. Don’t lite up until you post the contest entry link ?

  4. Snarflcat says:

    Its one hr till April 21 on the East Coast, or four hrs on the West Coast. Where’s the link to the contest entry? It was supposed to open up on April 20, yes? Today?

    1. gabe says:

      It opened this morning. The link went out by email, Facebook, and Twitter. If you join the email list, you’ll be notified first about all goings-on of the BGDL.

      Here’s the link: http://www.boardgamedesignlab.com/contest/

      Good luck!

      1. Snarflcat says:

        Please explain PayPal transaction number.

        1. gabe says:

          After you pay the entry fee, PayPal will give you a transaction ID number. Just copy and paste the number into the submission form.

          1. Snarflcat says:

            I see other options than only PayPal, yet the PayPal transaction number says ‘required ‘.
            Many people will not use PayPal.
            I do not use PayPal, and PayPal will have nothing to do with me, but I can easily pay via Visa.
            So, not being able to use PayPal, (to fill in a required field) can I stil participate?

          2. gabe says:

            You can pay using a Visa. It’ll still go through PayPal, but you can pay as a guest without having to have an account with them.

            It will still email you a transaction ID.

          3. Snarflcat says:

            I see. Thanks.

Comments are closed.