Lunchtime Game Challenge

Contest start date: August 31, 2022 8:26 PM

Eat Lunch and Board Game is a podcast dedicated to reviewing games that can be played over a lunch hour. In today’s work environment, especially as we are all coming back to the office, what better way to get to meet, or reintroduce yourself to, your coworkers than over a board game?

Adam Collins, host of Eat Lunch and Board Game, has started lunchtime gaming at his current job, and a few prior places as well. He has strived to get people out of their cubicles, away from YouTube video watching, and to the game table to breakdown walls and barriers. Gaming together over lunch has helped to get to know each other, build lines of communication, and make the workspace a little smaller.

In his last position, he met his now business partner in Bearded Board Games. They design and develop games, the first of which was designed to be played in a lunch hour. It was even playtested by other coworkers in the office.

Adam is looking for a new game to play with his coworkers over lunch. The game should incorporate player interaction. Theme and mechanics are open. Player count and play time are of the utmost importance here. The game should be playable in 45 minutes so set up and tear down can take it to 60 minutes, and it should be playable by at least 2 to 4 players. Six players would be the preferred. As gaming groups grow, everyone wants to play for the trophy.

Contest start date: August 31, 2022 8:26 PM

To qualify, your game must comply with all of the following rules:

• Design a game a group can play on their lunch break.
• Your game play a minimum of 2-4 players, 2-6 is preferred.
• Play time should be no more than 45 minutes, once you've learned it. (This gives 15 minutes to set up and tear down, making it a full lunch hour).
• You may use any printables or game pieces, if TGC sells it, you can use it.
• Though not explicitly required, a 2-minute overview video is highly encouraged.
• All artwork must be your own, commissioned by you, licensed to you, or in the public domain. Be sure to attribute your images when required.
• Full rules must be included in the game. You can provide links to other sources, but players need to be able to learn how to play your game just by reading the rules that come in the game.
• A PDF rules document must be downloadable from your game's shop page.
• The total cost of your game must be less than $59.99.
• The game must be publish-ready (as it relates to our shop, not as it relates to being finished). This means it has a logo, backdrop, shop ad, action shots, description, and cool factors. It must also have all images proofed.
• This must be a new game created for this contest. It cannot have existed on TGC prior to the start of the contest.
• All entries must be submitted through TGC's game editor (by clicking on the "Contests" button) no later than 11pm US Central on December 12, 2022.
• Games and their shop page should not be changed after the contest deadline, until the finalists have been announced.
• Contestants may submit multiple entries to this contest. Each entry will be judged separately.

You retain all rights to your game, and are welcome to sell it in The Game Crafter shop during and after the contest, regardless of the outcome of the contest. Your game does not have to be available for sale to enter the contest.

The community voting process will be used to determine 20 semi-finalists.

The contest is now over and the judges provided feedback for finalists here.

You can read more about TGC contests here: Game Design Contests - The Game Crafter

The winner shall receive all of the following prizes:

• Interview on the Eat Lunch and Board Game podcast.
• Potential publication by Bearded Board Games.
• $250 of shop credit on thegamecrafter.com.
• Automatic Showcase status for their game on thegamecrafter.com.
• The possibility of judging a future contest.
• Induction into The Game Crafter Hall of Fame.
• Semi-finalists, finalists, and the winner will all receive accolades for their achievements.

In addition, each of the finalists will receive the following epub books:

• Winning Streak! by John-Michael Gariepy ( Amazon | EL&BG Interview )
• How to Create Your First Board Game 5th Edition by Aaron Frias ( Amazon )
• The Beginner's Board Game Bible by Ben Hoppe ( Amazon | EL&BG Interview )
• The Top 10 Mistakes New Board Game Designers Make by Joe Slack ( Amazon | EL&BG Interview )

Here is the feedback for the semi-finalists.

Here is the feedback for the finalists and winner.

Here is the interview of the winner.