[GDS] September "The only way out is up" Comments and Questions

OK so I'm brainstorming ideas for this and just had a couple of questions (first time submitting)

Theme: What does this entail? I know it says whatever I want but I don't even know what this means haha Is there an example from previous showdowns that would help?

When people are judging the games, which is obviously very subjective but does a game need to have a lot of detailed depth in the pitch? Has anyone submitted incredibly simple designs and won?

Doing my best to come up with a unique idea, already scrapped two ideas as they've kinda already been done

Is stacking game pieces on top of each other on the game board surface considered "using vertical space"?

Can you use someone else's intellectual property as the basis for the contest, like if I was basing it on Disney stuff?

Personally I feel that stacking games do use vertical space and are valid for this competition. In general when I think about a vertical space game I think of how that after setup the game's footprint on the gaming surface doesn't increase. Not necessarily that you can't play it on a table with a chandelier above it.

Games like Ice House would certainly count as vertical and you can even say that Checkers is a vertical space game as your board never increases in size and pieces can grow vertically because of the "King Me" bit of the game.

The best part about this month's challenge is that it is open to the creativity of the designers and their abilities to make that vertical component shine.

I am really looking forward to seeing how people have used "vertical" in their game ideas.

=M=

In less abstract games, like those kiddy fishing games or jenga, the game naturally takes place in the real world. Even dexterity type throwing games can be said to use vertical space.

In more abstract games, I think there are two seperate aspects of vertical-ness.

First is the extra dimension. When you stack things, or move in 3d-chess (and variants), you're using an extra dimension that is not there on the 2d board. However, any state change is sort of like an extra dimension. You can always replace checker kings with special king pieces, and 3d-chess is usually played on several boards side by side.

Second is gravity. The vertical space is inherently different from the other directions because of gravity (I'm prejudiced against astronauts). Connect four uses gravity, but does not use the extra dimension. You can always play connect four on a normal board, though it won't be as satisfying.

It's difficult to fulfill both criteria, unless there's a balancing element involved.
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I think we will see some creative ideas. Some will most likely make vertical it a primary element some may be more subtle. I would hope we see a mix of abstract games, dexterity games, and hardcore euro's with various stacking or vertical elements so as to make it difficult to judge.

=M=

Hi, so I'm new here and still filling out my profile and stuff, but I just so happened to find this thread about design contests, and was kicking myself for not looking into it sooner. (removed stupid question, found answer)

I feel like my game has probably been done to death, but the story and character development aspects would add to the originality.

Since I'm not allowed to enter, can I say that my space battle game would've worked since it deals with 3D space? If not, sorry. Someone else may have submitted something like that anyway.