Game designers and hopefuls, put on your thinking caps! The Strategy Gaming Society. together with About Board Games and Abstract Games magazine, is sponsoring the First Annual 8x8 Game Design Competition. The goal is simple: design a great two-player game that can be played on an 8x8 playing surface using pieces most people are likely to have around the house.

Prizes will be awarded to the top two games, as chosen by a panel of judges spread around the world. First prize is a trophy, a one-year membership in the Strategy Gaming Society, and a one-year subscription to Abstract Games. The top two finishers will be submitted to a variety of game publishing companies for their consideration. In addition, the top two games will be published on About Board Games, in Strategist (the Strategy Gaming Society newsletter) and in Abstract Games. Additional games may also be published in the same outlets. About Board Games, The Strategist and Abstract Games retain nonexclusive rights to publish any entry in the contest.

Official Rules

1. Games must be designed for play on a standard 8x8 chess board, for two players only, using checkers, Go stones, chess pieces, poker chips, and other items likely to he found in the average gamer's collection. No cards are allowed.

2. Entries will be judged by gamers chosen by About Board Games, the Strategy Gaming Society and Abstract Games.

3. Winners will be determined using the same system employed by the Strategy Gaming Society to determine the winners of the Gamers Choice Awards. For more information visit this page: http://pages.about.com/strategygames/wizzh.html

4. Entries must be received by email (plain text, please -- no attachments will be opened) at boardgames.guide@about.com no later than December 31, 2000, at noon Eastern US Time. Any entries received after that time, regardless of reason. will not be considered.

If you have any questions, please post them on the Board Games Forum at http://forums.about.com/ab-boardgames/start/

GOOD LUCK!