Steampunk has really become part of the fabric of geekdom in the past 10 years. And it’s growing in complexity and fervor with each passing year. We obviously like it, since our mascot is a Steampunk inspired robot named Cornelius Oliver Goodfellow (or just Cog).

What if Cog were to design a game for his era? What would that look like? It would have to have an alternate future feel inspired from Victorian era technology and craftsmanship. Games were not nearly as common in that era as they are today. A lot of people either just owned dice or a deck of cards if they owned a game at all. Also, you generally built your own game rather than buying a game, simply because games weren’t mass produced as they are now. Does that sound familiar? 

With that in mind, we’re announcing the Steampunk Design Challenge. For the first time ever, there will be two winners for this challenge, but there will be no runners up or secondary prizes. This is a winner takes all event. 

Challenge One: Deck of Playing Cards

• Design a steampunk inspired deck of 54 playing cards: 13 cards in four suits, with three common special cards in suit (for example: Jack, Queen King), and two wild cards (for example: Jokers). 
• Maximum cost: $8.99
• This challenge will be won or lost based solely on artwork, though appeal, style, and creativity will all be considered.

Challenge Two: Dice Game

• Design a steampunk inspired dice game.
• The game must include dice rolling as one mechanic, though it need not be the primary mechanic.
• The rules for this game must be set to be “Print and Download” or at least “Download”.
• The game must not include cards of any kind, but it may include any game piece in our parts shop, or any printable component that is not a deck of cards.
• Maximum cost: $19.99
• This challenge will be judged based upon ingenuity, craftsmanship, and fun.

Common Rules

• Any game submitted must be created for this contest; it cannot already exist on thegamecrafter.com prior to the contest.
• The game must be publish-ready, meaning that it must have action shots, shop artwork and descriptions, and all images proofed. 
• All artwork must be your own, commissioned by you, or licensed to you.
• All entries must be uploaded to thegamecrafter.com and the game URL submitted to the crafter points submission form no later than midnight US Central time on August 31, 2012. 
• Contestants may submit multiple entries, and/or entries to each of the two parts of this contest. Each entry will be judged separately. 

Prizes

The winner of each part of the challenge will receive these prizes:

• 100,000 crafter points
• $50 of shop credit on thegamecrafter.com
• An opportunity to be a guest judge in one of our future contests

In addition, the winner of Challenge Two: Dice Game, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Since Challenge One: Deck of Playing Cards will not be an original game, we don’t think it belongs in the Hall of Fame.