Re: Let's nip this problem in the bud.

["Matt Worden" <Brykovian@...>]

Ron wrote:
> I'm staking a claim right away to _fun_ mechanics.

Ed replied: 
> Ron...  damn you!  :)  I'm claiming use of discoid
> markers, then.  And when Waffle takes the tiles, what
> will you and your Fun be doing, eh?  Stacking dice?

I claim "matching coins of different suits based upon their numeric 
values"!!!  But then, how do I do that now that Ed has rights 
on "discoid markers"?  Hmmmm ...

Personally, it seems that games are made up of more than just their 
mechanics, just like different meals (or the same meal made by 2 
different people) are made up of more than just the ingredients 
list.  The combination of different mechanics, the theme/flavor 
applied by the designer, the setup of the game, and the end-goal of 
the game all factor in.  Two or more games can use the same clever 
and original mechanic ... but be very different games.

If I heard that another designer was using a mechanic similar to one 
that I was using, I'd probably think "Cool!  Can't wait to see how 
he/she applies that idea to a game too!", and I'd be even more eager 
to finish my design and submit it to the contest to see the two games 
compared side by side.

But then again ... maybe that's just me. ;-)

-Matt