Becherovka Game – seven not a lucky number?

It’s been seven years – a long seven years. In 2000 the first annual Becherovka Game has been announced. The competition for Czech and Slovak developers had always featured some of the best indie games of the year in the Czech republic – and the number of participants was year to year higher and their games more and more professional. In 2006, things have kind of turned the other way. Maybe 25 doesn’t seem like a step out of the glory, but we’ve seen 40 or even 50 games before. And what’s more important, there wasn’t that much of quality this year. Yes, of course, BugAbOO is excellent, so is Faux Pa or Moribund World. But there’s for example simulation cathegory: only two games, one of them practically unplayable Becher’s Cup 1976 and the second one just a little bit better, but still very frustrating and unfinished Lodičkoidy. Neither one of them can function as a good advertisment to Becherovka.

I was a judge this year, last year and in 2004. I can see 2006’s games are worse then 2005’s and 2004’s – and Jan Becher company clearly has to see this too. That’s probably the reason, why they didn’t announce the 2007 Becherovka Game yet (in previous years, they’ve announced the next year’s competition right after the announcement of winners).

We can still just speculate: will there be BG next year or not? How will the cathegories change? Will there be still such a gracious prizes? But one thing is clear. Becherovka Game WILL change somehow. I just hope it won’t die that easily. I’d really miss the gift pack of quality alcohol we judges are given each year. :)