There are all kinds of opportunities at the moment for people who wish to flex their game development muscles. From indie games to ARG competitions, there are plethora ways for budding designers to get involved.
Last night over a few hands of Zombie Fluxx, my favourite board game geek Jim told me that even the non-computerised can have their fun.
Loony Labs, creators of the aforementioned Fluxx and the plastic pyramid platform Treehouse are implicated in a competition to design another version of Icehouse, the hugely successful offshoot to Treehouse. Unfortunately I'm a month too late to announce submissions, but you can still be a judge. All you need are a couple of Treehouse sets and the rules to the finalists.