If you think you can start designing games by making a game with cards, tokens, 3 boards, some wooden pieces and specialty dice, you are wrong. Well, maybe you can, but I will find it hard to believe you. Game elements are not simple, and making a big and rich game with a mix of elements is not an easy task. Based on publishing dates,10 years before making Agricola, even Uwe Rosenberg made Bohnanza a simple and quick card game. Comparing the complexity of these games gives a clear picture, the simple cards-only game came first.
The only designer that might break this rule is Vital Lacerda, that actually said he is working on a simple game and that's a very hard thing for him to do - to keep things simple. But even in his case I feel like he had some fun with smaller things before getting Vinhos published (waiting for the new streamlined deluxe version by the way...). The one question I always wanted to hear him answer but never heard anyone ask is: "Did you design simple games before going making those intricate games we see from you?"
The point is that you should try making games more focused before going all out. More than that, game companies will more likely take a simple, fun, streamlined game from a new designer and not a giant monster of a game. This is because a big game takes a lot of resources (development time, art, printing and shipping costs and more), so a company would less likely bet on a new designer by making a large game. They much rather take the plunge with a small game that does not drain many resources from them. One of the only companies that I saw taking a big and long game from first time designers is Spielworxx. Plus, I must say the La Granja is a great game by first time designers, so in no way is that a rule set in stone. There are probably other examples that I am not aware of, but they are not as many as I can think of for the opposite. Get your name to tables with smaller games, it is much easier to do that. After your name is out, you can start increasing the size and complexity of your games. But more than anything - make games!
