To be fair, creating a new game that's good takes a lot more talent across a lot more domains of expertise than your average FOSS hacker might appreciate. The code is just one part of it - you've got art, music, level design, story possibly, it can be as complicated as making a movie.
If people want to try their hand at it, I recommend them to try to participate in game jam warm-ups, such as MiniLD[0] for Ludum Dare. Getting your feet wet gives quite some hint at the scope of things you have to handle.
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To be fair, creating a new game that's good takes a lot more talent across a lot more domains of expertise than your average FOSS hacker might appreciate. The code is just one part of it - you've got art, music, level design, story possibly, it can be as complicated as making a movie.
Cloning an existing game is easier.
If people want to try their hand at it, I recommend them to try to participate in game jam warm-ups, such as MiniLD[0] for Ludum Dare. Getting your feet wet gives quite some hint at the scope of things you have to handle.
[0]: http://ludumdare.com/compo/minild/