Feedback Loops in Game Design

Graphic by Daniel Solis

Tips for designing sports-themed tabletop games:

http://spoiledflushgames.com/playing-card-basketball-designers-diary/

“Good playtests lead to changes in your game. The best changes are the ones that make you wonder why it wasn’t that way in the first place.”

— Samuel A. Liberty (@SA_Liberty)

“Iterate, but have a goal. Games can meander for years without one.”

— Matt Leacock

When should you submit your game to BoardGameGeek? Check their Guide to Submissions:

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/wiki/page/BGG_Guide_to_Game_Submissions

And this additional explanation:

http://boardgamegeek.com/article/8744867#8744867

“Don’t pin all your hopes on just one game idea. If you’re creative enough to come up with one game idea, you’re creative enough to come up with a half dozen game ideas.”

— Keith Meyers

“As an amateur game designer, you can focus on one path, e.g. always starting with the theme, and you’ll get some good designs. As a professional game designer, innovation starts with finding new entry points into each design: theme, character, technology…”

— Reiner Knizia (@ReinerKnizia)

“I have never designed a perfect game, and likely never will. The one thing I’ve learned from this is that it is okay to change an existing game’s design. Software publishers redesign their products constantly, why don’t game designers do it more often?”

— Chevee Dodd (@CheveeDodd)

“Be as audacious as possible. Better to fail than to suck.”

— Max Temkin, a creator of Cards Against Humanity

Licensing your board game: What is an appropriate royalty percentage?

A BoardGameGeek forum:

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/802541/what-is-an-appropriate-royalty-percentage

Phases in games, by Lewis Pulsipher (@lewpuls)

http://pulsiphergamedesign.blogspot.com/2012/05/phases-in-games.html

“If you feel a similar burning desire to create, don’t get discouraged with rejection. Be relentless—just keep working at it. Inspiration and success come to those who refuse to quit.”

— ~ Philip duBarry (via whyidesigngames)

The Bamboozle Brothers (@bamboozlebros) have kept a journal of their journey as board game designers for several years at Inspiration to Publication. They discuss many of the most important steps along the way in a series of posts catalogued here:

http://inspirationtopublication.wordpress.com/the-steps-for-board-games

Using positive and negative feedback loops in board game designs, by Jesse Catron (@ktronod)
 
http://hyperbolegames.com/2012/05/11/game-design-gone-loopy/

Tips for young board game inventors on creating and pitching a game:

http://www.thegameaisle.com/young-inventor-challeng-advice-mike-hirtle/

“Much like buying a car, in design you get what you pay for. Spend time to experiment, think deeply, and test all variations.”

— Grant Rodiek (@HyperboleGames)

How should a game begin?

Thoughts on game arc and starting conditions:

http://paintedwoodencubes.com/2012/05/09/begin-the-begin-how-should-a-game-start/

“I’ve always believed the best game designers were great observers – people who really looked at the world around them and asked, “what if…”.”

— Keith Meyers

“I think the methods and tricks for designing a card or board game are very similar to those used by novel writers, the main difference being that we game designers skip the hardest part, the actual writing.”

— Bruno Faidutti

Cardboard Edison's Favorite Tips & Resources - April 2012

#industry:

• A passionate, prophetic overview of the emerging new order for the board game industry, by Richard Bliss (@GameWhisperer) of Albino Dragon (@TheAlbinoDragon)
• “Contacting an industry professional for the first time? Don’t ask for anything. OFFER value. Start a relationship. Ask later. …maybe.” - Chris Oatley (@ChrisOatley)

#theory:

• Make a Better Game – Limit the Player, by Jon Shafer

#publishing:

• The secret to creating a sustainable game publishing business, by Michael Mindes (@MichaelMindes) of Tasty Minstrel Games (@TastyMinstrel)

#process:

• “Take it slow. A late game is only late until it’s released. A bad game is bad forever.” - Grant Rodiek (@HerrohGrant)
• Games you can play to make you a better designer.
• How to create an “idea machine,” by Todd Edwards (@Wininoid)
• BoardGameGeek forum: What mechanic do you try to put in EVERY game? It’s like a support group for board game designers.