“It’s never easy to shelve an idea that excites you. In fact, I’d say that it’s one of the most difficult things to do as a new designer.”

— Patrick Nickell

Things to avoid in game design. Thou shalt not…

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/816102/things-to-avoid-in-game-design-thou-shalt-not

Thou shalt not publish without a great deal of playtesting.

Thou shalt not become enamored of thine own ideas.

Thou shalt not make the prototype too elaborate.

Thou shalt not post on BGG forums during designated design time.

Thou shalt not be afraid. Once your game is good and polished, get out there and market that sucker.

Thou shalt not add to fix a problem, thou shalt remove.

Thou shalt not design games that must be played in the “spirit of the game.”

Thou shalt not give up…

Some recommendations for card design programs:

http://www.reddit.com/r/tabletopgamedesign/comments/ux4b3/best_program_for_creating_game_cards/

Showing off your new game at Gen Con or Spiel? Let BoardGameGeek News know to get added to the preview lists:

http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/11159/showing-your-games-at-gen-con-2012-or-spiel-2012-w

Designing a custom dice game but not sure how to make the prototype?

indentedblankdice.com

“First know what to say, then work out how to say it: Words without message are mere noise. Design without content is mere decoration.”

— Reiner Knizia (@ReinerKnizia)

“Spend some time creating games just for the fun of it before you decide it’s the right choice to make it into a business venture.”

— Colby Dauch (@PlaidHatGames)

“When designing #boardgames, sometimes you just have to throw out the theme and do something else.”

— Paul Owen (@PaulOwenGames)

The Ludology podcast takes a look at the use of uncertainty and randomness in games:

http://ludology.libsyn.com/webpage/ludology-episode-34-the-good-the-bad-and-the-random

SEE ALSO:

Luck and games, on the Dice Hate Me podcast:

http://cardboardedison.tumblr.com/post/19635270677/luck-and-games-danielsolis-chats-with

“If you try to design for EVERYONE, you end up designing something that makes EVERYONE unhappy.”

— Reiner Knizia (@ReinerKnizia)

“This industry is a revolving door. I talked to retailers turned distributors turned designer turned publisher – and the other way around. Everyone dabbles.”

The Plaid Hat Games guys discuss what drives them to design games:

http://plaidhatpodcast.libsyn.com/episode-48

“The best expansions test the limits of a game’s existing nature, rebalancing existing elements, rather than reconstituting the game more completely.”

— Mark Taylor (@woodencubes)

Sample game licensing contract, courtesy of Tom Jolly:

http://www.silcom.com/~tomjolly/contract.htm

Free, simple, intuitive graphic symbols for every occasion, courtesy of The Noun Project:

http://thenounproject.com

Cardboard Edison’s Favorite Tips & Resources – May 2012

Once a month, we round up our favorite new pieces of advice and resources for board game designers. Here are our picks for May 2012:

#theory:

• Ten Exciting Designers Doing Exciting Things
• The Strategy Game Designer’s Constitution
• “Make sure your game has a solid central tension in its core mechanics. The best tension tends to involve other players.” – Spoiled Flush Games
• Gaming for understanding

#process:

• “Iterate, but have a goal. Games can meander for years without one.” – Matt Leacock
• “Push a game’s limits when the game seems fine.” – Olivier Lamontagne
• “If you never make mistakes, you are not working on challenges that move you further. And that’s a BIG mistake.” – Reiner Knizia
• “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
• “If you are going to design a successful game, you may need to cut one of your favorite aspects of the game, in the interest of flow, pacing, and fun.” – Clint Herron
• “Failing to trim your game into a lean mean fun machine will almost invariably cost you publication because extra parts make the game more expensive, extra rules make the game less accessible, and the combination makes a game no one wants to take a chance on.” – Jay Treat
• “Never give up. Rejection is part of the process.” – Chevee Dodd

#licensing:

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

#publishing:

• Panda Game Manufacturing visits the Ludology podcast to discuss the board game production process

#industry:

• What elements of a game can be legally protected?
• Getting your board game reviewed

“For me, the challenge that board-game design sets before me is to make games that are engaging but streamlined, complex but not complicated: games with high “simplexity.””

— Alf Seegert (@alfseegert)

Tips from a playtester for creating intuitive prototypes and clear rules:

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/812173/a-few-thoughts-on-game-design

Designer Diaries on BoardGameGeek are a great resource for new game inventors. They show how published games were conceived, developed and ultimately licensed or self-published. Along the way, the designers often share some lessons they learned through the process.

You can read every BoardGameGeek Designer Diary here:

http://boardgamegeek.com/blogcategory/19

Some suggestions for ways to limit the options in your game without curtailing its depth:
 
http://hyperbolegames.com/2012/06/04/limit-em-good/
 
SEE ALSO:
 
Make a Better Game – Limit the Player
 
http://cardboardedison.tumblr.com/post/20876510726/make-a-better-game-limit-the-player-presenting