Legal precautions for game designers: the Law of the Geek (@lawofthegeek) podcast talks to @Jennisodes about Project Ninja Panda Taco:

http://lawofthegeek.com/2012/07/15/lotg-20-project-ninja-panda-taco-legal-precautions-for-game-designers/

Lessons on crowdfunding a project, learned from academic study and real-world efforts, on the Funding the Dream podcast:

http://www.buzzsprout.com/4646/53791-funding-the-dream-on-kickstarter-ep-68-go-crowdfund

Hidden depth in games: What is it, how to capture it?
 
http://hyperbolegames.com/2012/07/16/hidden-depth/

How important is it for a strategy game set in the real world to be factually accurate?
 
http://paintedwoodencubes.com/2012/07/16/matters-of-fact/

End Gamers (@End_gamers) wants to interview the creators of new and upcoming tabletop games:

http://www.reddit.com/r/tabletopgamedesign/comments/wikr0/were_looking_for_tabletop_designers_who_want_to/

Some Kickstarter stats:

Established publishers, pledge levels and project duration:

http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/11960/kickstarter-qa-with-data-and-a-graph

Kickstarter’s biggest winners, by publisher:

http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/11967/kickstarter-analytics-biggest-winners-by-publisher

Most-funded game mechanics:

http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/11970/kickstarter-analytics-year-gains-and-game-mechanic

Need an artist for your game? Cartrunk Entertainment’s website now lists graphic designers and artists interested in board games:
 
http://unpub.net/unpub-artists/

Board Game Designers Forum’s Game Design Showdown - July 2012

Design a game that can be set up and played in less than five minutes.

Deadline: July 17

“Rules have rules: All things being equal, fewer words is better. All things being equal, fewer words is also harder. And more work.”

— Brett J. Gilbert (@55cards)

The Bamboozle Brothers outline the final step of the publication process on their blog Inspiration to Publication:

Step 33: Promoting Your Game

http://inspirationtopublication.wordpress.com/2012/07/12/step-33-promoting-your-game/

“

Unfortunately, a game that’s personally satisfying isn’t necessarily commercially viable.

And it gets worse: a game that plays very well for its intended audience, might not be one that can easily be marketed.  Two different things.

”

— Lewis Pulsipher (@lewpuls)

Emergent game design tips from Daniel Cook (@danctheduck):

Every object in the game has both a utility and a cost.

Make as many objects as you can have secondary or tertiary uses via interactions with other objects.

Put the player under pressure (time, resource, space, etc) so that they are always forced to choose between

Loosely couple object interactions using generic interfaces or resources. Objects become generalized tools.

Brett J. Gilbert (@55cards): “Word of the day: Authenticity. The best games require this, I think, more than anything else to succeed. Question: What is it?”

Lukasz M. Pogoda (@LMPogoda): “Unique mix of new and reused ideas, atypical blend of mechanics and theme, a sincere proof a designer tried to deliver something new”

One designer’s path illustrates how much of the board game industry works:
 
http://penny-arcade.com/report/editorial-article/how-a-board-game-is-born-prototyped-and-ultimately-sold-the-story-of-crows

On imbalance as a pre-requisite for interesting negotiation in games:
 
http://paintedwoodencubes.com/2012/07/11/balance-issues/

Gen Con 2012 will feature a playtest area for prototype testing:
 
http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=2f77d2f8c77398c0b064223ba&id=ef381ea5d4#three
 
Application form: http://community.gencon.com/files/folders/pmg/entry324634.aspx
 
Policies: http://community.gencon.com/files/folders/pmg/entry324633.aspx

“It is the sparkle in your eye that will sell your game. If you don’t believe in it first no one will.”

— Michael Coe (@Crash_Games)

Why it’s important to ask: “Does my game really need that rule?”

by Ignacy Trzewiczek (@trzewik)

http://boardgamesthattellstories.blogspot.com/2012/07/you-have-to-have-guts-to-ask-this.html

Some recommendations for dice manufacturers in the U.S.:

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/826682/dice-question

Michael Coe and Patrick Nickell of Crash Games discuss their development process, the value of a professional prototype, handling playtesters’ feedback, and achieving balance:  

http://goforthandgame.com/2012/07/11/a-conversation-with-crash-games-michael-coe-and-patrick-nickell