What are the eight most important parts of a game?

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/835879/ranking-the-eight-most-important-parts-of-a-board

Some tips for exhibiting at a convention:

https://community.thegamecrafter.com/forums/testimonials/the-game-crafter-s-designer-s-table-sponsorship-program-and-connecticon

An open offer to translate your board game into French for free:

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/835384/free-french-translation-services-for-games-develop

Mashup Game Design & Artwork Contest

A fun game-concept contest using mashed-up names from the BoardGameGeek database

Deadline: Sept. 1, 2012

Prizes: Geek Gold

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/835311/mashup-game-design-artwork-contest

Depth, breadth, span and volume in games:

http://fellonmyhead.blogspot.com/2012/07/depth-breadth-span-and-volume.html

“Sometimes, in the quest for elegant simplicity, designers over-abstract to the point where the game is actually harder to grok.”

— Eric Lang (@eric_lang)

AEG seeks games set in Tempest, a fictional city-state whose characters will inhabit board games that the company is soliciting from designers.

Todd Rowland (@toddrowland) explains on The Little Metal Dog Show (@idlemichael):

http://littlemetaldog.com/2012/07/13/episode-43-salutempest/

SEE ALSO: AEG’s Tempest Designer Resource page: http://www.alderac.com/tempest/designer-resource/

“Me being stuck on a design is the game’s way of telling me that I am not going in the right direction.”

— Brenda Garno (@br)

“The longer your game, the more devastating a land mine luck can be if it takes away player empowerment. Use luck, yes, but use it wisely.”

— Flip the Table (@tableflipsyou)

Cartunk Entertainment (@CartrunkEnt) is formalizing its Unpubs into an annual program:

http://us4.campaign-archive2.com/?u=555654fce7a68d736c015d4ec&id=d4ddeb163f

Designer’s block: ideas for how to get things rolling

http://boardgamegeek.com/article/9701346

“Designers: Use band-aid rules sparingly. Remember, we have the power to reverse time and prevent the boo-boo from ever happening.”

— Stephen Glenn (@spielfriek)

“Too many games spread themselves thin to broaden their appeal. In a marketplace glutted with choice, specialization is key.”

— Eric Lang (@eric_lang)

“I won’t be the first to say it, but I’ll say it again as it’s worth mentioning: Only pitch to people who care to hear it. Pitch to the right publishers.”

— Grant Rodiek (@HyperboleGames)

Tips for getting your name out there and breaking into the industry:

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/833475/breaking-into-industrygetting-your-name-out-there

Taking in feedback from playtesters: some tips from the BoardGameGeek design forum:

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/832565/taking-in-playtester-feedback

Indie Boards & Cards will be seeking new games at upcoming conventions. What they’re looking for:

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/832265/indie-boards-and-cards-gencon-pax-submissions

Tom Vasel of The Dice Tower (@thedicetower) joins the On Board Games podcast (@OnBoardGames) to discuss how companies should promote their games, starting at about 0:21:00:

http://onboardgames.libsyn.com/webpage/obg-86-we-re-all-his-vassals

Nestor Games has launched a components business called Nestorbits:

http://www.nestorbits.com/

Pieces include custom plastic meeples and interlocking foam tiles. 

“To only know publishing through Kickstarter could destroy a company that knows no other way.”

— A.J. Porfirio, Van Ryder Games (@VanRyderGames)