Registration is now open for Cartrunk Entertainment’s 2012-2013 Unpub program:

http://us4.campaign-archive.com/?u=555654fce7a68d736c015d4ec&id=e1724ad618

Cardboard Edison’s Favorite Tips & Resources – July 2012

Once a month, we go back through all of the board game design tips and resources we’ve found to pick out the most useful of the bunch.

Here are our picks for July 2012:

#industry:

• What’s a realistic goal for making money in the board game industry?
• A solid overview of the history of board games, the current industry, design process, theory and more, from Jeffrey D. Allers
• A wide-ranging interview with Richard Garfield

#process:

• “Failed designs are part of the process, so don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t work!”
• “Making games is like sports or music, you have to practice and you really need to beware of what’s been done already if you want to be the best.”
• “Look at the games you like, and see what works, and what doesn’t work. Sharp analytical skills are a game designer’s best tool.”

#licensing:

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

#publishing:

• Need an artist for your game?

#rules:

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

#theory:

• Pros and cons of cards as a game component
• How important is it for a strategy game set in the real world to be factually accurate?

Game design by restrictions: Ways to boost creativity by restricting your game’s concept

http://bgd.lariennalibrary.com/index.php?n=DesignArticle.Article-DesignByRestriction

Why scalability is important, how to test for it, and ways to achieve it:

http://hyperbolegames.com/2012/08/13/the-importance-of-scalability/

Eric M. Lang (@eric_lang) of Fantasy Flight Games on essential knowledge for game creators, inspiring player interaction, “feeling awesome” and understanding your core motivation: 

http://opinionatedgamers.com/2012/08/13/the-art-of-design-interviews-to-game-designers-21-eric-m-lang/

Board game industry players answer the question: What makes a great game?

http://goforthandgame.com/2012/08/12/what-makes-a-great-game/

http://goforthandgame.com/2012/08/22/what-makes-a-great-game-part-2/

There were 47 different answers to the question “What makes a game great?”. The element that showed up most was hard decisions/meaningful choices. Nineteen percent of my guests felt that this was essential for a game to be considered great. The next most mentioned aspect of a great game was a three-way tie between 1) many paths to victory 2) a sense of story 3) depth that can be explored all coming in with 8% of my guests mentioning these aspects.

“Have dreams. Have courage to follow these dreams. Do your games. You don’t need to have big budget. You don’t need to have 20 people crew. You don’t need anything except passion and will to fight. Fight for your success. It is at your fingertips.”

— Ignacy Trzewiczek (@trzewik)

When and how should board game designers include a geographical element in their designs? A Ludology podcast discussion:

http://www.ludology.libsyn.com/webpage/ludology-episode-38-you-are-here

The theme for the August 2012 24-hour game design contest is “harvest”:

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/836488/24-hour-contest-august-2012

Advice from Jason Kotarski (@jasonkotarski), designer of The Great Heartland Hauling Co.:

1. Let your life lead you to inspiration. Don’t try to force ideas that don’t fit.

2. Creating boundaries creates possibilities that help you engage fully in what you want to do. Saying no to some things allows you to say yes to the best things!

3. Don’t just consume. Create and contribute. Find your own way to make your mark on the worlds that you love.

4. Simplicity does not have to equal boredom. Make room for decisions in the midst of simplicity.

5. Work hard. Love what you do. Make the most of what you’ve got.

http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/12285/designer-diary-the-great-heartland-hauling-co

“Set the game aside from time to time and come back to it after a break. You will be surprised with all the new ideas and insight your subconscious mind will develop.”

— Tushar Gheewala, inventor of Ninja versus Ninja and Letter Roll

“Exceptions-based games are defined by their components’ ability to break the rules. When people try to create immutable rules sets to “contain” them, it fights against the game’s nature. Why fight nature?”

— Eric Lang (@eric_lang)

Hyperbole Games (@HyperboleGames) is becoming a publisher

http://hyperbolegames.com/2012/08/02/the-gift-of-independence/

Professional-looking prototype creation: Tips and equipment recommendations from Ted Alspach

http://opinionatedgamers.com/2012/08/02/professional-looking-prototype-creation/

Printable PDF to organize all the vital information for a new game design:

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/835906/initial-design-sheet-what-do-you-think

August 2012 Game Design Showdown, by the Board Game Designers Forum

Theme: Create a game that increases significantly in scope from beginning to end

Deadline: August 8, 2012

http://www.bgdf.com/node/6889

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