What determines a game’s optimal length?

http://keithburgun.net/a-games-optimal-length/

“If you want to go fast, work alone. If you want to go far, work with someone else.”

— Bruno Cathala

Friday is the deadline for The Game Crafter’s Steampunk Design Challenge:

http://news.thegamecrafter.com/post/26404680048/steampunk-design-challenge

Some principles for creating an expansion, from Scott Caputo (designer of Kachina/Völuspá):

1. It has to be desirable.
2. It has to feel like part of the original game.
3. It cannot make the game feel overly long.
4. The new [components] have to work well together.
5. It needs to allow for more planning.

http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/12929/designer-diary-voluspa-or-how-a-native-american-su

SEE ALSO:

Lessons learned designing an expansion, by Grant Rodiek (@HerrohGrant):

http://cardboardedison.tumblr.com/post/19177839103/lessons-learned-designing-an-expansion-by

Special considerations when designing and publishing solo games:

http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/12931/designing-solo-games-a-fools-errand

Unpub Protozones by Cartrunk Entertainment (@CartrunkEnt) headed to conventions in N.C., Arizona, Maryland, N.J. & Michigan:

http://us4.campaign-archive.com/?u=555654fce7a68d736c015d4ec&id=707174f2bd

What is your paper of choice for making prototype cards? Tips from the BoardGameGeek design forum:

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/848147/what-is-your-paper-of-choice-for-making-prototype

SEE ALSO:

http://cardboardedison.tumblr.com/post/20806040669/what-to-use-for-prototype-cards-some-ideas-on 

Uwe Rosenberg discusses self-publishing, making good game expansions, the worker-placement mechanism and more in an interview on MeepleTown:

http://meepletown.com/2012/08/game-designer-interview-uwe-rosenberg/

A roundup of Kickstarter advice. Top of the list: Don’t pay for Kickstarter advice.

http://gmskarka.com/2012/08/27/insurgent-creative-never-pay-for-kickstarter-consulting/

“Totally uncontrolled aggression can unbalance a game and unbalance a social environment alike.”

The problem with naked aggression by players, and how to contain it:

http://www.mechanics-and-meeples.com/2012/08/27/the-problem-with-naked-aggression/

“A couple iterations of prototypes are well worth the investment. They give you the opportunity to work out the fine details and minor kinks that make all the difference between a passing fancy and a really successful game.”

— Drew Bancroft of Pope Street Games

Do’s and don'ts for creating modern rule books. Chris Kirkman (@dicehateme) visits the On Board Games podcast (@OnBoardGames):

http://onboardgames.libsyn.com/webpage/obg-88-the-rules-of-rules

Want to get your game playtested… in Denmark?

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/844234/got-game-go-to-denmark

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)