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Michael Harrison (@oldbie):

“At the Independent Board Game Survival Guide with @dicehateme @DanielSolis and Dan Yarrington. #EscapistExpo

"How to approach a game publisher? Go to conventions, be friendly, give a killer elevator pitch. If they want to play, even better.

"Know the publishers. Don’t pitch a gross zombie game to a family-friendly publishing company.

"It goes without saying that you should also know the games that the company publishes. Play them. Don’t pitch clones.

"Communities like @CartrunkEnt’s Unpub are great for getting unbiased feedback on your game. http://unpub.net”

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Quick tips for things to consider when testing for balance:

  • Take notes throughout, but act upon the final result.
  • Good balance isn’t just fairness, but an approximately equal set of choices.
  • Always keep your design goals in mind.
  • Test with the same data before making changes.
  • Balance testing cannot truly begin until the mechanics are completed.

http://hyperbolegames.com/2012/09/14/balance-testing/

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James Ernest (@cheapassjames) on the biggest obstacle to becoming a game designer:

There are two definitions of “game designer.” They are “creator” and “developer” or maybe “inventor” and “refiner.” These are both important jobs and you don’t usually find them both in the same person.

“Refiners” need their adult brains turned on. They need to be critical, ask questions, test, and fix broken games. As such, people who tend to live in their adult mode all the time make better refiners.

“Inventors” need their adult brains to shut up. When you’re making something new, everything needs to be awesome. You need to stop second-guessing every spark before you manage to light the fire. You need to stop fixing the leaks before the ship is built. So people who can think with their child brains make better Inventors.

I’d say the biggest obstacle to your becoming a well-rounded game designer is your natural tendency to spend all your waking life thinking with your adult brain.

http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/zq14c/im_james_ernest_president_of_cheapass_games_and/c66rnwz