Bernd Brunnhofer has some pointers for novice designers who want to submit to Hans im Glück, in this interview:

http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/14253/interview-with-bernd-brunnhofer-from-hans-im-gluck

The Secret of Learning from Others

Know that you are not the best. You are in fact, not that good. BUT you are equipped with a formidable weapon that will grant you victory.

You are learning.

http://exampleofplay.wordpress.com/2012/11/09/the-secret-of-learning-from-others/

Some advice for dealing with contradictory feedback from playtesters:

http://www.reddit.com/r/tabletopgamedesign/comments/12epqb/advice_on_taking_playtesting_advice/

Ideas for overcoming designer’s block:

http://www.reddit.com/r/tabletopgamedesign/comments/12fjsl/when_the_idea_store_runs_dry/

Some places to find professional playtesters–and a few words of warning about them:

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/878872/is-there-a-market-for-professional-playtesters-org

Designers and publishers are invited to a late-stage playtest session at this year’s BGG.CON:

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/article/10406747

Story Realms creators Angie Hickman Newnham and Julian Leiberan-Titus discuss how to get players hyped up for your game, having the right attitude while playtesting, the importance of collaboration and more:

http://bellwethergames.com/featureddesigners/196-julian-leiberan-titus-a-angie-hickman-newnham-interview.html

Lewis Pulsipher (@lewpuls) looks at economic production cycles in games:

http://pulsiphergamedesign.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-economic-production-cycle-in-games.html

A new website, GameFunders, promises to offer “a better place to fund games than Kickstarter”:

http://gamefunders.webs.com/

Board Game Design Forum’s November 2012 Game Design Showdown

Theme: “Crossover Appeal”

Deadline: Nov. 9, 2012

http://www.bgdf.com/node/7313

A new website, TableTested.com, is accepting games for review:

http://www.tabletested.com

Eric Lang, the designer of Star Wars: The Card Game, discusses how to create a “cinematic experience” in a card game:

 http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_news.asp?eidn=3717

“Make a game for yourself and you’ll be more successful.”

— Grant Rodiek (@HyperboleGames)

Cardboard Edison's Favorite Tips & Resources - October 2012

Once a month, we put together a list featuring the board game design posts that we found the most useful.

October was a slow month overall, but there were still plenty of excellent tips and resources to be found. Here are our favorites:

#industry:

• A 17-step guide to getting your game published
• A warning for new game designers: Why your actions are more important than your intentions

#process:

• Reaffirm your motif: Do one thing and do it well
• “Save all your bad ideas. Sometimes tiny good ideas are hidden inside them. They add up.” – Stephen Glenn (@spielfriek)
• A simple exercise to inspire creative thinking about your components
• “You need to be able to be honest with yourself. You need to be able to take a knife, axe, or even explosives to your game to make it better.” - Chevee Dodd (@cheveedodd)

#theory:

• Flowcharts for what makes a decision interesting
• Benefits and drawbacks of including a board with your game

“Theme matters but is mutable. Don’t let your mechanics suffer for your theme. Iterate toward symbiosis.”

— Jay Treat (@jtreat3)

“You’re the worst person to judge the complexity level of your game because you grew up with it.”

— James Ernest (@cheapassjames) at Metatopia 2012

“If you have to bribe your testers to play your game, maybe you shouldn’t finish that one.”

— James Ernest (@cheapassjames) at Metatopia 2012

“Note to self: Include multiple copies of the rules when submitting prototypes.”

— Jay Treat (@jtreat3)

Carlos Moreno Serrano, the designer of Kalua, discusses commissioning artwork, writing rules, dealing with manufacturing delays and more:

http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/1255/designer-diary-kalua-from-the-tundra-of-self-publi

Google+ Hangout on Indie Game Design

Monday, Oct. 29, 7PM-9PM EST

http://danielsolisblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/indie-game-design-panel.html