“Focus. The designer should pick a goal they want to accomplish. Everything in the game should focus towards that point. It’s easier to do one or two things incredibly well than fifty things.”
Grant Rodiek (@HerrohGrant) discusses open design, community engagement, Kickstarting his game Farmageddon, looking professional, what makes a game great, running Hyperbole Games (@HyperboleGames) and more:
http://goforthandgame.com/2012/11/09/a-conversation-with-grant-rodiek-the-designer-of-farmageddon/
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
Lewis Pulsipher (@lewpuls) looks at economic production cycles in games:
http://pulsiphergamedesign.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-economic-production-cycle-in-games.html
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:
- A 17-step guide to getting your game published
- A warning for new game designers: Why your actions are more important than your intentions
- 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)
