A look at how theme and mechanics are more tightly connected than commonly assumed:

http://www.mostdangerousgamedesign.com/2013/05/theme-as-conceptual-model.html

Other design considerations: social settings, physical space and more:

http://nothingsacredgames.com/?p=918

Creating dilemmas for players:

http://berlingamedesign.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-beautiful-dilemma.html

What is the primary characteristic of a gateway game?

http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/19381/the-prime-characteristic-of-gateway-games

James Mathe of Minion Games (@MinionGames) suggests some best practices for all levels of the board game industry: designers, publishers, manufacturers, fulfillment, distributors and retailers:

http://www.jamesmathe.com/please-dont-pee-in-the-sandbox/

Grant Rodiek (@HerrohGrant) shares his lessons learned self-publishing his game Battle for York:

http://hyperbolegames.com/2013/05/11/publishing-case-study-york/

A look at dice allocation games:

http://boardsandbees.wordpress.com/2013/05/11/0245/

Registration is open for 2013’s Protospiel playtesting event, to be held July 12-14 in Ann Arbor, Mich.:

http://www.protospiel.org/page7.html

Game Chef 2013: The Annual Analog Game Design Competition

Entries accepted: May 17-26, 2013

More details to be released May 17

http://gamechef.wordpress.com/

“By now you know that you need to playtest, playtest, playtest, but it is worth mentioning again because it is that important.”

— Danny Devine (@3ddevine)

Danny Devine (@3ddevine) on playtesting, researching, networking and more:

http://news.thegamecrafter.com/post/50017715195/danny-devine-inducted-into-the-hall-of-fame

“Remember: Games = “Structured play”. And should have as little of the former – and as much of the latter — as possible.”

— Brett J. Gilbert (@55cards)

“Don’t make it all about the money”: advice for making the most of a Kickstarter campaign, whether you reach your funding goal or not:

http://www.stonemaiergames.com/kickstarter-lesson-36-for-better-or-for-worse/

Daniel Solis (@DanielSolis) shares some thoughts on end-game scoring methods:

http://danielsolisblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-sorting-hat-effect-avoiding-hazards.html

Some limitations of Kickstarter and some creative workarounds for project creators:

http://www.stonemaiergames.com/kickstarter-limitations-and-how-to-work-around-them/

The What and Why of Board Game Culture: video of a PAX East panel on board games, gamers, design and more:

http://danielsolisblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/watch-wood-for-sheep-what-and-why-of.html

Cards Against Humanity is sponsoring the Tabletop Design Deathmatch

Prize: first print run and a booth at GenCon 2014

Deadline: likely Aug. 1, 2013

http://cardsagainsthumanity.com/deathmatch/

“It is not the game designer’s role to refute criticism, other than in a conversational way. The designer’s argument is the game itself.”

— Mr. Bistro (@mrbistro)

Board Game Designers Forum’s May 2013 Game Design Showdown: “Change, she is a comin’”

Theme: cyclic change

Restriction: no cards

Deadline: May 8, 2013

http://www.bgdf.com/node/12347

Gil Hova (@ingredientx), the designer of Prolix, discusses word games and the special considerations required to create one:

http://ludology.libsyn.com/game-tek-classic-54-designing-word-games