Online source for free, downloadable grids, such as hex grids:

http://www.printablepaper.net/

Lessons learned from the Corporate America Kickstarter:

http://www.reddit.com/r/tabletopgamedesign/comments/1hfzu6/self_publishing_your_first_board_game_lessons/

“As you develop a game, keep in mind WHY you made some decisions earlier. You may need to re-factor them for the game NOW as sands shift.”

— Grant Rodiek (@HerrohGrant)

Viticulture Expansion Design Contest

Prize: $2,000

Deadline: Sept. 30, 2013

http://www.stonemaiergames.com/2000-viticulture-expansion-design-contest/?fb_source=pubv1

Playing is Better than Winning: Identity Compartmentalization→

jtreat:

Have you ever tried playing a two-player game against yourself? It’s normally pretty unsatisfying because you can’t surprise yourself. And if you’re testing an early prototype, it’s not as helpful as testing with another person because you won’t misinterpret this thing that seems flawless in…

Methods for self-testing your early prototypes

The Ludology podcast discusses the psychological effect of loss aversion and how designers can use–or avoid–it:

http://ludology.libsyn.com/ludology-episode-59-hey-that-s-mine

Board Game Design Forum’s July 2013 Game Design Showdown - “Order of Play”

Restriction: Create a game with changing orders, in which play doesn’t proceed in exactly the same order from round to round

Deadline: July 8, 2013

http://www.bgdf.com/node/12651

Photoshop tricks that might come in handy for board game designers:

http://gnomishdesign.tumblr.com/post/54362259533/photoshop-tricks-that-might-come-in-handy-for-board

Alan Emrich of Victory Point Games (@VPGame) offers tips for breaking into the gaming industry:

http://www.gameskinny.com/0fn17/interview-with-alan-emrich-creator-of-victory-point-games

How to get better at pitching to publishers:

http://www.cheveedodd.com/2013/07/01/after-the-email-the-pitch/

Deadlines to get your game onto the BoardGameGeek Gen Con and Spiel 2013 preview lists are this week:

http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/20862/convention-previews-coming-for-gen-con-2013-and-sp

Ways to use triangular and square numbers in game design:

http://danielsolisblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/5-ways-to-use-triangular-and-square.html

What constitutes a “meaningful decision”? A BoardGameGeek designers forum discussion:

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/999482/what-constitutes-a-meaningful-decision-for-you-bey

Examples of well-written and -designed rulebooks:

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/999192/best-rulebook

How to write an elevator pitch:

http://exampleofplay.wordpress.com/2013/06/29/how-to-write-an-elevator-pitch/

Cardboard Edison's Favorite Tips & Resources - June 2013

This month’s roundup of useful links for board game designers includes games you should play, free icons for prototyping, a surprising connection between drafting and worker placement, and more:

#theory:

• Games to play to become a better designer
• The Dice Tower has a new podcast for board game designers
• A guide to area-control games
• A look at drafting as a gaming mechanism
• How to avoid runaway leaders in engine-building games

#prototyping:

• 1,078 free icons for prototyping

#publishing:

• Lessons learned from the Euphoria Kickstarter
• Albino Dragon’s top 12 lessons about making a Kickstarter campaign successful
• What can we learn from the Kickstarter campaigns that fell furthest short of their goals?

#process:

• Grant Rodiek joins the Happy Mitten podcast to discuss making players feel clever, stewing on ideas, getting published and more

A guide to worker placement games:

http://www.islaythedragon.com/2013/06/take-this-job-and-place-it-guide-to.html

Days of Wonder’s Mark Kaufmann joins the Board Game University podcast to discuss how the company works with designers:

http://boardgameuniversity.libsyn.com/board-game-university-episode-6-mark-kaufmann

Lessons learned from the Euphoria Kickstarter:

http://www.stonemaiergames.com/5-kickstarter-mistakes-we-made-on-euphoria-that-you-can-avoid-and-1-regret/

How to avoid runaway leaders in engine-building games:

http://www.mostdangerousgamedesign.com/2013/06/engine-building-and-power-curves.html