“Designers are made between the first and second prototype. The first one is easy, changes are hard.”

— J. Alex Kevern (@AlexWithIdeas)

A spreadsheet of information about more than 50 board game reviewers:

http://www.jamesmathe.com/o-reviewer-reviewer-wherefore-art-thou/

“Part of being a game designer is input. Don’t keep the game to yourself, *especially* if it’s broken. Needs sun to grow.”

— Daniel Solis (@DanielSolis)

The role of reviewers in the board game industry, from the perspective of designers, publishers, players and the reviewers themselves:

http://www.plaidhatgames.com/podcast/98

Balloon Cup designer Stephen Glenn offers advice for designers on the Board Games University podcast:

http://boardgameuniversity.libsyn.com/board-game-university-episode-7-stephen-glenn

Debating what solo board games can and can’t do, with On Board Games (@OnBoardGames) and A.J. Porfirio (@VanRyderGames):

http://onboardgames.libsyn.com/obg-111-all-alone-with-friends

“Do Your Research Before Using Kickstarter.” Here’s where to start:

http://www.happymittengames.com/do-your-research-before-using-kickstarter/

The Game Crafter’s Classic Arcade Challenge

Theme: Reinvent a classic arcade game as a tabletop game

Deadline: Sept. 9, 2013

http://news.thegamecrafter.com/post/54916954287/classic-arcade-challenge

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