“I submit that if a game never outright terrifies you during the design process, you might want to aim higher.”

— Eric Lang (@eric​_lang)

“You know, every bad idea deserves to be mocked up and tried a couple times. Now it’s out of my head and we can move on #prototypingsavestime”

— Ben Pinchback (@pinchback21)

The Game Design Round Table podcast discusses randomness and its place in games:

http://thegamedesignroundtable.com/2013/09/05/episode-43/

Pointers for what makes a good scenario:

http://hyperbolegames.com/2013/09/04/scenarius-testus/

University Games National Young Game Inventors Contest

Open to kids ages 5-12

Prizes: $10,000 savings bond and more

Deadline: Oct. 1, 2013

Note: All submissions will become the property of University Games

http://www.universitygames.com/nygic/

Why you should start a blog–now:

http://www.stonemaiergames.com/kickstarter-lesson-52-write-a-blog/

Learning from first-to-market products:

“Don’t get discouraged by new products that are similar to what you’re making. Learn from others’ successes instead of being disappointed by them.”

http://andrewfederspiel.com/myblog/?p=264

Aldo Ghiozzi of Impressions and Richard Bliss (@GameWhisperer) discuss how Kickstarter project creators can balance loyalty to backers and retailers

Why a working knowledge of probability is important to game designers:

http://www.cardboardrepublic.com/articles/the-numbers-game-its-probably-important

A panel of established designers at Gen Con discuss the industry and offer lots of advice for up-and-coming designers:

http://dicetower.coolstuffinc.com/tdt-episode-320-gen-con-2013-designer-s-panel

Playing > Winning: The Alpha Player Problem→

jtreat:

There’s some debate regarding the legitimacy of The Alpha Player Problem. Some say it’s the biggest problem with cooperative games and they won’t play any that exhibit it. Others say it’s not a problem with the game, but with the group, and that you shouldn’t be playing any games with the kind of…

Lessons learned about board game fulfillment and distribution:

http://nothingsacredgames.com/more-lessons-from-the-corporate-america-kickstarter/

Thoughts on clarity as a desirable principle in abstract games:

http://nickbentleygames.wordpress.com/2013/09/02/redefining-the-abstract/

Cosmos designer Peter Jackson on finding playtesters, using feedback, designing for fun or money, and more:

http://news.thegamecrafter.com/post/59977057255/peter-jackson-inducted-into-the-hall-of-fame

When to ignore playtesters:

http://www.mostdangerousgamedesign.com/2013/09/learning-to-ignore-playtesters.html

The requirement for the September 2013 BoardGameGeek 24 Hour Contest is dice:

http://boardgamegeek.com/article/13293305?

On the Building the Game podcast (@PodcastBTG), Bruno Cathala offers advice to new designers about testing, rules writing, and simplifying your game (interview starts at about 1:12:30):

http://www.buildingthegamepodcast.com/2013/09/01/episode-66-gencon-2013-recap-and-fortress/

“The importance of pizzazz”: Tips for getting people to notice your game:

http://www.happymittengames.com/board-game-anticipation-importance-pizzazz/

On Board Games (@OnBoardGames) discusses markets in games, with Michael Keller (@vhgames):

http://onboardgames.libsyn.com/obg-115-i-ll-buy-that-for-a-dollar

Cardboard Edison's Favorite Tips & Resources - August 2013

This was another big month filled with a boatload of tips and resources for board game designers. Below you’ll find a Gen Con panel for first-time designers, thorough explorations of two types of games, a new website to aid in idea creation, and a lot more:

#featured:

• Meaningful Decisions: Dirk Knemeyer on Board Game Design Choices

#industry:

• A panel of game designers at Gen Con discuss lots of topics of interest to new designers
• A Brief Crash Course on Game Design: Issues, Processes, and Resources for New Designers
• Patch Products’ inventor-relations representative offers advice to game creators
• Abstract Strategy Games Online: The Definitive Guide

#theory:

• A guide to network-building games
• A guide to storytelling games
• What makes a euro a euro?

#process:

• Board Game Idea Generator
• Lukas Litzsinger (@RukasuFox) talks about developing Android: Netrunner, working at Fantasy Flight Games (@FFGames), telling stories with games and more

#prototyping:

• Forget the debate over “pretty” prototypes, here are some tips and resources to make them functional

#licensing:

• Two very important things to do before you pitch your board game to a publisher

#publishing:

• A detailed timeline for how long it takes to design, test and produce a board game
• How and when to say no to Kickstarter backers