Resources to teach strategy game design, with a focus on games in the classroom:

http://www.kathleenmercury.com/

Updates about the future of the Unpub program for unpublished games (@TheUnpub), including Unpub 4 on Jan. 17-19, 2014:

http://dicehateme.com/2013/09/the-state-of-games-episode-51-the-bgg-top-20-and-future-of-unpub/

Sources for prototype cards:

http://boardsandbarley.com/2013/09/05/sourcing-board-game-components-cards/

Extended Player Psychographics: how to design games for different types of players:

http://makeagameofthat.wordpress.com/2013/09/04/extended-player-psychographics/

An analysis of Carl Chudyk’s game designs, with common threads connecting Glory to Rome, Innovation, Flower Fall and others:

http://www.islaythedragon.com/2013/09/the-name-on-box-top-carl-chudyk.html

“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