“While many designers may not want to admit it, the theme, art, and setting of a game can really add to the fun factor. Players have a much easier time getting into and enjoying a game when there’s strong thematic consonance.”

— Seth Jaffee (@sedjtroll)

“Dear playtester, the more negative your feedback, the more I need to hear it. Don’t sabotage my game to spare my feelings. That hurts more.”

— Jay Treat (@jtreat3)

“Development is working with people who teach you things about your own game that you never would have noticed or were incapable of seeing.”

— Ben Pinchback (@pinchback21)

Using mechanics that enhance the world your game creates for players:

http://www.leagueofgamemakers.com/the-world-of-the-play/

The Game Design Round Table discusses playtesting and the challenges of getting good feedback:

http://thegamedesignroundtable.com/2014/03/25/episode-72-playtesting-2/

Kickstarter lessons in humility: reminders about setting your goal, defining the target audience, offering add-ons and more:

http://www.albinodragon.com/blog/too-big-to-fail-a-kickstarter-lesson-in-humility/

The merits and limitations of putting text on cards:

http://kevingnunn.com/2014/03/25/icons-vs-text-part-1/

The value of agonizing over your Kickstarter project page:

http://stonemaiergames.com/live-blogging-lesson-4-the-value-of-agonizing-over-your-project-page/

Five mistakes that will kill your Kickstarter project:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/4646/160570-5-mistakes-that-will-kill-your-kickstarter-project-ep-191

“Having limitations and guidelines helps focus a design. Boundless design can be good, but it can also cause designs to wander.”

— J. Alex Kevern (@AlexWithIdeas)

What makes a game easy to teach or hard to teach?

http://www.gamesprecipice.com/teachability/

The stages of game development:

http://www.houseofslack.com/the-stages-of-game-development/

Narratives in board games, the value of story-rich games, and ways to design games with stronger fictions:

http://www.mostdangerousgamedesign.com/2014/03/crafting-games-with-immersive-narratives.html

Making Games 101: answers to some basic questions that first-time game creators have about manufacturing:

http://www.admagic.com/blog/2014/03/24/making-games-101/

Tips for notifying a previous project’s backers about a new project:

http://stonemaiergames.com/live-blogging-lesson-3-updating-previous-projects/

Using manufacturing considerations to guide design choices:

http://oakleafgames.wordpress.com/2014/03/24/manufacturing-as-a-design-tool/

The Something From Nothing vidcast discusses handling feedback, with Luke Peterschmidt (@LPeterschmidt) and Ben Rosset (@BenRosset)

“Playtesters will hurt your feelings. That is your attachment, not your true self, that is suffering. You must detach and let them teach you.”

— Tim Rodriguez (@dicefoodlodging)

A template for writing and laying out rules cards for DriveThruCards products, via Daniel Solis (@DanielSolis)

The tools to create a niche game are available to you:

http://hyperbolegames.com/2014/03/23/the-greater-niche/