Board game designers discuss making a living, how pitching games to publishers have changed, how game design is affected by mood, and more

“Game terms are the intersection of theme and mechanics. Choose them wisely, so that they do service to both.”

— Daniel Solis (@DanielSolis)

Giving potential Kickstarter backers just the right number of options:

http://stonemaiergames.com/kickstarter-lesson-103-there-is-no-perfect-pickle/

How to improve your chances of getting coverage for your Kickstarter:

http://www.buzzsprout.com/4646/181892-ep-209-pitching-geekdad-to-cover-your-kickstarter-campaign-with-jonathan-liu

ProtoSpiel NorthEast will be July 19, 2014, at the NYU Game Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.:

http://sixpencegames.com/2014/06/20/announcing-protospiel-northeast-a-game-design-con-for-charity/

http://protospielnortheast.ticketleap.com/protospiel-northeast/

Kickstarter vs. print on demand:

http://danielsolisblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/fomo-factor-kickstarter-marketing-vs.html

“Setting constraints can really help the process. It seems counter-intuitive, but when you set limits - such as “this must fit in a small box” - it can actually help drive creativity.”

— Scott Almes (@Scott_Almes)

“If you just sit on your idea for 2.4yrs, someone else will publish an identical game. Go make something!”

— Corey Young (@C_M_Young)

Marbles: The Brain Store “Who’s Got Game” Game Design Competition

Theme: Pattern Games

Deadline: Aug. 1, 2014

Prize: $2,000 and publication with royalties

http://www.marblesthebrainstore.com/gotgame

When to use diagrams to clarify rules:

http://hyperbolegames.com/2014/06/18/diagramming-for-clarity/

An attempt at defining what games are:

http://oakleafgames.wordpress.com/2014/06/17/gaming-glossary-game

Matt Leacock (@mleacock) discusses co-op game design at the U.K. Games Expo

Schools of game design and their “core priorities”:

http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/27367/schools-of-design-and-their-core-priorities

Dominic Crapuchettes of NorthStar Games (@NorthStarGames) joins Ludology to discuss designing party games, dealing with mass-market retailers, starting a game company and more:

http://ludology.libsyn.com/ludology-episode-82-party-party-evolution

10 Kickstarter mistakes to avoid, from Robert Burke (@robertburke)

Player aides and the design process:

http://mvpboardgames.blogspot.com/2014/06/dtow-7-player-aids.html

“Don’t be afraid of making your first prototype and showing it to your friends and colleagues. After this step is done, everything will be easier.”

— Nikolay Pegasov

Pros and cons of different end-game conditions:

http://www.mostdangerousgamedesign.com/2014/06/game-over-game-end-conditions.html

A tip for creating a simple prototype for a hex-tile game:

http://www.bgdf.com/forum/game-creation/prototyping/tip-building-prototyping-hex-tile-game

“Make, play, test, learn, repeat. Tenacity and stamina help, as does a little luck.”

— Matt Leacock (@mleacock)