Designers weigh in on the age-old debate of theme vs. mechanics:

http://www.leagueofgamemakers.com/mechanics-are-more-important-than-theme/

http://www.leagueofgamemakers.com/theme-is-more-important-than-mechanics/

“You are the greatest limitation to your own game design. Be willing to pursue the uncertainty of an idea you didn’t originally consider.”

— Alex Harkey (@GamesPrecipice)

“Playtesters aren’t the subject of your experiment; you are the subject of theirs.”

— Alex Harkey (@GamesPrecipice)

Vanity and the downfall of aspiring game designers–advice for new designers on how to value their own ideas:

http://www.gamesprecipice.com/vanity/

Launching on Kickstarter soon? Here’s your to-do list for the final week:

http://stonemaiergames.com/kickstarter-lesson-104-the-one-week-checklist/

“Designing is removing your favorite mechanic to make a better game.”

— Scott Almes (@Scott_Almes)

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