The Game Design Round Table talks to the Bamboozle Brothers (@bamboozlebros) about working with a partner long distance, getting picked up by a publisher and more:

http://thegamedesignroundtable.com/2014/06/24/episode-85-bamboozle-brothers/

At what point should you begin blind playtesting?

http://www.reddit.com/r/tabletopgamedesign/comments/28w8gu/when_to_hand_to_play_testers/

Advice for solo playtesting from the Reddit tabletop game design forum:

http://www.reddit.com/r/tabletopgamedesign/comments/28zq9y/playtesting_soloplaytesting_methodology/

Doug Levandowski (@levzilla) of Meltdown Games (@meltdowngames) joins All Us Geeks (@AllUsGeeks) to discuss getting feedback prior to a Kickstarter launch, recent changes to the platform, marketing and more:

http://www.allusgeeks.com/2014/06/the-game-of-crowd-funding-gothic-doctor-the-road-to-relaunch-part-5/

The Game Design Round Table discusses the role of marketing in the game industry:

http://thegamedesignroundtable.com/2014/06/20/episode-84-marketing/

“Design for yourself. Make something you love to play.”

— Cole Madeiros (@TheGubsGuy)

Ares Magazine Game Design Contest

Deadline: July 23, 2014

Prizes: Cash and publication

http://aresmagazine.com/?page_id=392

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)