“A theme should make sense with mechanisms and reduce the learning time. A novel theme for its own sake does neither.”

— Daniel Solis (@DanielSolis)

Ludology discusses worker-placement games: What makes them tick? Why would designers use that mechanism? What are the pitfalls to avoid?

http://ludology.libsyn.com/ludology-episode-83-all-work-and-no-place-make-games-a-dull-toy

The Building the Game Podcast (@PodcastBTG) discusses print-on-demand services, take-that games, when to give up on a design, and more:

http://www.buildingthegamepodcast.com/2014/06/29/episode-109-questions-and-magic/

The benefits of working with publishers:

http://mvpboardgames.blogspot.com/2014/06/dtow-9-working-with-publisher.html

A program for turning comma-separated lists into printable playing cards:

http://card-game-prototyper.herokuapp.com/import

Advice for the process of writing your game’s rulebook:

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1194562/how-do-you-write-instruction-manual

Board Game Mechanics Library–a new project to catalog the different ways games have used various mechanics:

http://boardgames.siroak.com/

A reminder about copying and pasting messages to supporters:

http://stonemaiergames.com/kickstarter-lesson-106-dont-copy-and-paste/

What to do when testing becomes a grind–a Board Game Designers Forum discussion:

http://www.bgdf.com/forum/game-creation/playtesting/testing-becomes-grind

Kevin Nunn (@kgnunn) looks at the prisoner’s dilemma and how it can be used in games:

http://kevingnunn.com/2014/06/13/be-ye-friend-or-be-ye-foe-part-1/

http://kevingnunn.com/2014/06/17/be-ye-friend-or-be-ye-foe-part-2/

http://kevingnunn.com/2014/06/20/be-ye-friend-or-be-ye-foe-part-3/

http://kevingnunn.com/2014/06/25/be-ye-friend-or-be-ye-foe-part-4/

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)