Exploring race representation in board games and why it matters:

http://www.acrosstheboardgames.net/luke/we-need-diverse-games/

When is a design too complex? A Board Game Design Forum discussion:

http://www.bgdf.com/forum/game-creation/mechanics/when-something-too-complex

“For your own peace of mind, if you’re new to a field, start with a tiny successful project instead of a giant unfinished masterpiece.”

— Daniel Solis (@DanielSolis)

“Even though it might just be a one-man operation, look as professional as possible–don’t make it look like a one-man operation.”

— Ryan Laukat

Nestorgames Rings Game Design Contest

Deadline: Oct. 31, 2014

Prize: possible publication

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1221878/nestorgames-rings-game-design-contest

“When someone takes a shot at a game you created, smile, thank them for their time, and say that you hope they like your next game better.”

— Kevin Wilson (@KevinWilson42)

Tips for navigating a large convention as a publisher or designer:

http://stonemaiergames.com/top-10-lessons-learned-and-highlights-from-gen-con-2014/

Learning lessons from published designs:

http://mvpboardgames.blogspot.com/2014/08/design-tip-of-week-16-lessons-from.html

Chris Kirkman of Dice Hate Me Games (@dicehateme) joins the Creators Cast to offer tips for how to pitch to a publisher:

http://creatorscast.libsyn.com/4-chris-kirkman-chat

“If you’re working from an older mechanism, it should be the start of your design, not the end.”

— Daniel Solis (@DanielSolis)

Advice for setting Kickstarter pledge levels:

http://news.thegamecrafter.com/post/95106242404/pledge-levels

Different ways of implementing asymmetry in games:

http://hyperbolegames.com/2014/08/18/apples-and-oranges/

What is a game? The “committee definition”:

http://www.big-game-theory.com/2014/08/defined-by-committee-games-and-language.html

Tutorial: getting started with The Game Crafter

Icons for prototyping, many free:

https://www.iconfinder.com/

You design a game, test it, it doesn’t work… then what? A BoardGameGeek designers forum discussion:

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1218668/what-do-you-do-when-game-doesnt-pan-out-right

The League of Gamemakers weighs in on catchup mechanics:

http://www.leagueofgamemakers.com/ask-the-league-should-games-have-a-catch-up-mechanic/

“If you need to remind players of a rule, it may not be elegant enough.”

— Darrell Hardy

“For new designers, the instinct is always to solve a problem by adding something to the game to balance it out. Ninety percent of the time the correct answer is to simplify the problem away. Take something out instead.”

— Ben Rosset (@BenRosset)

“Find the core of your game, and take away everything else that doesn’t directly support that.”

— Ben Rosset (@BenRosset)