Australian playtesting events for October 2014:

http://www.reddit.com/r/tabletopgamedesign/comments/2ii18e/australian_playtest_events_october/

The theme for the October 2014 24-hour game design contest is “pumpkin”:

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1248370/24-hour-contest-october-2014

How designers can approach difficult themes in board games:

http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamepodcastepisode/129773/long-view-difficult-themes-and-battle-five-armies

Creating tension through the decision-resolution cycle:

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/34527/creating-tension-through-decision-resolution-cycle

Ignacy Trzewiczek (@trzewik) joins Something From Nothing to discuss thematic games, publishing mistakes, starting out as a designer, taking advice and feedback, and more

“Enter every discussion knowing what works with your game and what isn’t currently working. Design is an art, but development can be more scientific.”

— Grant Rodiek (@HyperboleGrant)

“Never make changes to your game just to change stuff. Understand fully what the problem is that you’re trying to solve and why you think the change will address it. Otherwise, you will meander for months or years with no forward progress.”

— Grant Rodiek (@HyperboleGrant)

What do you do when a tester says, “You removed my favorite feature"?

http://hyperbolegames.com/2014/10/06/ignoring-kind-feedback/

How to maximize the benefit of a given theme to the game’s overall experience:

http://www.gamesprecipice.com/theme-execution/

“Thematic design is about players making intuitive decisions that appropriately mimic their thematic equivalent.”

— Grant Rodiek (@HyperboleGrant)

How to research a theme:

http://hyperbolegames.com/2014/10/03/researching-theme/

Making Kickstarter campaign decisions by asking, “Who does it benefit?”:

http://www.leagueofgamemakers.com/reflection-1-backers-first/

“If you receive a negative review, and you will, you’re allowed to do one thing: Post, “Thanks for the review.” You may also try, “I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy the game. Thanks for the review.””

— Grant Rodiek (@HyperboleGrant)

Card games vs. board games: Why some players are turning to smaller card-based games:

http://pulsiphergamedesign.blogspot.com/2014/10/really-small-games-card-version.html

Using reviews to improve your designs:

http://hyperbolegames.com/2014/10/02/using-reviews-to-improve-games/

Board Game Design Forum’s October 2014 Game Design Showdown

Create a game where the packaging is a significant element in the game’s play.

Deadline: Oct. 8, 2014

http://www.bgdf.com/forum/game-design/game-design-showdown/gds-october-2014-thinking-inside-box

Categories of win conditions and game-end triggers–a Reddit tabletop designers discussion:

http://www.reddit.com/r/tabletopgamedesign/comments/2i0buq/win_conditions_game_end_triggers_class_discussion/

How a design can get stuck in a ditch, and how to get it back on track:

http://thegamedesignroundtable.com/2014/09/30/episode-99-stuck-in-the-ditch/

Cardboard Edison's Favorite Tips & Resources - September 2014

In this month’s roundup, we have an in-depth interview with Matt Leacock, a thoughtful post on exoticism in board games, a new source for prototyping icons, Kickstarter advice for before, during and after the campaign, and lots more!

#featured:

• Meaningful Decisions: Matt Leacock on Design Choices in Forbidden Desert

#theory:

• What gives a game a rewarding moment for players?

#industry:

• Bruno Faidutti on board games and the exoticism of other cultures and other times

#prototyping:

• A new source of icons, under Creative Commons license

#publishing:

• The right way to get ready for a Kickstarter—specific things you should do to lay the groundwork for a successful campaign
• A giant post packed with Kickstarter knowledge, from James Mathe of Minion Games (@MinionGames)

#playtesting:

• “During the creation and development process, don’t hesitate to change it if it is for the best, and refine it the number of times you feel it needs. Talk to people about it, and change it until it clicks. It will, don’t worry. You will know when it does.” - Vital Lacerda (@vitallacerda)
• “If you’re looking for specific feedback, you need to ask specific questions. Develop them before each session.” - Sen-Foong Lim (@SenFoongLim)

#process:

• 10 steps to design a board game
• “ALWAYS be making games! Make bad ones, make worse ones, make better ones, make good ones, make great ones. Just keep making games.” - Chris Renshall, TGIK Games

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“When you create a game, be proud of it, and want to show it off. If you’re not excited about your own game, why would a publisher or potential customer be interested in it?”

— Nat Levan (@OakleafGames)