2015 Ion Award Game Design Competition

Deadline: Jan. 1, 2015

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1259716/2015-ion-award-game-design-competition

Ways to encourage Kickstarter backers to pledge aside from exclusive content:

http://stonemaiergames.com/10-better-reasons-than-ks-exclusives-to-back-a-kickstarter-project/

“First and foremost, what we’re here to do is to create environments to have fun. So if you’re designing games, define fun and make sure that your game does that, because fun means different things to different people.”

— Ray Wehrs, co-founder of Calliope Games

Six stats for Kickstarter success:

http://www.buzzsprout.com/4646/215212-6-stats-to-kickstarter-success-ep-230-w-john-coveyou

“Take a look at what elements of your game have an easily calculable value, and try to find ways to force players to make judgments based on incomplete information. That leads to more interesting decisions and an involving game.”

— Geoff Engelstein (@gengelstein)

“Remember… People that you want to work with probably will know about you before you ever meet… Always be on your best behavior.”

— Michael Mindes (@TastyMinstrel)

Data on Kickstarter success and backing other projects:

http://gotgeniusgames.com/kickstarter-stats-101-backing-projects-matter/

Balderdash designer Laura Robinson offers advice on researching, prototyping, blind playtesting, sell sheets and more:

http://tandgcon.com/business-of-play/laura-robinson

Eight uses for pennies in your prototype–and two other ideas:

http://drwictzboardgames.blogspot.com/2014/10/a-dr-wictz-list-10-uses-for-pennies-in.html

Guidelines for a successful playtesting event:

http://www.leagueofgamemakers.com/how-to-playtest-part-1-set-the-stage/

Benefits of finding new ways to achieve a design’s goals:

http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/35007/how-build-game-19-challenge-same-thing-different-w

What to say on the front of the box to draw in potential customers:

http://blueroom.labvc.com.au/2014/10/24/present-amateur-designer-without-even-knowing/

A list of publishers that are accepting submissions, and what types of games they’re looking for:

http://www.bgdf.com/forum/game-creation/publication/list-publishers-2014-edition

Games every designer should play to become familiar with the breadth of modern gaming:

http://www.jamesmathe.com/games-designers-play/

Data on the $1 reward level and Kickstarter success:

http://gotgeniusgames.com/kickstarter-stats-101-1-reward-level/

Ways to find inspiration for designs:

http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/35005/how-build-game-17-develop-inspirational-resources

“Games don’t need to be perfect in order to be play tested. Games need to have the passion to be developed.”

— Chris Renshall (@TGIK_Games_CR)

Hidden trackable information–why a designer might want to use it:

http://www.3dtotalgames.com/hidden-trackable-information/

“Things can sound good in your head and work well on paper, but you can’t predict if the game will be fun or not until you get something to the table that can be played.”

— Randy Hoyt (@randyhoyt)

The purpose of expansions:

http://boardsandbarley.com/2014/10/21/the-purpose-of-expansions/