Reiner Knizia on overdoing your strengths, communicating theme, feeling uncomfortable when designing and more:

http://andhegames.com/how-reiner-knizia-makes-games/

Getting written feedback, playtest forms, evaluating test data, playtesting conventions and more.

Audio: http://theforbiddenlimb.libsyn.com/when-is-your-game-ready-part-2-ep4

“When preparing double-sided card sheets for printing, always omit the frame/border from one side. Duplexing isn’t so precise.”

— Jay Treat (@jtreat3)

Susan McKinley Ross (@ideaduck) on color and tactile game design, writing rules, the development process and more:

http://thegamedesignroundtable.com/2014/12/09/episode-109-susan-mckinley-ross-and-idea-duck/

What to look for in a production proof:

http://playdatenh.wordpress.com/2014/12/10/making-fun-the-production-proof-process

“I think that the process of design is similar to curation. Ideas already exist. Nothing is original. Select what you need from every source.”

— Behrooz Shahriari (@bbshahriari)

“I can’t repeat this often enough: If most players are playing your game incorrectly, blame the game, not them. Don’t correct; observe.”

— Eric Lang (@eric_lang)

“The worst you can do with feedback is itemize a list of comments and address them point by point in your design. Seek trends and patterns.”

— Eric Lang (@eric_lang)

“When you first receive feedback for your game, your instinctive reaction _should_ be defensive. Otherwise you don’t care enough.”

— Eric Lang (@eric_lang)

“Nobody owes you positive feedback. What you are looking for is honesty, which is often critical and leans negative. That’s a good thing.”

— Eric Lang (@eric_lang)

Researching as you go along:

http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/36493/how-build-game-40-research-other-games

An in-depth examination of the concept of pacing in board games:

http://www.gamesprecipice.com/pacing/

“The sooner you’re testing, the sooner you can move on to testing more.”

— Anthony Conta

A grab bag of recommendations for prototyping components and tools:

http://www.leagueofgamemakers.com/ask-the-league-what-tools-do-you-use-for-game-design/

“Do your research, but don’t forget to act.”

— Jeff Large

“Be open to change. Your game will be better for it.”

— Christopher Chung

The levels of playtesting:

http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/36322/how-build-game-38-levels-play-testing

The ingredients of tabeau-building games:

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1278943/taking-tableau-games-where-theyve-never-gone

The theme for the December 2014 24-hour contest is “solstice”:

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1278694/24-hour-contest-december-2014

How to attract playtesters, run blind playtests and track feedback

Audio version: http://theforbiddenlimb.libsyn.com/when-is-your-game-ready-part-1-ep3