What game conventions and conferences can do for a game designer

“Design as many games as you can. You get better at it the more you do it!”

— Ryan Laukat

How to submit listings for games, people and publishers to the BoardGameGeek database:

http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/36873/advice-designers-and-publishers-how-submit-listing

Top 10 lessons learned from 2014 Kickstarter projects:

http://stonemaiergames.com/the-top-10-lessons-i-learned-from-other-kickstarter-projects-in-2014/

“Design is not “coming up with ideas.” That should be happening all the time. Design is synthesis and articulation. Execution.”

— Eric Lang (@eric_lang)

Reiner Knizia (@ReinerKnizia) on playtesting with different groups, not hanging on to dead designs, innovating in a rapidly changing industry, understanding the production process, working with small publishers, and more:

http://andhegames.com/how-reiner-knizia-makes-games-part-2/

How to keep track of different versions of a design:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/GameDesignersGuild/permalink/576879999079416/

How to prevent designer burnout:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/GameDesignersGuild/permalink/578503085583774/

Tips for rulebook layouts–organization, graphics, setup and more:

http://www.buzzsprout.com/4646/230143-ep-238-rulebook-reviews-with-eric-capps

Lessons from an unsuccessful Kickstarter–timing, art, promotion and more:

http://oakleafgames.wordpress.com/2014/12/18/dealing-with-an-unsuccessful-kickstarter

How to write a press release:

http://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/36811/advice-designers-and-publishers-how-write-press-re

Lessons learned from a successful Kickstarter campaign–promotion, Kickstarter algorithms, canceled pledges and more:

http://playintervention.tumblr.com/post/105492690576/kickstarter-lessons-learned-and-stats-from

The six core philosophies for great customer service:

http://stonemaiergames.com/kickstarter-lesson-132-the-6-core-philosophies-for-great-customer-service/

“A designer should work out what people enjoy about their game and then organise the rules such that achieving victory involves doing the enjoyable thing as early and often as possible.”

— Gregory Carslaw (@3DTotalGames)

The pros and cons of having a diverse portfolio of games, both as a designer and a publisher:

http://nothingsacredgames.com/going-wide/

Game industry veteran Mike Fitzgerald joins the Something From Nothing vidcast to offer advice for designers

Free tools for tabletop game designers:

http://www.reddit.com/r/tabletopgamedesign/comments/2pdcqj/what_tools_are_available_for_free_to_design/

Mapped endgames done right and done wrong:

http://lawofgamedesign.com/2014/12/15/theory-mapped-endgames

Everything a Kickstarter creator needs to know about trademark law:

http://stonemaiergames.com/kickstarter-lesson-131-everything-a-kickstarter-creator-needs-to-know-about-trademark-law/

Bruno Cathala discusses scientific game design, creating stories in players’ minds, and more:

http://bluepegpinkpeg.com/2014/12/10/the-seventh-peg-episode-13-bruno-cathala/