“You should always have multiple projects going at once. Variation breeds creativity.”

— Scott Almes (@Scott_Almes)

How to generate laughs in a strategy game:

http://hyperbolegames.com/2015/05/15/funny-games/

When to call off a playtest early:

https://inspirationtopublication.wordpress.com/2015/05/13/stop-playtesting/

Using mystery and suspense in a game design:

http://www.wiltgren.com/2015/05/13/are-you-designing-mystery-or-suspense/

“So many people talk about theme and mechanism as if they’re mutually exclusive, as if starting at one precludes ever adapting to the other. But where you start really doesn’t matter. It’s where they intersect at the end. Your game’s story won’t be told through flavor text. It’ll be told at the intersection of where your theme meets its mechanism.”

— Gil Hova (@gilhova)

Tips for setting up a playtesting event:

http://matthewgravelyn.com/properly-organizing-a-tabletop-playtest/

Indie publishers discuss Kickstarter at Unpub Protospiel San Jose 2015

Advice for soliciting and interpreting feedback from playtesters:

http://www.genesisoflegend.com/2015/05/episode54/

A checklist for managing multiple publishing projects:

http://www.jamesmathe.com/checklist/

Fixing Kickstarter campaign mistakes for a successful relaunch:

http://stonemaiergames.com/3-mistakes-i-made-on-my-first-kickstarter-tabletop-game-project-and-how-i-fixed-them-in-the-successful-relaunch-a-guest-post-by-ryan-wolfe/

What designers do and what publishers do

“Playtest with your friends and playtest with strangers. The only way to discover what works in your game — and what doesn’t — is to keep playtesting.”

— Robert Dijkman Dulkes

“At some point you just have to make a prototype, even if you don’t think the idea in your head is ready. It will never be ready. But you’ll never know what part isn’t ready until you make a prototype.”

— Matt Golec

How to make standees:

http://mvpboardgames.blogspot.com/2015/05/design-tip-of-week-28-how-to-make.html

Strategies for solo testing:

http://www.reddit.com/r/tabletopgamedesign/comments/35as34/what_are_your_strategies_for_early_testing_a_game/

Helpful Kickstarter campaign data: new backers and old ones, international numbers, video length and more:

http://stonemaiergames.com/statistics-from-the-new-treasure-chest-2-4-kickstarter-project/

The importance of aligning the player‘s experience with their expectations:

https://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/41802/losing-player-failing-align-expectations

Five tips for taking playtesters’ feedback:

http://danielsolisblog.blogspot.com/2015/05/this-soup-is-awful-cake-5-tips-for.html

“If you have to explain your theme, then your theme isn’t working.”

— Andrew Federspiel (@KnapsackGames)

The Dice Hate Me Games/Greater Than Games Design Challenge

Design a game featuring a dexterity element

Deadline: Aug. 31, 2015

Prizes: cash, Unpub designer table, possible publication

http://dicehateme.com/2015/05/the-state-of-games-ep-84-the-one-about-ever-expanding-games/