“Playtest playtest playtest - when you think you’re done, do it more. Blind tests are even better.”

— JR Honeycutt (@JayAhre)

“Get a prototype on the table ASAP. One minute of table time is worth an hour of solitary noodling.”

— Daniel Solis (@DanielSolis)

“Determine your target audience early, and tailor your design choices with them in mind.”

— Seth Jaffee (@sedjtroll)

“Consider removing rules that take too long to explain for what they add to your game.”

— Meeple Syrup (@MeepleSyrup)

David Somerville (@thisistrove) joins The Game Design Round Table (@TGDRT) to discuss using the gaming community, pitching your game, handing things over to a publisher, and more:

http://thegamedesignroundtable.com/2015/08/21/episode-131-david-somerville-and-trove/

Tips for playtesting late-stage design tweaks

10 recommended books on game design:

http://meeplemechanic.com/specials/chip-beauvais-10-favorite-game-design-books/

Different playstyles you can mimic during solo testing:

http://www.3dtotalgames.com/playstyle-profiles/

The Meeple Syrup Show (@MeepleSyrup) on working with–and as–a publisher

Using print-on-demand services to publish games:

http://legalmovespodcast.com/2015/08/12/episode-08-print-on-demand-part-1/

http://legalmovespodcast.com/2015/08/19/episode-09-print-on-demand-part-2/

“Find fulfillment in the design process, and seek out others who are engaged in game design in order to avoid traveling down that path alone.”

— Yves Tourigny (@yvestourigny)

Yves Tourigny (@yvestourigny) on two kinds of designer’s block, not taking feedback personally, dealing with rejection and lots more:

http://theinquisitivemeeple.com/2015/08/19/designing-meeples-with-yves-tourigny/

On whether to make a good game for a broad audience or a great game for a narrow group:

http://gil.hova.net/2015/08/18/the-larger-good-versus-the-smaller-great/

Some thematic uses for randomness:

http://designingcardboard.com/thematic-mechanics-randomness/

Examples of well-done player reference cards:

https://www.reddit.com/r/tabletopgamedesign/comments/3hdkaf/reference_cards/

Crunching data on what contributes to Kickstarter success or failure:

http://www.jamesmathe.com/successorfailure/

10 things to keep in mind when designing a main Kickstarter project image:

http://stonemaiergames.com/kickstarter-lesson-160-the-main-project-image/

Breaking down games into common elements:

http://www.leagueofgamemakers.com/breaking-down-games/

Tips for attention-getting signs at conventions:

https://convergentgamesblog.wordpress.com/2015/08/16/simple-thoughts-on-signs/

“You have to have a thick skin in any business, and this one is no exception. Name any game and there are people who won’t like it. Sure it’s hard to hear, but as long as there are plenty of good reactions as well, it’s not the end of the world.”

— Sean Scott Garrity