Cardboard Edison
  • About Us
  • Houdini's Last Act Quad Squad Cobras Retail Rejects More Games Prototypes
  • Blog Industry Reports Tariffs Report Playtest Groups Virtual Tabletops Contests Podcast Interviews Game Design Checklist
  • Houdini's Last Act
  • Publisher Directory
  • Newsletter
  • Award
  • Sign In My Account
Cardboard Edison
  • About Us/
  • Our Games/
    • Houdini's Last Act
    • Quad Squad
    • Cobras
    • Retail Rejects
    • More Games
    • Prototypes
  • Free Resources/
    • Blog
    • Industry Reports
    • Tariffs Report
    • Playtest Groups
    • Virtual Tabletops
    • Contests
    • Podcast
    • Interviews
    • Game Design Checklist
  • Houdini's Last Act/
  • Publisher Directory/
  • Newsletter/
  • Award/
  • Sign InMy Account
board+game+bits.jpg
Cardboard Edison

Game design & bright ideas for game designers

Bright Ideas

Tips & Resources for Board Game Designers

Cardboard Edison
  • About Us/
  • Our Games/
    • Houdini's Last Act
    • Quad Squad
    • Cobras
    • Retail Rejects
    • More Games
    • Prototypes
  • Free Resources/
    • Blog
    • Industry Reports
    • Tariffs Report
    • Playtest Groups
    • Virtual Tabletops
    • Contests
    • Podcast
    • Interviews
    • Game Design Checklist
  • Houdini's Last Act/
  • Publisher Directory/
  • Newsletter/
  • Award/
  • Sign InMy Account
featured
theory
playtesting
prototyping
process
rules
licensing
publishing
industry
Bright Ideas RSS

Receive exclusive board game design tips and resources in your inbox by subscribing to our weekly Omnibus newsletter


August 28, 2015 August 28, 2015/ Cardboard Edison

Game design deadly sins:

http://www.robindavid.info/2015/08/game-design-deadly-sins.html

August 28, 2015/ Cardboard Edison/
theory, playtesting, prototyping, publishing

Cardboard Edison

August 28, 2015 August 28, 2015/ Cardboard Edison

How to know when your design isn’t working, and what to do about it:

http://hyperbolegames.com/2015/08/28/the-54-card-guild-4/

August 28, 2015/ Cardboard Edison/
process

Cardboard Edison

August 27, 2015 August 27, 2015/ Cardboard Edison

The Inquisitive Meeple Playing Card Challenge

Design a game with just a deck of playing cards

http://theinquisitivemeeple.com/playing-card-challenge/

August 27, 2015/ Cardboard Edison/
contests

Cardboard Edison

August 27, 2015 August 27, 2015/ Cardboard Edison

Trove designer David Somerville (@thisistrove) on experience-first design, rapid prototyping, taking criticism, researching design and more:

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1425655/board-game-designer-interview-1-david-somerville-s

August 27, 2015/ Cardboard Edison/
process, prototyping, playtesting

Cardboard Edison

August 27, 2015 August 27, 2015/ Cardboard Edison

The Game Crafter Survival Challenge

Design a game where the players are in a dire situation and must survive

Deadline: Nov. 30, 2015

https://www.thegamecrafter.com/contests/the-survival-challenge

August 27, 2015/ Cardboard Edison/
contests

Cardboard Edison

August 26, 2015 August 26, 2015/ Cardboard Edison

Kickstarter vs. Indiegogo–pros and cons:

http://stonemaiergames.com/kickstarter-vs-indiegogo-which-crowdfunding-site-should-you-choose/

August 26, 2015/ Cardboard Edison/
publishing

Cardboard Edison

August 26, 2015 August 26, 2015/ Cardboard Edison
“When play testing a game, if a player asks “can I do this fun thing?” The answer should almost always be “yes!””
— Matthew O'Malley (@BlackOakGames)
August 26, 2015/ Cardboard Edison/
playtesting, theory

Cardboard Edison

August 26, 2015 August 26, 2015/ Cardboard Edison
“Think about why your tester said something, not just what they said.”
— Paul Peterson (@warewolf00)
August 26, 2015/ Cardboard Edison/
playtesting

Cardboard Edison

August 24, 2015 August 24, 2015/ Cardboard Edison
“Make it smaller. Then make it smaller again. Until you can’t anymore.”
— John du Bois (@JohnduBois)
August 24, 2015/ Cardboard Edison/
theory

Cardboard Edison

August 24, 2015 August 24, 2015/ Cardboard Edison
“Surround yourself with people who will encourage you and will never, ever let you get by with subpar work.”
— Jason D. Kingsley (@JasonDKingsley)
August 24, 2015/ Cardboard Edison/
playtesting

Cardboard Edison

August 24, 2015 August 24, 2015/ Cardboard Edison
“Don’t start with what players do, but rather what you want players to think about. Then focus the mechanics from there.”
— J. Alex Kevern (@AlexWithIdeas)
August 24, 2015/ Cardboard Edison/
theory

Cardboard Edison

August 24, 2015 August 24, 2015/ Cardboard Edison
“Don’t add something to your game just because it should be there. Add it because it can’t be left out.”
— Nat Levan (@OakleafGames)
August 24, 2015/ Cardboard Edison/
theory

Cardboard Edison

August 24, 2015 August 24, 2015/ Cardboard Edison
“If you want your game to be published, consider the publisher part of the audience.”
— Steven Cole (@steveongames)
August 24, 2015/ Cardboard Edison/
licensing

Cardboard Edison

August 24, 2015 August 24, 2015/ Cardboard Edison
“Designing a game is an exploration. Guess to start. Seek to learn. No decision is final that isn’t informed by play.”
— Jay Treat (@jtreat3)
August 24, 2015/ Cardboard Edison/
process

Cardboard Edison

August 24, 2015 August 24, 2015/ Cardboard Edison
“The ending of a game should feel consistent with the rest. Once the middle is fun, try different ways to end it.”
— Randy Hoyt (@randyhoyt)
August 24, 2015/ Cardboard Edison/
theory

Cardboard Edison

August 24, 2015 August 24, 2015/ Cardboard Edison
“Listen intently to your playtesters, but rarely do what they say. You must filter the info to deduce the real problem.”
— David Short (@dshortdesign)
August 24, 2015/ Cardboard Edison/
playtesting

Cardboard Edison

August 24, 2015 August 24, 2015/ Cardboard Edison
“There are types of gamers, know which type you are designing for and remember, it’s not always you.”
— Luke Peterschmidt (@LPeterschmidt)
August 24, 2015/ Cardboard Edison/
theory, industry

Cardboard Edison

August 24, 2015 August 24, 2015/ Cardboard Edison
“Test your Minimum Viable Game. Don’t work on a broken game longer than you need to.”
— @AndHeGames
August 24, 2015/ Cardboard Edison/
playtesting

Cardboard Edison

August 24, 2015 August 24, 2015/ Cardboard Edison
“Note which rule or mechanic players always get wrong the same way. Try to make it actually work that way.”
— Darrell Hardy (@HardyTales)
August 24, 2015/ Cardboard Edison/
playtesting

Cardboard Edison

August 24, 2015 August 24, 2015/ Cardboard Edison
““Perfect” is the enemy of improvement. Stop searching for the perfect mechanism and focus on making your design better.”
— Matt Wolfe (@mattwolfe)
August 24, 2015/ Cardboard Edison/
process

Cardboard Edison

  • Previous
  • Next

2026 Cardboard Edison Supporters:

Alley Cat Games
Back Office by Naylor Games