Different ways games can be fun (video)

Thoughts on "fairness" in board game design (audio):

https://infoperfected.com/2017/04/10/perfect-information-podcast-episode-39-what-matters/ (starting at 38:21)

Things to remember about shipping, fulfillment and distribution (audio):

http://cardboardarchitects.libsyn.com/pubcast-13-shipping-logistics

The nuances of manufacturing (audio):

http://www.boardgamedesignlab.com/the-ins-outs-of-printing-with-a-vice-president-from-panda-game-manufacturing-brent-kinney/

“It’s misguided to blame players for not seeing a mistake they often make. The designer’s job is to make the gameplay as clear as possible.”

— Daniel Solis

How (not) to shoot a how-to-play video--advice from April 1 (audio):

http://theforbiddenlimb.libsyn.com/how-not-to-make-a-how-to-play-video-ep-54

How attending playtesting conventions can help you avoid common game design problems (audio):

https://www.buzzsprout.com/4646/494323-ep-258-protospiel-san-jose-with-jeremy-commanduer

The requirement for the April 2017 24-hour contest is "puns":

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1757080/24-hour-contest-april-2017

“Always make the prototype. Otherwise it remains nowhere near finished.”

— Rob Daviau

Tips for designing microgames:

http://www.theindiegamereport.com/designing-micro-or-all-about-creating-a-game-experience-that-delivers-more-with-less/

Cardboard Edison’s Favorite Tips & Resources - March 2017

This month our list of favorite board game design links includes answers to a fundamental question about good games, a collection of useful videos about game design, advice for talking to publishers from preparation to pitch to follow-up, and lots more.

theory:

• What makes a game good--or bad?

• Analyzing the many variables that go into tile-based city-building games

• Videos from the 2017 Game Developers Conference's Board Game Design Day (video)

• Common mechanisms in two-player games (video)

publishing:

• Tax deductions for board game publishers

licensing:

• How to make a great video pitch of your game

• How to approach publishers with game ideas (audio)

• Why a publisher might reject your game and how to handle it (audio)

process:

• “If you want to be a creative, cast as wide a net in your life as you can. Read things, try things, do things. That’s where ideas come from.” - Kevin Wilson

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Cardboard Edison is supported by our patrons on Patreon.

ADVISERS: Peter C. Hayward, Aaron Vanderbeek

SENIOR INVENTORS: Steven Cole, John du Bois, Richard Durham, Koen Hendrix, Chris and Kathy Keane (The Drs. Keane), Marcel Perro, Behrooz Shahriari

JUNIOR INVENTORS: Ryan Abrams, Joshua Buergel, Luis Lara, Aidan Short, Jay Treat

ASSOCIATES: Robert Booth, Stephen B Davies, Doug Levandowski, Aaron Lim, Nathan Miller, Isaias Vallejo, Matt Wolfe

APPRENTICES: Kiva Fecteau, Scott Gottreu, JR Honeycutt, Knight Works, Scott Martel Jr., David J. Mortimer, Mike Mullins, Marcus Ross, Sean Rumble, Diane Sauer

Lessons for designers and publishers after playing more than 5,000 games (audio):

http://www.boardgamedesignlab.com/lessons-learned-from-playing-5000-games-with-tom-vasel/

How to test a game for a contest (audio):

http://thegamecrafter.libsyn.com/testing-games-for-contests-at-the-game-crafter-episode-116

Tax deductions for board game publishers:

http://www.theindiegamereport.com/publishing-insights-taxes/

Analyzing the many variables that go into tile-based city-building games:

http://www.mechanics-and-meeples.com/2017/03/27/the-design-and-care-of-a-tile-based-city-builder/

The role of the developer in the design and publication process (audio):

http://ludology.libsyn.com/ludology-episode-148-half-baked

What makes a game good--or bad?

http://www.creakingshelves.com/can-games-be-bad/

Reasons to not play your own game during testing:

http://www.bgdf.com/forum/game-creation/playtesting/playtesting-advice-dont-play-your-own-game

How to use strengths and weaknesses in a game design (audio):

http://podbay.fm/show/580709168/e/1490371500

A look at the drafting mechanism (video)