How to make your prototype ready for publisher evaluation:

http://www.renegadegamestudios.com/blog/2017/5/9/tips-for-prototyping-guest-blog-by-suzanne-sheldon

Questions to ask yourself before making a game:

https://oakleafgames.wordpress.com/2017/05/08/questions-to-ask-before-making-a-game/

Lessons learned from moving past crowdfunding as a publisher:

https://stonemaiergames.com/lessons-learned-from-quitting-kickstarter-as-a-creator-part-3/

“Try to touch important projects every day, even if just for a moment. Keeps the brain engaged in the background.”

— JR Honeycutt

“Playtesting, feedback. Playtesting, feedback. Long pause. Repeat. This will never cease to be the secret to making a great game.”

— Ben Pinchback

The basics of making a board game Kickstarter video

The requirement for the May 2017 24-hour contest is "gold":

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1774627/24-hour-contest-may-2017

Board game industry figures offer advice for breaking in (audio):

http://breakingintoboardgames.libsyn.com/breaking-into-board-games-episode-42-gathering-of-friends-with-gil

Keeping engagement high at different player counts (audio):

http://thegamecrafter.libsyn.com/player-count-and-engagement-with-the-game-crafter-episode-121

3rd Iludo Board Game Design Competition

Deadline: July 27, 2017 (or until 40 entries have been received)

Prizes: 300 euros for first place, second place 100 euros in vouchers

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1773189/3rd-iludo-board-game-design-competition-2017

Cardboard Edison’s Favorite Tips & Resources - April 2017

This month our list of favorite board game design links includes overviews of some popular game mechanisms, a useful and fun prototyping tool, solid playtesting advice and more.

theory:

• Different ways games can be fun (video)

• All about worker placement (audio). Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

• All about drafting (audio). Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

• A look at the "crescendo" mechanism where something in a game gets progressively more valuable

• Tips for designing microgames

prototyping:

• Icon-creation tool

playtesting:

• Seven ways to improve the quality of your playtest feedback (audio)

• Playtesting like a pro (audio)

industry:

• Design trends, the design process, commissioned IPs, and when to resurrect projects (audio)

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Cardboard Edison is supported by our patrons on Patreon.

ADVISERS: 421 Creations, 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, Kasper Esven Skovgaard, 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

Lots of game design topics: overcoming roadblocks, how-to-play videos, cutting from a game, sports themes, and more
 

Where game themes come from, and what purposes they serve:

http://blog.nskn.net/where-do-themes-come-from/

Harmony and kludges in game design:

http://pulsiphergamedesign.blogspot.com/2017/04/harmony-and-kludge-in-game-design.html

How competition, tension and depth foster player interaction:

http://makethemplay.com/index.php/2017/04/28/how-to-use-player-interaction-for-better-board-games/

Various game design topics: design vs. development, international publishing, narrative in games and more:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/7928/503200-165-listener-mail-april-2017

What goes into designing an asymmetrical game (audio):

http://www.boardgamedesignlab.com/designing-an-asymmetrical-game-with-patrick-leder/

Korea Boardgames 2017 Design Contest

Deadline: June 30, 2017

Prizes: cash and publication offer

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1770305/korea-board-games-2017-design-contest

“It’ll take many years to become skilled enough to sell your games, but the sooner you take that goal seriously and start trading critiques with other designers, the faster you’ll get there.”

— Jay Treat

A look at the "crescendo" mechanism where something in a game gets progressively more valuable:

http://claycrucible.com/2017/04/crescendo-mechanic/