Tips for making reference cards (audio):

http://theforbiddenlimb.libsyn.com/top-5-tips-for-designing-a-reference-card-ep-57

Choosing the right tiebreaker (audio):

http://ludology.libsyn.com/ludology-episode-152-tie-one-on

How and when to pay to advertise your crowdfunding campaign:

https://stonemaiergames.com/everything-crowdfunders-need-to-know-about-advertisting/

The requirement for the June 2017 24-hour contest is "nightfall":

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1789286/24-hour-contest-june-2017

“Record every rule you try, even the bad ones.
You never want to repeat the same mistake.
It’s hard to re-visit a prototype with bad notes.”

— Jay Treat

Cardboard Edison's Favorite Tips & Resources - May 2017

This month our roundup of favorite board game design links includes important steps in the design process, advice for breaking into the industry, tips for young publishers from people who know, and more.

contests:

• What game designers should know about contests such as the Cardboard Edison Award (audio)

process:

• Questions to ask yourself before making a game

• “It’s ok to rip out something you think you’re married to in a game. It’s hard to accept that something you really want to work just isn’t working at all. But sometimes that’s what you have to do to let the game evolve.” - Nicole Kline

industry:

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

• Tips if you want to design a game for a particular market (audio)

prototyping:

• How to make your prototype ready for publisher evaluation

playtesting:

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

publishing:

• Advice for Kickstarter board game creators from 21 "superbackers"

• Important advice for young publishers, learned the hard way

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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, Chris and Kathy Keane (The Drs. Keane), Marcel Perro, Behrooz Shahriari, Shoot Again Games

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

ASSOCIATES: Robert Booth, Stephen B Davies, Scot Duvall, Doug Levandowski, Aaron Lim, Nathan Miller, Mike Sette, Kasper Esven Skovgaard, Isaias Vallejo, Matt Wolfe

APPRENTICES: Darren Broad, Kiva Fecteau, Scott Gottreu, Knight Works, Scott Martel Jr., Mike Mullins, The Nerd Nighters, Marcus Ross, Sean Rumble

“Designs are exciting to start and finish; learn to find validation and joy from the grind through the middle.”

— JR Honeycutt

Advice for what to do when you hit a wall on a design (audio):

https://www.buzzsprout.com/48513/518962-episode-32-hitting-a-wall

10 things board game designers should do:

https://twitter.com/fairway3games/status/869904422293393408

2017 Solitaire Print & Play Contest

Deadline: July 30, 2017

Prizes: GeekGold

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1787772/2017-solitaire-print-and-play-contest

10 things designers need to stop doing (video)

“Anyone who tells you everything’s been done—that there are no new game mechanics—lacks imagination.”

— Jay Treat

Tips if you want to design a game for a particular market (audio):

http://theforbiddenlimb.libsyn.com/target-markets-ep-56

“The best way to break into this world is by finding ways to create & contribute. Be passionate, work hard, enjoy it.”

— JR Honeycutt

“Just because it works doesn’t mean it’s good enough to be published. If it’s not great, it’s not ready.”

— Daniel Newman

How to respond when a publisher says no, and doesn't give feedback:

https://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/65717/feedback-pitches

Things to keep in mind when forming a publishing partnership with another company (audio):

http://passportgames.libsyn.com/16-approaching-a-publishing-partner

Issues related to running an indie tabletop game company: designing your own games and publishing other designers' games, going to cons, working a full-time job and more (audio):

http://www.buzzsprout.com/46339/515713-running-an-indie-tabletop-game-company-with-ben-harkins-of-floodgate-games

What jobs you should--and shouldn't--do yourself when running a Kickstarter campaign (video)

“It’s ok to rip out something you think you’re married to in a game. It’s hard to accept that something you really want to work just isn’t working at all. But sometimes that’s what you have to do to let the game evolve.”

— Nicole Kline