“You cannot design games in a vacuum. They’re played by game-players, and if some method of play will ruin the game, design the game so that it cannot happen successfully.”

— Lewis Pulsipher

When should you shelve a design? (audio)

http://thegamecrafter.libsyn.com/when-should-you-shelve-or-kill-your-game-with-the-game-crafter-episode-131

2018 Golden Arbutus

Deadline: Oct. 1, 2017

Prizes: cash and publishing credit

Only the first 50 entries will be allowed

http://www.terminalcitytabletop.com/goldenarbutus-rules/

Advice for designers attending cons: networking, pitching, playtesting and more (audio):

https://www.buzzsprout.com/48513/535164-episode-34-convention-conduct

How some games let players' actions help their opponents too:

http://www.kindfortress.com/2017/07/10/design-patterns-what-you-do-helps-others-too/

Two podcasts with advice for new board game designers looking to break into the industry:

http://www.genesisoflegend.com/2017/07/episode118/

http://podbay.fm/show/580709168/e/1499436300

Advice for running high-level playtests (audio):

http://cardboardarchitects.libsyn.com/designer-interview-john-brieger

Preparing for a Kickstarter: art, promotion, trademarks, ads and more (audio):

http://www.buzzsprout.com/46339/532819-kickstarter-advertising-and-more-with-mike-gnade-of-rock-manor-games

Ways to use math to model and simulate aspects of your game design (audio):

http://ludology.libsyn.com/ludology-episode-155-model-citizen

A thread with lots of advice for board game designers on various topics :

https://twitter.com/wisegoldfish/status/882630268561104897

The requirement for the July 2017 24-hour contest is "book":

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1806717/24-hour-contest-july-2017

Bruno Faidutti's advice for new designers about game design, playtesting, pitching, the industry and more:

http://faidutti.com/blog/?p=8364

Cardboard Edison’s Favorite Tips & Resources - June 2017

This month our roundup of favorite board game design links includes several long and varied lists of advice, some fundamental analysis of what makes a game good, tips for the full pitching process, and more.

process:

• A long and growing list of tips covering the whole process of board game design

• Plenty of pithy board game design tips on lots of topics

• A thread with lots of advice on various board game design topics

• “Don’t stop playing published games. Make it a point to keep informed of what’s going on, what new tools other people have invented. Only playing prototypes will leave you in an information-rut.” - Tim Rodriguez

theory:

• What is required to make a decision interesting?

• “The optimal move/choice/strategy/character should also be the interesting one. NEVER make players choose between 'fun' and 'effective'.” - Keith Burgun

licensing:

• Pitching to a publisher, start to finish (video)

industry:

• Tips for getting the best possible reviews for your game

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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., The Nerd Nighters, Marcus Ross, Sean Rumble

“Don’t dismiss feedback because it’s a tester’s first game. Most customers won’t play again after a single bad play.”

— John Brieger

How to tackle that last 10% of game design that takes a game from good to great (audio):

http://www.boardgamedesignlab.com/taking-a-design-from-good-to-great-with-seth-jaffee/

13 "laws" of game design (video)

Unconventional ways to make a name in the board game industry: print-and-plays and contests (video)

Pointers for designing an AI system for a co-op or competitive game (audio):

http://www.boardgamedesignlab.com/making-a-good-ai-system-with-richard-launius/

Advice for using social media as a board game designer (audio):

http://theforbiddenlimb.libsyn.com/how-should-you-be-using-social-media-ep-58

“Don’t stop playing published games. Make it a point to keep informed of what’s going on, what new tools other people have invented. Only playing prototypes will leave you in an information-rut.”

— Tim Rodriguez