How new designers can best spend their time to get their games signed:

https://www.boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/69088/fleeples-guide-helping-new-designers-sell-their-ga

“Nobody knows if your prototype is balanced. They only know if it FEELS balanced. Test wildly.”

— T.C. Petty III

“Observing tests of your game run by someone else lets you spot your influence on playtest outcomes and data.”

— John Brieger

“Keep grinding, the only way out is through.”

— JR Honeycutt

“When making a game, you don’t have to innovate if you’re improving on what’s out there. Also, as long as the game experience is new and novel, the mechanisms themselves don’t have to be.”

— Seth Jaffee

How to make a Tabletop Simulator demo of your board game:

http://brandonthegamedev.com/how-to-make-a-tabletop-simulator-demo-of-your-board-game/

“Rationalizing arbitrary choices that work is easier than careful planning. It looks the same from outside. It’s not.”

— JR Honeycutt

How to turn a game into a product (audio):

http://www.boardgamedesignlab.com/going-from-game-to-sellable-product-with-randy-hoyt/

The different types of playtesting: how to prepare for each (audio):

http://thegamecrafter.libsyn.com/how-to-playtest-with-the-game-crafter-episode140

How to write the "setup" section of a rulebook:

http://www.theindiegamereport.com/rulebook-cookbook-setup/

Designing good character abilities in co-op games:

https://www.3dtotalgames.com/cooperative-character-abilities/

Methods for keeping your game streamlined, a BoardGameGeek designers forum discussion:

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1846483/what-are-your-methods-making-streamlined-game

“Express extreme appreciation for negative feedback, so that testers learn they should always speak up about issues.”

— John Brieger

“Can you summarise the primary focus of your game into 1-5 words? Everything not supporting that core focus should maybe be cut.”

— Behrooz Shahriari

“At some point, you’ll hate your own game. Keep testing through that valley – but be willing to shelve it.”

— John Brieger

How to start a design (audio):

http://podbay.fm/show/580709168/e/1504879500

“Every mechanism has problems and advantages. Good design is using them in the best possible way, for a suitable purpose.”

— Behrooz Shahriari

“It’s not a game designer’s job to know how an idea will play. It’s their job to find out.”

— Jay Treat

Sports-themed games: mechanics, marketability, licensing, challenges, success stories and more (audio):

http://www.boardgamedesignlab.com/fabio-del-rio-on-sports-themed-games/

“Your playtesters’ minor irritants of today are your reviewers’ slams of tomorrow.”

— John Brieger