“Make sure you look critically at every aspect of your game, and have new players look at your game with fresh eyes. They may notice something you’ve missed.”

— Chris Anderson

Why you should always question every aspect of your game during testing:

http://bluecubeboardgames.com/2017/11/10/what-if-you-dont/

Questions to help identify the best playtesters for you:

https://stonemaiergames.com/kickstarter-lesson-236-select-the-best-testers/

Things to think about before, during and after a playtest:

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1880011/how-listen-designers-guide-feedback-during-testing

“Drown your game in passion and play testing. Get hundreds of people to play it, and then listen to their feedback. Specifically, listen to the problems they isolate, but not necessarily their solutions. That’s your job.”

— Marc Neidlinger

How to set a Kickstarter funding goal by working from the gameplay experience:

https://dzayas.com/advice/kickstarter-funding-goal/

What makes a scary game work? (audio)

Part 1: https://www.snakesandlattes.com/podcast/290/Fear-in-games,-Part-1-__-How-do-games-try-to-create-fear_ques_/

Part 2: https://www.snakesandlattes.com/podcast/291/Fear-in-games,-Part-2-__-Great-spooky,-cooperative-games/

Part 3: https://www.snakesandlattes.com/podcast/292/Fear-in-games,-Part-3-__-What-really-makes-a-scary-game_ques_/

Asymmetry in board games, and the challenges it poses for designers (audio):

http://ludology.libsyn.com/ludology-episode-163-a-pain-in-the-asymmetry

Best practices for attending a designer-publisher speed dating event:

http://www.boardgamebuilders.com/news/2017/11/6/designer-publisher-speed-dating-best-practices

Ways that games limit the effectiveness of getting more workers:

http://www.kindfortress.com/2017/11/06/design-pattern-dont-work-harder-work-smarter/

How to get past the excuses for not starting to make your game:

http://hyperbolegames.com/blog/design-bug

2018 54-Card Game Contest

Deadline: Feb. 28, 2018

Prizes: cash and potential publication

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1878665/upcoming-2018-54-card-game-contest

Ways to counter turn order advantage:

https://www.reddit.com/r/tabletopgamedesign/comments/7b57eh/ways_to_negate_first_turn_advantagedraw_in_a_card/

Card Editor, a free open-source prototype card-making program:

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1876312/card-editor-free-open-source-gui-tool-creating-boa

The requirement for the November 2017 24-hour contest is "solo":

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1876007/24-hour-contest-november-2017

Cardboard Edison's Favorite Tips & Resources - October 2017

This month our roundup of favorite board game design tips and links includes advice for pitching to publishers and for publishing yourself, insights on game design theory, a way to get your design juices flowing and more.

theory:

• Ways to use asymmetry and variable player powers (audio)

process:

• A brainstorming exercise for creating a new board game

licensing:

• How to get a publisher's attention--a BoardGameGeek designers forum discussion

• How to make a game that stands out in the crowd

publishing:

• Lessons learned from a first-time designer/publisher

playtesting:

• “Even if you work alone, you *really* need blind playtesters who don’t care about your feelings. That’s how good games get made.” - Brandon Rollins

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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, Chris and Kathy Keane (The Drs. Keane), Joshua J. Mills, 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, Anthony Ortega, Mike Sette, Kasper Esven Skovgaard, Isaias Vallejo, Matt Wolfe

APPRENTICES: Darren Broad, Kiva Fecteau, Scott Gottreu, Nicole Kline, Scott Martel Jr., The Nerd Nighters, Neil Roberts, Marcus Ross, Sean Rumble, VickieGames

Advice for first-time board game publishers on Kickstarter (audio):

http://www.boardgamedesignlab.com/how-a-first-time-publisher-gets-funded-on-kickstarter-with-andrew-birkett/

How corporate-meeting techniques can be applied to post-playtest conversations:

https://plus.google.com/u/0/+RobDonoghue/posts/2j7kSWH7d2p

Should games aim to discourage cheating? A Reddit tabletop game design forum discussion:

https://www.reddit.com/r/tabletopgamedesign/comments/79n6zp/a_hidden_movement_playtest_had_a_blast_should_the/

“Start with a mission statement – something that is distinct and unique from available options and pursue that. We are spoiled for options right now in the board game world and the ability to stand out is what will determine your success.”

— Artem Safarov