HABA USA Game Design Contest

Use random components to design a family game. Only 200 design kits are available.

Submission deadline: July 20, 2018

http://www.habausa.com/gdc

The benefits of tapping players' creativity, and simple ways of doing it:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi7BGLbFG3U/

How to start working on a large, complex game design--a BoardGameGeek designers forum discussion:

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1994796/how-start-designing-large-complex-game

What it's like designing and publishing abstract games:

https://www.inquisitivemeeple.com/publishers-of-play-nestorgames/

Contest winners discuss what to keep in mind when designing a game for a contest (audio):

https://www.theboardgameworkshop.com/2018/05/wednesday-may-16-2018-38-welcome-to.html

Tips for designing dueling games (audio):

http://www.boardgamedesignlab.com/dueling-games-with-brad-talton/

Advice for getting better at giving and receiving criticism (audio):

http://podbay.fm/show/580709168/e/1526047200

How to use randomness in your design, keeping in mind the game's audience:

http://theforbiddenlimb.libsyn.com/the-roll-sic-of-randomness-ep-67 (audio)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bfflXCO9cw&t=0s (video)

Pros and cons of designing a game with multi-use cards:

http://hyperbolegames.com/blog/mo-uses-mo-problems

A look at the ways in which "workers" work in board games:

http://makethemplay.com/index.php/2018/05/14/how-to-make-workers-work-in-board-game-design/

“Keep your day job. Not kidding –- most inventors are twenty-year overnight successes. It seems like it should be easier than it really is, and it’s a numbers game. The more games you create, the better your chances of success.”

— Peggy Brown

Morten Monrad Pedersen on designing solo variants:

https://cardboardclash.wordpress.com/2018/05/12/interview-with-morten-monrad-pedersen/

“Understand that a good idea may take as little as an instant, but a good design may take as long as a decade.”

— Reiner Knizia

Examining the relationship between points and money in games:

http://www.kindfortress.com/2018/05/07/design-patterns-a-rich-victory/

“Peers, persistence, passion. All contribute to success as a designer. They support and reinforce one another, forming the base of your practice. The stronger your base, the better you can roll with the highs & lows of a creative field. ”

— Emma Larkins

Uses of event decks in a game design:

http://makethemplay.com/index.php/2018/05/07/four-uses-of-event-decks-in-board-game-design/

Potential "performance indicators" to help you set a goal for your design:

http://hyperbolegames.com/blog/kpis

Four card layout design tips:

https://medium.com/@dylanmangini/4-layout-tips-for-designing-card-games-17cc98b89b96

For the May 2018 24-hour contest, design a game about slowing or delaying development of something:

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1988484/24-hour-contest-may-2018