Tips for writing a press release about your board game:

http://brandonthegamedev.com/why-how-to-make-press-releases-for-your-board-game/

How to remain encouraged after getting a "no" from a publisher:

http://www.hoopcatgames.com/blog/encouragement-after-hearing-no-no-no-no-no-yes-part-4

On the dangers of chasing a game-design fad:

https://twitter.com/KevinWilson42/status/1018693077005987840

I talked with Joseph Chen today about playtesting your prototype. He gave us insight on what he did with his game, Fantastic Factories along with what worked and what he could have improved when playtesting his game.

Answers to a wide range of questions about playtesting (video)

Ian Zang describes how to use uses the Smithsonian's IPOP Exhibition Framework to create experiences in board games that engage different personality types. "Designing For Experience" was presented at the Board Game Creator Seminar hosted by Bethany College. Bethany College - http://bethanywv.edu/ Ian Zang - https://ianzangdesign.com/

Designing games for four different kinds of players and the experience that connects with each type (video)

“Asking whether to design a game theme-first or mechanics-first is like asking whether to paint with red paint first or black.”

— Jay Treat

“What you choose to leave out of your design is as important as what you put in - if not more so. Simplify.”

— Emma Larkins

Board game design history: the origins of common mechanisms and genres:

https://opinionatedgamers.com/2018/07/09/the-innovators-mechanical-innovations-part-1/

https://opinionatedgamers.com/2018/07/10/the-innovators-mechanical-innovations-part-2/

https://opinionatedgamers.com/2018/07/11/the-innovators-new-genres/

“Publishers will say “no” to fun, great games for various reasons. If you have a fun, great game (and thoroughly publicly play-tested!), persist until you find that right publisher match.”

— Charlie Hoopes

Designing games to bring out players' emotions (audio):

http://www.buildingthegamepodcast.com/2018/07/08/episode-319-carol-mertz-and-emotion-first-design/

Eric Lang's best advice for board game designers (audio):

http://www.boardgamedesignlab.com/eric-langs-best-advice/

“Always try it at higher and lower player counts. Your expectation of downtime for 5 or 6 might just be straight up wrong.”

— Josh Mills

Exercises and activities you can do to be more creative (audio):

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/dir-a5djd-43f426a

“The quality of the components is part of the game experience. People aren’t wrong to enjoy games more when they have great components.”

— Peter C. Hayward

Tips for writing your first email to a publisher who you'd like to pitch:

https://twitter.com/WeirdGiraffes/status/1016315380690800640

How developers have to walk a fine line between publisher needs and designer desires (audio):

http://breakingintoboardgames.libsyn.com/breaking-into-board-games-episode-71-levi-mote-daily-magic-games

How to find the right scoring mechanism for a game design (audio):

https://www.buzzsprout.com/48513/741552

Cardboard Edison’s Favorite Tips & Resources - June 2018

In this month's roundup of excellent board game design links and quotes, we have discussions about some fundamental questions in game design, references for making your game look good, playtesting advice worth remembering, and more.

theory:

• What makes a game "fun"--a Reddit board game design forum discussion

process:

• Tips for researching games that might be similar to your design (audio)

prototyping:

• Graphic design references for tabletop game cards

playtesting:

• Brief outline for how to start a local designer playtest group
• "Sometimes the best player feedback is in their faces: what do they smile at, what do they frown at, where do they spend lots of time looking, what seems to confuse them, what components do they ignore, mix up, or forget about?" - Jon Moffat
• “Show up at a playtest event also being willing to test other desigers’ games. Don’t be that designer who sits at your table, expecting others to fill your empty seats, while you remain unwilling to fill theirs.” - Charlie Hoopes

publishing:

• How to start out as a publisher with $1,000
• How to work effectively with artists: communication, contracts, timelines, costs, and more (audio)

industry:

• On dealing with criticism as a board game designer

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Cardboard Edison is supported by our patrons on Patreon.

ADVISERS: Rob Greanias, 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: Stephen B Davies, Adrienne Ezell, Marcus Howell, Thiago Jabuonski, Samuel Lees, Doug Levandowski, Nathan Miller, Neil Roberts, Mike Sette, Matt Wolfe

APPRENTICES: Cardboard Fortress Games, Kiva Fecteau, Guz Forster, Scott Gottreu, Aaron Lim, Scott Martel Jr., James Meyers, Tony Miller, The Nerd Nighters, Matthew Nguyen, Marcus Ross, Rosco Schock, VickieGames, Lock Watson, White Wizard Games

Six forms of variable setup:

http://makethemplay.com/index.php/2018/07/02/6-forms-of-variable-setup-you-can-use-when-designing-a-board-game/

What kind of response can you expect from unsolicited game pitches?

http://hoopcatgames.com/blog/no-no-no-no-yes-part-2