“When as a designer you play some form of a game for the better part of four years, you get really good at it. As you get better, the tendency is to add more and more to keep it challenging, not realizing that you’ve outpaced your audience.”

— Ben Pinchback

“Consistency in language is one of those small things that makes games so much easier to play. Refer to the same actions, components, and game sections by the same terms every time in rules, card text, reference materials, etc.”

— John Brieger

Giving players mandatory problems to face and voluntary problems to take on:

https://boardgamegeek.com/blog/8657

Two discussions about designing party games (audio):

http://ludology.libsyn.com/the-life-of-the-party

https://soundcloud.com/user-318456537/episode-68-just-one

A Kickstarter superbacker on what they look for in board game campaigns:

https://tompetgames.wordpress.com/2019/01/14/confessions-of-a-superbacker-with-over-800-backed-kickstarter-projects/

How to design an area control game (audio):

http://www.boardgamedesignlab.com/designing-area-control-games-with-steven-aramini/

4 lessons from Santorini for aspiring board game designers:

https://brandonthegamedev.com/4-lessons-from-santorini-for-aspiring-board-game-designers/

Reasons why a retailer might pass on carrying a game:

http://blackdiamondgames.blogspot.com/2019/01/10-11-reasons-why-i-might-skip-product.html

“If you don’t enjoy some part of your game as you playtest, find a way to make it fun or cut it.”

— Andrew Cantrell

Advice for how to design a negotiation game (audio):

http://www.boardgamedesignlab.com/designing-a-negotiation-game-with-fabian-zimmermann/

2019 Two-Player PnP Game Design Contest

Deadline: Feb. 14, 2019

Prizes: GeekGold

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/2126987/2019-two-player-pnp-game-design-contest

Games from 2018 that designers should play (audio):

https://www.buzzsprout.com/48513/906557

How to design a deck-building game (audio):

http://www.boardgamedesignlab.com/designing-a-deck-building-game-with-darwin-kastle/

5 lessons from Catan for aspiring board game designers:

https://brandonthegamedev.com/5-lessons-from-catan-for-aspiring-board-game-designers/

2019 9 Card Game Print and Play Design Contest

Deadline: March 3, 2019

Prizes: GeekGold

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/2126346/2019-9-card-game-print-and-play-design-contest

How to design a good puzzle game (audio):

http://www.boardgamedesignlab.com/designing-puzzle-games-with-rita-orlov/

Tips for becoming a better designer and pitcher to publishers and contest judges:

https://oakleafgames.wordpress.com/2019/01/04/breaking-the-wallet-game-code-part-3/

5 benefits from participating in board game design contests:

https://thehackersguildboardgame.com/2019/01/04/i-have-a-board-game-idea-now-what-part-48-5-reasons-designers-should-consider-participating-in-design-contests/

Cardboard Edison’s new podcast, Immersed, takes listeners deep inside the world of a different game each episode

A discussion about games where playing to win and playing in the spirit of the game aren’t the same thing (audio):

http://www.buildingthegamepodcast.com/2018/12/23/episode-343-smudge-the-magic-circle/