“Playtesters sometimes suggest changes because they want to contribute, not because you need to change anything.”

— John Brieger

How to make an AI player’s difficulty level feel satisfying:

https://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/92303/how-make-ai-difficulty-levels-feel-satisfying

How to improve your odds of impressing a publisher at a speed-pitching event:

https://boardgamedesigncourse.com/how-to-win-over-publishers-at-a-speed-dating-event/

Why educational games aren’t more fun, and how that might be changing:

https://mavengames.co.uk/why-are-educational-games-so-bad/

Designers discuss various types of player interaction and how to encourage it:

http://design100.org/23-interaction/

More than two dozen board game design books published over the past 10 years:

https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/257970/board-game-design-books-2010-2020

What an independent publisher wants a box cover image to accomplish:

https://hollandspiele.com/blogs/hollandazed-thoughts-ideas-and-miscellany/box-covers

“Don’t ask irrelevant questions – know where you are in your process and tailor questions for your test.”

— John Brieger

“Do not be dismayed when your brand-new unique game mechanism has ‘been done’ already. Look at it as someone doing free research and development for you! You now have a head start. Your game’s true novelty comes from the alchemy of theme, presence, components, AND mechanics.”

— Daniel Solis

“Every time I think of an idea; I try to place it into a game night of the past...Would everyone have had fun – even those who were losing? Who would have complained and what would they have complained about?”

— Kim Vandenbroucke

“Players often suggest fixes that add complexity. Search for the root issues & find fixes that reduce complexity.”

— John Brieger

Notes on games with low levels of competition and interaction:

http://www.kindfortress.com/2019/07/03/design-pattern-winning-and-goals/

Game designers share where they get their inspiration:

http://design100.org/22-influences/

“If you design or publish games and playtesters help you, keeping track of their names and crediting them in the published product is a good way to express your gratitude.”

— Jeff Tidball

U.S. manufacturing, recovering from disaster, and component cost considerations (audio):

http://theforbiddenlimb.libsyn.com/mailbag-on-us-manufacturing-recovering-from-disaster-and-component-cost-considerations-ep-85

How one designer went through the trials and tribulations of board game design and found success along the way (audio):

https://indieboardgamedesigners.com/joshua-j-mills/

Preparing for a pitch meeting with a publisher:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/new-infographic-27588749

“Game ideas can start as one thing and change drastically when you go to prototype them and that’s OK!”

— Carla Kopp

Ways of treating a wargame where the sides aren’t fairly matched:

https://hollandspiele.com/blogs/hollandazed-thoughts-ideas-and-miscellany/ways-for-losers-to-win

What makes a game “mean”?

https://lestmyopinions.com/2019/06/26/bless-your-heart-on-mean-games-and-such/