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Cardboard Edison

Game design & bright ideas for game designers

Bright Ideas

Tips & Resources for Board Game Designers

Cardboard Edison
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  • Our Games/
    • Quad Squad
    • Cobras
    • Retail Rejects
    • More Games
    • Prototypes
  • Free Resources/
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    • Industry Reports
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September 14, 2019 September 14, 2019/ Cardboard Edison

The types of prototypes you’ll make at different stages of your game’s design (audio):

http://thegamecrafter.libsyn.com/different-levels-of-prototypes-with-the-game-crafter-episode-205

September 14, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
prototyping, podcasts

Cardboard Edison

September 14, 2019 September 14, 2019/ Cardboard Edison

A discussion on making games using the skills, knowledge, and experiences you already have (audio):

http://www.buildingthegamepodcast.com/2019/08/25/episode-378-design-what-you-know-and-zancudo/

September 14, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
process, podcasts

Cardboard Edison

September 14, 2019 September 14, 2019/ Cardboard Edison

Some of the concerns that go into designing a historical game (audio):

https://www.buzzsprout.com/48513/1604212

September 14, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
theory, process, podcasts

Cardboard Edison

September 13, 2019 September 13, 2019/ Cardboard Edison
“Be relentless in your self-critique, ambitious in your goals, stay focused, and then have a lucky break. If the luck doesn’t come then at least you made something you can be proud of.”
— Cole Wehrle
September 13, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
process

Cardboard Edison

September 13, 2019 September 13, 2019/ Cardboard Edison
map generation tool.png

This map generation tool lets you “paint” the landscape you want:

https://www.redblobgames.com/maps/mapgen4/

September 13, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
prototyping

Cardboard Edison

September 13, 2019 September 13, 2019/ Cardboard Edison
“Every game should be as simple as possible, and as complex as necessary.”
— Eric Lang
September 13, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
theory

Cardboard Edison

September 13, 2019 September 13, 2019/ Cardboard Edison
“When asked what books to read, classes to take, and so forth, to begin game design, the ultimate best answer is to make something and learn from there. That is 100% the best and no amount of book learnin’ can replace that.”
— Grant Rodiek
September 13, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
process

Cardboard Edison

September 08, 2019 September 08, 2019/ Cardboard Edison
“When you have playtested your design to perfection, let it rest some time, then play again. – Expect to be surprised!”
— Reiner Knizia
September 08, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
playtesting

Cardboard Edison

September 06, 2019 September 06, 2019/ Cardboard Edison

Board games that teach some of the basic concepts in game design:

https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/261181/board-game-design-intro-modern-gaming

September 06, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
process

Cardboard Edison

September 04, 2019 September 04, 2019/ Cardboard Edison
roadside america.jpg

The Library of Congress has released more than 11,700 public-domain photos of historic roadside America:

https://www.loc.gov/pictures/search/?q=mrg&sp=1&st=gallery

September 04, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
prototyping

Cardboard Edison

September 04, 2019 September 04, 2019/ Cardboard Edison

Game designers share past mistakes they’ve made and what they learned from them:

https://design100.org/31-regrets/#

September 04, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
process

Cardboard Edison

September 04, 2019 September 04, 2019/ Cardboard Edison

Four lessons from Twilight Struggle for aspiring board game designers:

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

September 04, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
theory

Cardboard Edison

September 03, 2019 September 03, 2019/ Cardboard Edison

How to avoid avoiding getting started on a game:

https://atlas-games.com/news/post?s=2019-09-01-game-design-september-getting-started

September 03, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
process

Cardboard Edison

August 31, 2019 August 31, 2019/ Cardboard Edison

The pros and cons of randomness in games (audio):

http://thegamecrafter.libsyn.com/randomness-in-games-with-the-game-crafter-episode-203

August 31, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
podcasts, theory

Cardboard Edison

August 31, 2019 August 31, 2019/ Cardboard Edison

The importance of understanding the contract you sign (audio):

https://indieboardgamedesigners.com/nicholas-yu/

August 31, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
podcasts, industry, licensing

Cardboard Edison

August 31, 2019 August 31, 2019/ Cardboard Edison

Multi-tasking while playing a board game (audio):

http://cognitivegamer.com/podcast/episode-26-to-switch-or-not-to-switch-but-not-that-type-of-switch/

August 31, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
podcasts, theory

Cardboard Edison

August 30, 2019 August 30, 2019/ Cardboard Edison
“If your game has a long and complicated setup procedure, it helps if you can break the steps up into labeled groups: common setup, player setup, etc.”
— Dustin Schwartz
August 30, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
rules

Cardboard Edison

August 30, 2019 August 30, 2019/ Cardboard Edison

The most important things to remember when pitching your game:

https://design100.org/30-pitching/#

August 30, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
licensing

Cardboard Edison

August 30, 2019 August 30, 2019/ Cardboard Edison
“Those who do not play do not live. Those who do not playtest do not design.”
— Reiner Knizia
August 30, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
playtesting

Cardboard Edison

August 30, 2019 August 30, 2019/ Cardboard Edison

Best practices for roll-and-write game design—a Twitter game designers discussion:

https://twitter.com/KindFortress/status/1166754997138333701

August 30, 2019/ Cardboard Edison/
theory

Cardboard Edison

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