“Game design doesn’t have to be your whole life. It’s easy to get wrapped up in worrying that you’re not working hard enough, especially when you perceive that others are more dedicated than you are. Remember: you don’t have to be obsessed to be good.”

— Emma Larkins

How continually patching a design can lead to something that’s just overwrought:

https://twitter.com/peterchayward/status/1174141817077555201

Four lessons from Root for aspiring designers:

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

“If players consistently forget to implement a rule, get rid of it, even if it’s super thematic. ”

— Shannon McDowell

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

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/

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

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

“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

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

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

“Every game should be as simple as possible, and as complex as necessary.”

— Eric Lang

“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

“When you have playtested your design to perfection, let it rest some time, then play again. – Expect to be surprised!”

— Reiner Knizia

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

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

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

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

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

Four lessons from Twilight Struggle for aspiring board game designers:

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

How to avoid avoiding getting started on a game:

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

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

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

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

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

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/