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Cardboard Edison

Game design & bright ideas for game designers

Bright Ideas

Tips & Resources for Board Game Designers

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    • More Games
    • Prototypes
  • Free Resources/
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February 07, 2020 February 07, 2020/ Cardboard Edison

Five questions to help you get at what playtesters really think about your game:

https://subsurfacegames.ca/2020/02/04/my-go-to-questions-to-playtesters/

February 07, 2020/ Cardboard Edison/
playtesting

Cardboard Edison

February 07, 2020 February 07, 2020/ Cardboard Edison

Glossary of terms related to playing cards and card games:

https://playingcarddecks.com/blogs/all-in/terms-you-should-know-about-playing-cards-and-card-games

February 07, 2020/ Cardboard Edison/
industry

Cardboard Edison

February 03, 2020 February 03, 2020/ Cardboard Edison

Industry figures weigh in on how electronic components can be used in board games:

https://design100.org/51-hybrid/#

February 03, 2020/ Cardboard Edison/
theory, industry

Cardboard Edison

January 30, 2020 January 30, 2020/ Cardboard Edison

Thoughts on various methods of choosing a start player:

https://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/99956/starting-conditions-attempt-break-down

January 30, 2020/ Cardboard Edison/
theory

Cardboard Edison

January 30, 2020 January 30, 2020/ Cardboard Edison

What attributes make a civ game feel like a civ game?

https://twitter.com/GAMElemental/status/1221961310889545728

January 30, 2020/ Cardboard Edison/
theory

Cardboard Edison

January 30, 2020 January 30, 2020/ Cardboard Edison
“Even if a project is abandoned, the time you spent working on it was never wasted. The lessons learned help you hone your skills.”
— Bez
January 30, 2020/ Cardboard Edison/
process

Cardboard Edison

January 28, 2020 January 28, 2020/ Cardboard Edison

Play styles can have a big effect on what happens at a table, here is a quick rundown of some different kinds (audio)

tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/01/28/play-styles-topic-discussion/

January 28, 2020/ Cardboard Edison/
podcasts, industry, theory

Cardboard Edison

January 28, 2020 January 28, 2020/ Cardboard Edison

How to estimate shipping costs and how that affects the cost of a game (audio):

http://ninjavspirates.libsyn.com/who-what-why-s21e08-shipping-charged-after-podcast-episode

January 28, 2020/ Cardboard Edison/
podcasts, publishing, industry

Cardboard Edison

January 28, 2020 January 28, 2020/ Cardboard Edison

An example of a preliminary pitch letter to a publisher:

https://boardgamedesigncourse.com/the-exact-letter-i-sent-to-a-publisher-that-got-my-first-game-signed/

January 28, 2020/ Cardboard Edison/
licensing

Cardboard Edison

January 25, 2020 January 25, 2020/ Cardboard Edison

Keith Matejka of Thunderworks Games on world-building, staying on track with a project, pushing through after the initial spark, and more. (Meeple Syrup, video)

January 25, 2020/ Cardboard Edison/
theory, process

Cardboard Edison

January 25, 2020 January 25, 2020/ Cardboard Edison

An overview of several board game design contests and where to find more (video)

January 25, 2020/ Cardboard Edison/
contests

Cardboard Edison

January 25, 2020 January 25, 2020/ Cardboard Edison

Tips for identifying the “core” of your game and strengthening it during playtesting:

https://boardgamedesigncourse.com/getting-to-the-core-of-your-game/

January 25, 2020/ Cardboard Edison/
playtesting, process

Cardboard Edison

January 25, 2020 January 25, 2020/ Cardboard Edison
“Geoff’s Law: Your game is more complicated than you think it is, even when you take into account Geoff’s Law.”
— Geoff Engelstein
January 25, 2020/ Cardboard Edison/
theory

Cardboard Edison

January 24, 2020 January 24, 2020/ Cardboard Edison

Notes on the importance of setup and teardown times:

https://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/99739/industrial-musings-part-v-importance-setuptear-dow

January 24, 2020/ Cardboard Edison/
theory

Cardboard Edison

January 18, 2020 January 18, 2020/ Cardboard Edison

Lessons from Spirit Island for aspiring board game designers:

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

January 18, 2020/ Cardboard Edison/
theory

Cardboard Edison

January 18, 2020 January 18, 2020/ Cardboard Edison
“Every designer can talk about their own games for hours – instead, be the designer that listens.”
— John Brieger
January 18, 2020/ Cardboard Edison/
industry

Cardboard Edison

January 18, 2020 January 18, 2020/ Cardboard Edison
“Pay attention to point differentials and their psychological impact. In a zero sum game, you losing 1 point is the same as your opponent gaining 1 point. The latter feels more fair, though.”
— Daniel Solis
January 18, 2020/ Cardboard Edison/
theory

Cardboard Edison

January 18, 2020 January 18, 2020/ Cardboard Edison

What it takes to maintain a full-time job as a freelance board game designer:

https://subsurfacegames.ca/2020/01/17/on-the-viability-of-game-design-as-a-full-time-job/

January 18, 2020/ Cardboard Edison/
industry

Cardboard Edison

January 16, 2020 January 16, 2020/ Cardboard Edison
“Being part of a design community is about investing in the success of that community. Be giving of your time and talents.”
— John Brieger
January 16, 2020/ Cardboard Edison/
industry

Cardboard Edison

January 16, 2020 January 16, 2020/ Cardboard Edison
“‘I don’t want to submit my game til it looks nice’
I have literally received a prototype in a macaroni cheese box. I’ve watched pitches where the bits were simply sharpie drawings on the backs of used printer paper. Don’t let perfection get in the way of your design’s progress!!”
— AnnaMaria Jackson-Phelps
January 16, 2020/ Cardboard Edison/
licensing, prototyping

Cardboard Edison

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