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Cardboard Edison

Game design & bright ideas for game designers

Bright Ideas

Tips & Resources for Board Game Designers

Cardboard Edison
  • About Us/
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    • Houdini's Last Act
    • Quad Squad
    • Cobras
    • Retail Rejects
    • More Games
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  • Free Resources/
    • Blog
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    • Tariffs Report
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process
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November 06, 2022 November 06, 2022/ Cardboard Edison

Stuck on a game design? Here are some ideas for things you can do to get unstuck:

https://twitter.com/Nick__Bentley/status/1589328931882414081

November 06, 2022/ Cardboard Edison/
process

Cardboard Edison

November 05, 2022 November 05, 2022/ Cardboard Edison

Marketing a game pre-release: What to do in the three months before a game comes out to get fans excited for it (audio):

https://unboxedmarketingpodcast.podbean.com/e/episode-2-pre-orders-to-release-communication/

November 05, 2022/ Cardboard Edison/
publishing, podcasts

Cardboard Edison

November 02, 2022 November 02, 2022/ Cardboard Edison

Lots of advice for pitching your game to publishers and building long-term relationships as a designer in the board game industry (videos):

part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA2KbSJ0fMs

part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbZSXQo-ezU

November 02, 2022/ Cardboard Edison/
licensing

Cardboard Edison

November 01, 2022 November 01, 2022/ Cardboard Edison

Gimmicks in board games: What makes them effective rather than unnecessary?

https://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/138452/gimmicks-games

November 01, 2022/ Cardboard Edison/
theory

Cardboard Edison

November 01, 2022 November 01, 2022/ Cardboard Edison

The final week of your crowdfunding campaign can be crucial to its overall success. Here’s what you can do to make the most of that time:

https://boardgamedesigncourse.com/the-last-week-of-your-kickstarter-campaign/

November 01, 2022/ Cardboard Edison/
publishing

Cardboard Edison

November 01, 2022 November 01, 2022/ Cardboard Edison

Getting discouraged with the game-making process is normal. Here are some tips for recognizing when it shows up and what you can do about it:

https://shippboardgames.blogspot.com/2022/10/discouragement-is-part-of-creative.html

November 01, 2022/ Cardboard Edison/
process

Cardboard Edison

November 01, 2022 November 01, 2022/ Cardboard Edison

The ABCs of board game design (A-F): quick explanations for common terms used by board game designers (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV1JffFIaO0

November 01, 2022/ Cardboard Edison/
theory

Cardboard Edison

October 29, 2022 October 29, 2022/ Cardboard Edison

Different ways games can facilitate players of varying skill levels competing against each other—a Twitter board game designers discussion:

https://twitter.com/rccgames/status/1584173751687860228

October 29, 2022/ Cardboard Edison/
theory

Cardboard Edison

October 29, 2022 October 29, 2022/ Cardboard Edison

Why TCGs are impossible to balance, and how as a designer you can at least get close:

https://remptongames.com/2022/10/29/why-tcgs-are-impossible-to-balance/

October 29, 2022/ Cardboard Edison/
theory

Cardboard Edison

October 28, 2022 October 28, 2022/ Cardboard Edison

Analysis paralysis in players: what causes it and what designers can do to discourage it:

https://www.universityxp.com/blog/2022/10/25/what-is-analysis-paralysis

October 28, 2022/ Cardboard Edison/
theory

Cardboard Edison

October 24, 2022 October 24, 2022/ Cardboard Edison

Rulebook writing fundamentals: What rulebooks need to achieve and basic concepts for making sure they do (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhOeHsEu3n4

October 24, 2022/ Cardboard Edison/
rules

Cardboard Edison

October 21, 2022 October 21, 2022/ Cardboard Edison

Thoughts on digital rights and why it’s important for designers to have them addressed in publishing contracts:

https://twitter.com/wisegoldfish/status/1583530995613302784

October 21, 2022/ Cardboard Edison/
licensing

Cardboard Edison

October 20, 2022 October 20, 2022/ Cardboard Edison

Convention strategies for board game publishers: which cons to show at, the benefits of exhibiting, sponsorship options, and digital cons (audio):

https://unboxedmarketingpodcast.podbean.com/e/episode1/

October 20, 2022/ Cardboard Edison/
publishing, podcasts

Cardboard Edison

October 19, 2022 October 19, 2022/ Cardboard Edison

Thoughts on how to make games that are appealing to players with a wide range of preferences around strategic depth:

https://twitter.com/Nick__Bentley/status/1582741011125542913

October 19, 2022/ Cardboard Edison/
theory

Cardboard Edison

October 19, 2022 October 19, 2022/ Cardboard Edison

When higher numbers aren’t necessarily better: examples of games where both high and low numbers can be useful depending on the situation (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6TL34Y1zYk

October 19, 2022/ Cardboard Edison/
theory

Cardboard Edison

October 18, 2022 October 18, 2022/ Cardboard Edison

A short thread of the various “moments” players will experience with your game:

https://twitter.com/Nick__Bentley/status/1562810992396234753

October 18, 2022/ Cardboard Edison/
industry

Cardboard Edison

October 18, 2022 October 18, 2022/ Cardboard Edison

Megagames vs. board games and the different design considerations that makers of each need to keep in mind:

https://www.megagameassembly.com/blog/megagame-design-not-just-a-big-boardgame

October 18, 2022/ Cardboard Edison/
theory

Cardboard Edison

October 18, 2022 October 18, 2022/ Cardboard Edison

How giving players choices helps them feel engaged in the game’s outcome (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MipF7EGrls

October 18, 2022/ Cardboard Edison/
theory

Cardboard Edison

October 13, 2022 October 13, 2022/ Cardboard Edison

Tips for making your prototype more playable through better icons:

https://twitter.com/peterchayward/status/1580620861031084033

October 13, 2022/ Cardboard Edison/
prototyping

Cardboard Edison

October 13, 2022 October 13, 2022/ Cardboard Edison

What does a board game licensing contract require the designer to do? Here are some common (and uncommon) terms from publishing contracts (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aldtNWDBCRs

October 13, 2022/ Cardboard Edison/
licensing

Cardboard Edison

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