Planning to self-publish your board game design? Use this checklist to make sure you’re ready:
https://www.thedarkimp.com/blog/2024/03/20/self-publishing-checklist/
Tips & Resources for Board Game Designers
Planning to self-publish your board game design? Use this checklist to make sure you’re ready:
https://www.thedarkimp.com/blog/2024/03/20/self-publishing-checklist/
Things that small board game publishers should know about working with a manufacturer (video):
How to sabotage your dreams as a new board game designer—a cautionary tale (video):
Some notable milestones in the life of a board game designer—some good, some not so good (video):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEIxdZt1n78
also available as a Bingo card:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ntzEIMQhhyZD3Vzf84mPTTRH_gV2pkcH/view
The various structures that underpin (pretty much) any game (video):
How to find a publisher—lots of pointers for each step of the process:
https://www.thedarkimp.com/blog/2024/03/06/how-to-find-a-publisher/
5 common mistakes to avoid when preparing your board game’s files for manufacturing (video):
The 10 skills you’ll need as a board game designer—and designing games is only the first one (video):
This Google Docs add-on lets you easily add icons to your rulebook (video):
A short thread about a three-pronged framework for making a game fun: orientation, engagement, and satisfaction:
https://bsky.app/profile/dvcgames.bsky.social/post/3kmc3eojthu2m
10 common mistakes to avoid when writing a rulebook for your board game (video):
Pointers for participating in board game design contests: what’s out there, what to expect, how to approach them, and more (video):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9paIRdToiaM
see also: https://cardboardedison.com/contests
An overview of the board game manufacturing process (video):
The essentials of crowdfunding a board game project, from two experts in the field (video):
This online tool lets you easily lay out cards for printing in different configurations:
Advice for how to prepare to pitch your board game design to publishers (video):
Insights into the judging process for the Cardboard Edison Award and making a pitch video that conveys what’s cool about your game:
https://bsky.app/profile/xopherchan.bsky.social/post/3klu3w7pibz24
Various ways of making board games more usable and accessible, both in terms of game design and production—and reasons to break those heuristics:
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/usability-heuristics-board-games/
Tips for receiving playtest feedback with grace—even when it’s hard to (video):
Pitch or publish? These “job descriptions” show the skills required and basic duties comparing independent game designers and self-publishers:
https://www.thedarkimp.com/blog/2024/02/21/pitch-or-publish/