In another BGDL community spotlight, Jeff Turner, founder of Skip Work Play Games, dives into how to use InDesign to do data merge and speed up your prototyping process.Data merge makes it easy to edit or change hundreds of cards with one click, and we get into both high-level concepts and technical how-to. The post (Community Spotlight) Using InDesign and Data Merge with Jeff Turner appeared first on Board Game Design Lab ....
Jul 28, 2021•34 min•Ep. 248
Anthony Howgego, developer at Osprey Games, what goes into developing a game and nearly everything else surrounding development.We talk about taking games from good to great, how to work with a developer effectively, how to become a developer, and more. The post Developing Games and Working with Developers with Anthony Howgego appeared first on Board Game Design Lab ....
Jul 21, 2021•58 min•Ep. 247
Dave Beck, designer of Distilled, talks about improving games through experiential graphic design.Dave did a TON of research for his latest game, hired experts, and dove as deeply into the theme as he could. So, he’s got a lot of advice for anyone wanting to make a super thematic game. And be sure to check out Dave’s game, Distilled, on... The post How to Make a Super Thematic Game and Do Research with Dave Beck appeared first on Board Game Design Lab ....
Jul 14, 2021•54 min•Ep. 246
Kate Otte, designer of First Ascent, talks about improving games through experiential graphic design.Kate is a professional graphic designer, and we get into how to make games more accessible, understandable, and fun using excellent graphic design techniques. And be sure to check out Kate’s game, First Ascent, on Kickstarter HERE. The post Experiential Graphic Design with Kate Otte appeared first on Board Game Design Lab ....
Jul 07, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 245
Nick Murray, founder of Bitewing Games, discusses how you can evaluate your game and ideas using SWOT analysis. This is a common technique in the business world to analyze ideas, products, companies, etc., and it can really help with game design as well. The post (Community Spotlight) Evaluating Your Game with SWOT Analysis with Nick Murray appeared first on Board Game Design Lab ....
Jun 30, 2021•34 min•Ep. 243
Dan Hundycz, founder of DPH Games, discusses layered victory conditions. In his latest game, Usurp the King, there’s a hierarchy of ways to win, and Dan breaks down how it came together. And be sure to check out Usurp the King on Kickstarter HERE. The post (Community Spotlight) Layered Victory Conditions with Dan Hundycz appeared first on Board Game Design Lab ....
Jun 30, 2021•36 min•Ep. 244
Justin Gary, designer of Ascension, talks about his personal process for designing and publishing games.Justin has designed and released a ton of hit games over the years and worked in lots of different segments of the gaming industry, so he has a ton of great tips and advice. The post How to Design and Publish Games with Justin Gary appeared first on Board Game Design Lab ....
Jun 23, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 242
Andrew Lowen, designer of Deliverance, talks about going through the process of deciding between traditional publishing and self-publishing.We talk about the pros and cons on both sides along with how to make things work if you go the self-publishing route. And be sure to check out Andrew’s game, Deliverance, on Kickstarter HERE. The post Why to Self Publish…or Not with Andrew Lowen appeared first on Board Game Design Lab ....
Jun 16, 2021•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 241
Janice Turner, designer of Assembly, talks about designing puzzle games.We talk about player experience, designing during nap times, how to make puzzles fun and not tedious, and more! And be sure to check out Janice’s game, Pilfering Pandas, on Kickstarter HERE. The post Designing Puzzle Games with Janice Turner appeared first on Board Game Design Lab ....
Jun 09, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 240
Ben Downton, designer of Micro Dojo, talks about designing micro-micro games – games so small they can fit in a regular-sized envelope.We talk about component constraints, focus, player expectations, and more! And be sure to check out Ben’s game, Micro Dojo, on Kickstarter HERE. The post Designing Games that Fit in an Envelope with Ben Downton appeared first on Board Game Design Lab ....
Jun 02, 2021•57 min•Ep. 239
Josh Horsley, designer of Castlescape, talks about designing deck-building games that have more going on than just building a deck.We talk about adding boards and other components, and we get into the benefits and obstacles of creating these kinds of games. And be sure to check out Josh’s game, Castlescape, on Kickstarter HERE. The post Deck Building and MORE with Josh Horsley appeared first on Board Game Design Lab ....
May 26, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 238
The brand new BGDL community site is now live at www.bgdlplus.com! The post BGDL+ is live! appeared first on Board Game Design Lab .
May 25, 2021•29 min
Ami Baio, designer of You Think You Know Me and several other conversation-based games, talks about what all goes into designing and publishing them.We talk about how to create gaming environments that encourage people to talk, listen, and enjoy chatting with each other. The post Designing Conversation Games with Ami Baio appeared first on Board Game Design Lab ....
May 19, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 237
Joe Klipfel, designer of Griphold Tower, discusses what it’s like to take a large, published game and turn it into a microgame. Joe has done this with Set a Watch and Gloomhaven and offers lots of insight on how to break a game down to its essence. The post [Community Spotlight] Turning Big Games into Microgames with Joe Klipfel appeared first on Board Game Design Lab ....
May 12, 2021•33 min•Ep. 236
Marco Pecota, designer of Legions of Steel, discusses the ways he’s engaging with the fans of his game. We talk about building a community, releasing bonus content, reaching out to your fans for feedback, and more. The post [Community Spotlight] Customer Engagement, Support, and Satisfaction with Marco Pecota appeared first on Board Game Design Lab ....
May 12, 2021•31 min•Ep. 235
Martin Wallace, designer of Brass: Birmingham and about 100 other great games, talks about Euro games and his process for designing them.Martin is one of the greatest designers of all time, and he offers tons of excellent advice based on his 30+ years in the industry. The post How to Design Euro Games with Martin Wallace appeared first on Board Game Design Lab ....
May 05, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 234
Joe Slack, designer Relics of Rajavihara, talks about the many different jobs in the board gaming industry and how people have found their way to those jobs.Joe recently released a book devoted to this topic, so we talk a lot about what he found through his interviews and research. And you can find Joe’s latest book about jobs in... The post Getting a Job in the Board Game Industry with Joe Slack appeared first on Board Game Design Lab ....
Apr 28, 2021•56 min•Ep. 233
Nick Metzler, game designer at Spin Master, talks about designing games that create excellent social experiences.We also dive into chasing dreams, overcoming obstacles, and gamification. The post How to Design Social Experiences with Nick Metzler appeared first on Board Game Design Lab .
Apr 21, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 232
BGDL community member Trevor Laforce discusses how to optimize your life to get more designing done in less time.We talk about habits, time management, and self-management in the context of designing games while also having a job, family, and busy schedule. And you can find Trevor’s daily planner and more time optimization content on his... The post Optimizing Game Design Time with Trevor Laforce appeared first on Board Game Design Lab ....
Apr 14, 2021•30 min•Ep. 231
Dennis Furia talks about the board game identity pyramid.The pyramid is an excellent tool and framework to help you break down a game into its main selling points and help you figure out the why, what, and how behind your game. You can find more about the pyramid HERE. The post The Board Game Identity Pyramid with Dennis Furia appeared first on Board Game Design Lab ....
Apr 14, 2021•33 min•Ep. 231
Laura Hoffman, COO of Game on Tabletop, discusses the ins and outs, pros and cons of crowdfunding your game.Game on Tabletop is a crowdfunding platform specifically for board game campaigns, and Laura has a ton of experience working with creators and project managers. The post Why You Should Crowdfund Your Game (or Not) with Laura Hoffman appeared first on Board Game Design Lab ....
Apr 07, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 229
Wade Hayes designer of Poetic License, dives into everyone’s favorite topic…taxes. We talk about lots of the major accounting topics designers and publishers need to be aware of.Wade is a tax pro, and this episode will be super helpful in making sure you stay in the government’s good graces (assuming you’re in the U.S.). Here’s an excellent tax guide PDF... The post Taxes for Designers and Publishers with Wade Hayes appeared first on Board Game Design Lab ....
Mar 31, 2021•51 min•Ep. 228
Joe Hout, designer of Dungeon Draft, talks about how to design a roll and write game.Joe has designed quite a few roll and writes, and we get into dice vs cards, combos, player counts, and more. And be sure to check out Joe’s game Dice in the Darkness and play along on Twitch HERE. The post Designing Roll and Write Games with Joe Hout appeared first on Board Game Design Lab ....
Mar 24, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 227
In this BGDL community spotlight episode, Alex Lu, designer of Dogs Bond, discusses how to implement interchangeable win conditions in a game. The post BGDL Community Spotlight – Interchangeable Win Conditions with Alex Lu appeared first on Board Game Design Lab .
Mar 17, 2021•32 min•Ep. 226
In this BGDL community spotlight episode, Wayne Koenig, designer of lots of games, discusses his experience and process of designing a brand new game every single week. The post BGDL Community Spotlight – Designing a Game a Week with Wayne Koenig appeared first on Board Game Design Lab .
Mar 17, 2021•36 min•Ep. 225
Isaac Childres designer of Gloomhaven, talks about how to design games that are massive in scope.Gloomhaven is a 25-pound box of hours upon hours of gameplay, and we dive into design challenges, player progression, marketing, and more. The post Designing Massive Games with Isaac Childres appeared first on Board Game Design Lab .
Mar 10, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 224
Sara Perry, designer of Gift of Tulips, talks about all the many angles of shipping and logistics.Sara handles logistics for quite a few publishers (including me), and we talk about vetting fulfillment partners, shipping rates, what to think about if you’re just a game designer, and more. And be sure to check out Sara’s game on Kickstarter HERE. The post Board Game Logistics and Fulfillment with Sara Perry appeared first on Board Game Design Lab ....
Mar 03, 2021•58 min•Ep. 223
Today, it’s just me on the show, and I’m discussing different angles of designing and publishing solo games, and I’m talking through the design process for my latest solo game, Hunted: Wode Ridge.I talk about pros, cons, design challenges, the business side of things, and more. And you can check out Hunted: Wode Ridge on... The post Designing Solo Games and the Making of Hunted: Wode Ridge with Gabe Barrett appeared first on Board Game Design Lab ....
Feb 24, 2021•55 min•Ep. 222
James Fazio, founder of Pique Games, discusses how to overcome failure in game design and game publishing.We talk about defining success, the danger of comparison, taking feedback gracefully, and more. The post Overcoming Failure with James Fazio appeared first on Board Game Design Lab .
Feb 17, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 221
Azhelle Wade, the toy coach, discusses how to design board games for the mass market and toy industry.We talk about “toyetic” games, patents, pitching to publishers, contraption based games, and more. The post Designing Mass Market Games with Azhelle Wade appeared first on Board Game Design Lab .
Feb 10, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 220
