Cardboard Edison

Bright ideas for board game inventors ~ Visit our full website at cardboardedison.com ~ Support us on Patreon at patreon.com/cardboardedison

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Why crowdfunding campaigns fail after funding—and how to avoid it:

https://updates.kickstarter.com/why-kickstarter-campaigns-fail-after-funding-and-how-to-avoid-it/

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10 product design mistakes that cause the most replacement parts requests:

https://stonemaiergames.com/10-product-design-mistakes-that-cause-the-most-replacement-parts-requests/

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What is a eurogame? (video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h8ZDJPVrkI

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How board game distribution actually works for indie publishers: retailers, distributors, and consolidators:

https://catacombian.com/blog/how-board-game-distribution-actually-works

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Recommendations for 10 games to play if you want to get into designing board games (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gQ9Qd22qJw

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Countering arguments against self-publishing by noting the overlap between game design and core publisher responsibilities (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tdzmkc4qQ7w

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Considering the many ways in which uncertainty shows up throughout the entire experience of playing a board game:

https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2026/05/19/clearly-uncertain-the-role-of-uncertainty-in-board-games-topic-discussion/

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Getting your indie board game noticed online—a Reddit board game designers forum discussion:

https://www.reddit.com/r/BoardgameDesign/comments/1tji0bw/good_design_speaks_for_itself/

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An in-depth discussion about all the ins and outs of designing, prototyping, and testing party games (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBxqe2BOi-g

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Advice for your first time pitching to a publisher—a Reddit board game design forum discussion:

https://www.reddit.com/r/BoardgameDesign/comments/1timcp3/first_meetings_with_publishers_this_weekend_what/

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Mark Rosewater, head designer for Magic: The Gathering, shares lessons about creativity, audience connection, and why great design starts with how you want players to feel:

audio: https://justingarydesign.substack.com/p/mark-rosewater-designing-for-emotion

video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRoiFsMsBpY

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Call it thematic integration or resonance or ludonarrative assonance: here’s a deep discussion about making your game's mechanics match the theme, and vice-versa (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urOxG_nZ2F0

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A short note about why it’s important for board game designers to playtest other designers’ games more than their own:

https://www.reddit.com/r/BoardgameDesign/comments/1td0yrp/one_of_the_best_ways_to_get_your_game_playtested/

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A short thread about what to do when players keep forgetting a rule:

https://bsky.app/profile/nickbentley.bsky.social/post/3ml4gke3wis2z

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Two publishers discuss the pros and cons of publishing board games through crowdfunding versus going straight to retail (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhfLOHq9XNs&t=1373s

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David Turczi to talk about his approach to game design, working with other designers, and what goes into making amazing games (video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paxJFQ90qAY

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What board game designers, publishers, and manufacturers can do to reduce the environmental impact of their games (video):

https://gdcvault.com/play/1035803/Creating-a-Culture-of-Sustainability