Deep Theme, Improved Accessibility, Solo Modes, and More
Over the past 50 years, the world of board game design has witnessed a remarkable evolution, with creative advancements that revolutionized the way we play.
Chris Scaffidi
Printable Card Games
Printable card games have 3 advantages: customizability, potentially lower cost, and no need to wait for delivery. Cartref carries the tradition forward.
Game Designer as Artist: Ali Mahmood
Ali Mahmood has illustrated some of the cards for his new game, Pocket Sci Fi. His art style has some similarities to Jason Glover’s awesome work.
World-Building in Tabletop Games
In tabletop games and movies, world-building is an essential part of creating a compelling narrative. However, there are some significant differences in how world-building is approached in these two mediums.
Waterdeep’s Board: Lightly Colorized Line Art
I’d had a bit of a challenge colorizing the Cartref illustrations, as the colors distracted players and reduced icon usability. Waterdeep suggests a solution.
Nice Touch – Details Matter in Graphic Design and Art
A bit of whimsy. A reminder of the game’s magic. Little details in graphic design and art can trigger positive feelings and promote thematic immersion.
AI Art: Legality and Ethics
I haven’t seen any indication that SDXL is an improvement from a legal or ethical standpoint. Which means that we still have a lot to discuss on these matters.
Testing Stable Diffusion XL on NightCafe
Mediocre quality in AI-generated images has limited their usefulness for illustrating games. How much does the new Stable Diffusion XL model improve this situation?
Observations about the Presentation of Game Titles on Boxes
How do boxes display the game title? Are there any general rules? What does it take to fit in? What would it take to stand out?
BYOM: Bring Your Own Miniatures
Making miniatures is expensive. Kickstarting them is risky. What’s a game maker to do? BYOM: Let the players bring their own (existing) miniatures.