Games with Unusual Table Layouts
Dear designers, consider this easy way to grab attention: don’t mindlessly emulate the Monopoly layout, with a board and a few rows of other components nearby.
cards
Objectively Investigating Investment in Objective Cards
I observe that publishers rarely invest much in art for objective cards, and I see a few justifications for this choice. There are, of course, exceptions.
Horror, Sex and Puns: The Humor of Munchkin
Get those players laughing. How? Push the boundaries. Which boundaries? How far? In what directions? Munchkin illustrates a few angles to approach the issue.
Furthering Table Presence with Funny Flavor Text
Flavor text can trigger laughter. And when I hear a bunch of gamers laughing at the local pizza parlor, I wonder: What are they playing? And WHY is it so funny?
The ‘Best’ Ways to Represent Tech Tracks
Visualizing a tech track/tree is easier said than done. You must make the mechanic learnable, flexible, and replayable, all while maintaining player agency.
Gnomes Brighten Gardens: A Colorful Lesson about Happy Places
Taking my own advice about palettes, but not understanding how to apply it, led to a useful lesson.
Let’s Face It: A Compelling Character Irresistibly Hooks the Viewer
Although artists often can avoid it, rendering facial details can increase the emotional content of a card or box — making it more compelling and memorable.
Chipboard Cards: Are They Something Thrilling or Over-killing?
Using chipboard instead of cardstock for cards increases environmental and economic costs. Yet chipboard has advantages over cardstock. How much is too much?
Nut Hunt’s Useful and Interesting Example of How to Amplify Attention
The publisher of Nut Hunt took intentional steps to draw attention to key aspects of the game.
How do Publishers Present Games on Websites? Wingspan as an Example
How do publishers showcase their creations?