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How to Design the Mechanics of Your Board Game

Brand Game Development

The core engine is what’s left when you strip a game of mechanics and obstacles. The core engine is the bare minimum set of mechanics and concepts you need to have a functioning (but not necessarily fun) game. Game mechanics are how we bring the core engine of a game to life. What are game mechanics?

Mechanics 130
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Why Board Game Publishers Like Some Games and Don’t Like Others

Brand Game Development

There are mechanics in there that nobody’s ever seen!” They could be manufacturers, retailers, designers, or playtesters. Likewise, if a publisher is dependent upon a retailer such as Target for success, they might find that their business is dictated by the purchasing manager of an entirely different company!

Games 130
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5 Board Games With Great Components for $33.01 or Less

Brand Game Development

What strikes me about this game is not the gameplay mechanics themselves. In the case of this game, which somehow only retails for $31.49 , you build an entire train. Forbidden Sky – $19.99. Forbidden Sky blows my mind. It’s easily the most challenging of the Foribbden games. Why is this shocking?

Games 130
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A Crash Course in Board Game Marketing & Promotion

Brand Game Development

Know how to describe mechanics that are in your game and see who it appeals to. Some people dislike “take that” mechanics because they’re too mean-spirited, such as the well-regarded reviewer, Rahdo. It’s no use selling a game with “take that” mechanics to him, then, is it? Your Niche.

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20 New Year’s Resolutions for Board Game Devs in 2020

Brand Game Development

Experiment with a theme or mechanics you’ve never used. Get one retailer to carry your game. It’s a rush and websites like The Game Crafter and Board Games Maker make it very accessible. If you’re a more veteran board game designer, why not push yourself by trying something you’ve not tried before?

Dev 130
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Niantic’s Peridot is mobile AR’s biggest opportunity in years

Game Daily

This reproduction mechanic, in which the supposedly unique DNA combinations of each dot are thrown into the evolutionary pot, is designed to sustain interest beyond the initial “awww, cute” response. It’s the player’s job to help the dots repopulate.

Mobile 98
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Upgraded Components for Pandante and Flash Duel Kickstarter

Sirlin

Removing the last-hits mechanic makes it simpler to explain and more focused on the back and forth part of the game that you’d hope was the emphasis anyway. So I want to include the 3 extra Pandante casino cards for all kickstarter backers (not part of the retail products) at all levels. There’s also Flash Duel.

Retail 52