Publishing Advice #18: Why Going to Bed Early Could Change Your Life

Why I'm writing about going to bed early on a board game design and publishing blog? That might sound quite strange but trust me and read this article to the end! A good sleep will have a significant influence on any part of your life, even on board gamer's life (I know that sounds weird)! It is a must for fellow designers and publishers as creativity and productivity are vital for us!

Publishing Advice #17: Countries With a High Rate of Missing Parcels and Long Delays

I believe in treating all people equally. Everyone should have the same access to board games from any place in the world. However, life proves that there are a lot of things making that impossible. One is the shipping!

Publishing Advice #16: Reach Storytellers and World-Builders

Every human being has his strengths and weaknesses. There is no point of denying that truth, and we are better to find others who can fill the gap of our weaknesses. Of course, that don't mean that board game designer can't have a tremendous talent in world-building, storytelling and character making; however it happens very rarely! And sometimes you might not have enough time to do everything yourself!

Publishing Advice #15: Green and Red Zones

There is quite a lot written about Green and Red zones. Some people will add a Yellow, Blue or Purple zones. There are available long psychological articles and books on the subject. I really, do not want to go there. However, I'd like to write about this from the perspective of a board game designer/publisher using quite a lot simplifications. This article will not be a scientific analysis but more my personal view.  Anyway, awareness on the subject is crucial. It will help to maintain our stamina, to work in a peaceful, joyful and efficient way. Otherwise, we can start hating our hobby, passion and finish with a breakdown.

Publishing Advice #14: How to Write an Excellent Rulebook

Imagine you got a new game. Before you bought it, you read and watched a few reviews. It looks like you going to have a lot of fun! The box is big and heavy! In excitement, you are quickly unwrapping the game and opening it to see high-quality components: thick game board, loads of cards, wooden tokens and miniatures! Wow, if the gameplay is at least half good as your first impression you gonna have a great time with your friends!

Next day your mates came around to play the game for the first time. So you are opening the rulebook, and that's how your great first impression is gone! You can't get through it, and everyone gets annoyed. You can't figure out how to play the game from the manual! So you are trying to interpret the missing bits with your team. You play, and the experience is horrible. Your game drives you mad! Rubbish, you think!

But does that mean the game was so terrible? Maybe it is one of the best games on the market? Because of the poorly written rulebook, you can't say. You can only say the rulebook is rubbish!