Wannabe Board Game Designer

Design – Test – Fail – Learn – Repeat

Category: Video

  • Finding new ideas for board games

    Finding new ideas for board games

    Diaries of a wannabe board game designer, entry date 16th May 2025

    Ever wonder where board game ideas truly originate? In this entry from “Diaries of a Wannabe Board Game Designer” (Entry Date: May 16, 2025), I’m sharing my journey of discovering inspiration in the most unexpected places!

    We’ll explore:

    ✨ How everyday life – from playful pets to the ins and outs of your day job (past and present!) – can spark incredible game concepts.

    🤔 The big question: Can any theme, even something seemingly mundane like accounting or watching paint dry, be transformed into an engaging board game?

    💡 A personal story about the surprising catalyst for my first serious game design project (hint: it involved a much-needed digital detox!).

    🧠 How stepping away from screens and daily distractions can supercharge your creative thinking and help bring your own unique ideas to life.

  • Lessons learned from first prototypes and playtesting

    Lessons learned from first prototypes and playtesting

    Diaries of a wannabe board game designer, entry date 1st May 2025

    In this episode of “A Wannabe Board Game Designer’s Diary,” I’m sharing my personal experiences and insights as I create, prototype, and playtest my first (card) game. From my initial concept through to physical prototypes, I’ll show you the challenges I faced and how I overcame them.

    I’ll tell you my views:

    • How I physically manufacture my card game prototypes at home, including tricks to prevent issues like identifiable card backs.
    • The importance of clear rules and how misunderstandings can shape your game design and playtesting process.
    • Essentials on game box markings, European regulations like CE marking, and setting accurate age recommendations.
    • My method for gathering anonymous feedback, what critical questions I ask testers, and how I use this information to refine my game.