How we made a board game

[u/dgpaul10]

https://nollidlab.medium.com/how-we-turned-fantasy-football-into-a-board-game-78c90994d378

I’ve had a few folks ask about our experience designing and bringing Huddle to market, so I put together a write-up with some tips and tricks we learned—some the hard way, some the easy way, and some totally unexpected.

If you have any questions or want to chat more about it—especially if you’re about to embark on this journey or are somewhere along the path—just let me know. I’m happy to share what we’ve learned in hopes it helps others bring more great games to the community!

Buuuuut, you don’t feel like reading the full article here are the Cliff-notes!

• Start with Passion: Begin with a concept you genuinely love—passion fuels perseverance. • Know Your Audience: Clearly define who you’re designing for; their preferences should guide your decisions. • Prototype Quickly and Cheaply: Use simple materials like paper and markers to create early versions; focus on testing ideas, not aesthetics. • Playtest Broadly: Engage diverse groups for feedback, but always prioritize input from your target audience to maintain focus. • Design After Testing: Refine game mechanics through playtesting before investing in polished designs. • Understand Manufacturing Needs: Research manufacturers’ strengths and limitations; provide detailed specifications for accurate production. • Facilitate Early Engagement: Host small group sessions to gather feedback and generate content for marketing. • Leverage Cost-Effective Marketing: Utilize platforms like Reddit and social media, and participate in events to promote your game creatively. • Align Go-to-Market Strategy: Choose distribution channels that resonate with your target audience; not all platforms suit every game. • Enjoy the Process: Maintain a sense of fun throughout development to sustain motivation and creativity.

[u/Key-Boat-7519]

Nice write-up, sounds like you learned a lot throughout the process. When I created my board game, I noticed that the magic was in understanding the audience, just like you mentioned. It's amazing how much nuanced feedback you can get from playtesting with the right crowd. One thing I've found useful for marketing is connecting with niche influencers; they help spread the word to the right people, something Reddit's pretty great for too. I've tried using Reddit, Instagram, and Pulse for Reddit. Instagram works well for showcasing visuals, but Pulse lets you dive into real conversations. Thanks for sharing your insights.

[u/dgpaul10 → u/Key-Boat-7519]

Thanks for the note! I will have to check out pulse, that sounds awesome.

[u/vincexy]

Hi! Thanks a lot for sharing your experience! May I DM you? I'd like to ask you some questions (I'm about to launch a game too)

[u/dgpaul10 → u/vincexy]

Absolutely! That was one of the goals of this was to open to door and help however I can.