Starting off my new blog

Following is an update of my current state of game design (since we are on a new site now and I don't want to port over all of my content). Also, I changed my username to mistre from markmist for those wondering. Edit: Found a new avatar! I quite like it.

Castle Raiders - I have a potential blind playtest group lined up (A friend of mines buddies in Orlando, FL are going to try it). Edit: The game was shipped out 8-14-08 to Orlando! I can't wait to hear some feedback.

Gem Wars (working name - thinking of changing it) - I have completed designing my components (except for spell cards which will come later), and just need to print them out so I can start solo-testing. I really think this idea is going to pan out, but we will see. After I get some testing in and decide on a name - I will start a game journal for this one.

Yesterday, I stumbled across the following book on Amazon when looking for game design books - "Game Design Workshop - A playcentric approach to creating innovative games". I found a website where you can download a PDF version for free (it is an .RAR file, so you need to use BitZipper to open it). It is a very long and comprehensive (491 pages) view on the game design process. I have only made it through the first few chapters so far, but I am looking forward to reading more - especially the chapter on playtesting. The book is geared towards Digital designing (video games), but is written in such a way that most all of the lessons can apply to board games as well. In fact, it uses some board/card game examples throughout the text, so I think this book applies to us boardgame designers and is worth a look. I will let you know if I feel the same after I finish reading it.