The "You're not an aspiring game designer" bit got me. I'm currently developing my first board game. I'll look back at this video as the turning point of the way I define myself. Thank you for that.

Dice are a treat. Here's a treat for designers: The d3-1 is drastically underrepresented in game design. Having a d6 with 2 0s, 2 1s, and 2 2s is something Betrayal On House on the Hill did super well, but there is a lot of available design space with that simple variation on the most common dice type on the market.

Thanks so much for putting this list together. I always find your insights to be very down-to-earth, and challenging, as well as encouraging. A list of 100 wisdom & experience nuggets is a great holiday gift. Thank you! I am a game designer currently developing my first designs into physical form, so your timing is perfect for me. Although I'm based in the US, I hope to have the opportunity to meet you and thank you in person, one day.

@AdaminWales

6 ай бұрын

Thanks Steve - your comment was very affirming, I like the description of “down to earth; challenging; encouraging”. That’s a really good summary of what I’d like the videos to achieve.

I'm new to this channel, only halfway through this (for me first) video, and I am already hooked. Thank you ❤

@AdaminWales

4 ай бұрын

Welcome to the channel! :) There is loads to explore here.

I always love such lists. happy to get this series.

This top 100 is amazing thanks so much Adam. As an Argentinian designer (two games and counting) i love your content. Thanks!

@AdaminWales

5 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching. I’m glad it’s helpful! :)

Excellent video! Great advice for game designers

super excited for this list! Great job as always. #100 was good from the jump haha

Great video, as usual. :) I was struck by the comment about playing other designers' games. I have learnt so much from doing this, partly by watching how other designers approach playtests, taking feedback, interacting with playtesters, etc. It was such an eye-opener to see a published designer tweaking the rules and components mid-game. Newer designers all also bring something to learn from as well. Plus, of course, playing the games can be fun and it is all part of building a community that helps everyone along.

@AdaminWales

6 ай бұрын

Thanks Rob - very well put.

Thank you for your videos!

Really enjoying this so far! Thanks Adam!

@AdaminWales

6 ай бұрын

Glad you’re enjoying it - thanks for stopping by to let me know :)

This was excellent. I can’t wait for the next nine!

@AdaminWales

6 ай бұрын

Glad it was enjoyable - yes, plenty more to come!!! 😅

I love dice in games. I love their historicity and I love their ancient, folktale connotations with fate and vice. With that being said, I don't like dice chucker games. They are almost dice as wd40; just something that makes the game move and happen. When a friend tells me that his opponent rolled 46 dice in a miniature skirmish tournament, that just sounds inert; that the game is struggling emote in any other way and has to ratify strategy, and the emotions of play into a huge tumbler. When dice are used well they become other things. Workers, counters, resources, building blocks, objects in a space, miniatures themselves. Casting dice aside as just dice is the first mistake.

@AdaminWales

6 ай бұрын

Well articulated. Thanks! :)

I'm excited for this series! New subscriber.

@AdaminWales

6 ай бұрын

Glad you’re enjoying it. If you’re new, make sure to check out the MANY other videos about game design on the channel :)

Excellent, I enjoy your 100 lists, we have different philosophies in specific ways but I enjoy your interest in others design processes etc.

@AdaminWales

6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching. Glad you enjoy the videos.

Excellent video, as usual. Your bit about innovation. I think you are dead on. Even consumers that say they want something new and innovative, actually don't. Many think they do, but what they really want is just a really good take on something old. Not just anything old obviously, it had to be good to start with. I've always thought that innovation is overrated. Innovation, as you mentioned, usually comes off as wacky and/or gimmicky. A lot of times, when things have "never been done before"...there's a reason.

you are my guru. I´m your big follower

Another informative and engaging video. You certainly have a knack for this. I'm working on an interesting rebrand project you may interested in if a pivot in where your creative energy is directed is desired.

@AdaminWales

6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching - glad you enjoyed it. Good luck with your project- feel free to email me some details if you’d like. I don’t have much time to give extensive feedback, but I’d be happy to take a quick look.

I'm curious what situations I would be in that I would need a stash of my own game. I can't think of what emergencies or the like that would come up.

@AdaminWales

6 ай бұрын

It’s a good question - and I’m not sure I know the answer - but I don’t want to get to that situation and find myself without any games! :) I’ve shared copies of older games with new publishers when they’re out of print - to see if they could have a second life. I like having a backup copy in case my “currently active” copy gets beaten up or the box gets torn etc. And occasionally I dip into my stash for a gift for someone if I really think they’ll appreciate it. (Often if a friend’s child has reached the age where I think they’ll enjoy it).

Best top 100 yet. Feel like Neo after watching these: "I know Kung Fu." Thankful for your thoughts.

@AdaminWales

6 ай бұрын

Really glad it’s helpful/enjoyable. Love the Matrix analogy! 😁

Speaking of Essen, I would love a full recap video of your experiences at Essen Spiel 2203

@AdaminWales

6 ай бұрын

Thanks. I’ll probably do a video along these lines. It’s hard to do a full recap because so much of it is information I can’t share (negotiations with publishers, good and bad experiences meeting publishers etc).

@raphaelstocker9874

6 ай бұрын

@@AdaminWales I totally understand that and it makes perfect sense

ever see copies of your game on sale or in the thrift store?

@AdaminWales

6 ай бұрын

I haven’t seen one in a thrift store (in the UK we’d call these charity shops) but I’ve certainly seen them heavily discounted in clearance sales, as they approach the end of their print run (usually a year or two after release). It is inevitable really, unless you have a perennial best seller. But it takes a bit of getting used to!!! The hardest bit is seeing them being sold second hand or traded away on social media. Because that’s someone who has tried your game but decided it doesn’t make the cut. I remind myself that I sell and trade away many games that I really enjoy. I’ve just played them out, or don’t have space etc. There are so many reasons why something ends up being sold on.

@ryanbarker5217

6 ай бұрын

@@AdaminWales it's one of those things you don't think to prepare for. it's like published designers recount the fantastic feeling they have seeing their game on the shelves, not so much how it feels when the game is gone from the aisles, lol. i have a slight semblance of what it must be like. even on my far lesser level, it was still an odd feeling. like you say, there are a lot of reasons, but since you don't know the real reason most people naturally jump to the worst conclusion. all glory is fleeting, eh?

Do you like to make hard for yourself to make top100 each year? :)

@AdaminWales

6 ай бұрын

Absolutely! 😅 You’ll notice me getting increasingly tired and grouchy as the Top 100 progresses…

@bruceknight3720

6 ай бұрын

Not too tired and grouchy to make your usual Top 10 Games of the Year video? (he says hopefully😊)

@AdaminWales

6 ай бұрын

@@bruceknight3720 Working on it as we speak!!! Not sure when I’ll post it - but certainly before the New Year.

Games without progression bad? Yeah Dixit totally did not win Spiel and is not relevant over a decade later... :D