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I& #39;m just going to vent for a minute.
We talk about barriers, gatekeeping, and titles in the board game community from time to time.
I remember hearing, "If you& #39;re creating a game, whether it& #39;s done or just a prototype, then you ARE a board game designer." That was encouraging.
We talk about barriers, gatekeeping, and titles in the board game community from time to time.
I remember hearing, "If you& #39;re creating a game, whether it& #39;s done or just a prototype, then you ARE a board game designer." That was encouraging.
I& #39;m thankful for those words, but then comes the dreaded conversation w/ non-bg-community folks. "Oh, you& #39;re a board game designer? That& #39;s cool! What games have you made?" I smile softly and explain, "Well... my games are not published yet." It leaves me feeling deflated.
So then I set that goal, that bar to reach. "Once I get a game published into a tangible, sellable product then those questions won& #39;t be discouraging."
In hindsight it& #39;s easy to see how this could set a person up for a lot of grief. But there I was, being my own gatekeeper.
In hindsight it& #39;s easy to see how this could set a person up for a lot of grief. But there I was, being my own gatekeeper.
And goals are important, when set well (short, medium, long term). I don& #39;t think I& #39;m alone in making this mistake.
Even with encouragement, and the thought that we are already designers, I think that us new designers sometimes doubt and measure ourselves against the greats.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="đ" title="Nachdenkliches Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Nachdenkliches Gesicht">
Even with encouragement, and the thought that we are already designers, I think that us new designers sometimes doubt and measure ourselves against the greats.
It& #39;s unreasonable, I know.
It& #39;s a struggle sometimes, though. I know I& #39;m good at this, but I& #39;m good at a lot of things. I want to show myself I can be gre... no, incredible at this. And then I wonder if that mean I& #39;m doing this for the wrong reason? Is there even a right reason?
It& #39;s a struggle sometimes, though. I know I& #39;m good at this, but I& #39;m good at a lot of things. I want to show myself I can be gre... no, incredible at this. And then I wonder if that mean I& #39;m doing this for the wrong reason? Is there even a right reason?
Then there& #39;s BGG, an incredible resource and data hub. Sometimes it feels like the Hollywood of board games. "If you don& #39;t exist there, then do you really exist?"
And people have asked, "Why doesn& #39;t your game have a BGG page? Why don& #39;t you have one?" So I try to explain it.
And people have asked, "Why doesn& #39;t your game have a BGG page? Why don& #39;t you have one?" So I try to explain it.
Sometimes it& #39;s said differently. "You NEED to have a BBG page so that people can find you." So I hear them out, and consider it.
Sometimes I look at the network I& #39;m building w/o it and I brush it off, telling myself that BGG isn& #39;t paramount to success.
Sometimes I look at the network I& #39;m building w/o it and I brush it off, telling myself that BGG isn& #39;t paramount to success.
And I get it... BBG being the info hub that it is, has a strict approval system. I actually really appreciate that.
I also love that they& #39;ve expanded their crediting system to game contributors outside of designers/publishers/artists/etc.
I also love that they& #39;ve expanded their crediting system to game contributors outside of designers/publishers/artists/etc.
That recognition of others who contribute to a game is important. And the efforts they& #39;ve made show that they understand the importance of representing those creators.
That& #39;s kind of the root of this, right? Recognition? Exposure?
So what can I do?
That& #39;s kind of the root of this, right? Recognition? Exposure?
So what can I do?
I tell myself to be less critical and more patient. I try to remember that this isn& #39;t meant to be easy, and because of all of the hard work, achieving "success" will feel that much more rewarding.
So... yeah. I needed to put some these feelings out there. For me, and for others.
So... yeah. I needed to put some these feelings out there. For me, and for others.
This thread isn& #39;t meant to be a downer, or to criticize the community. I& #39;m hoping it resonates with a lot of my bg friends.
I think we all create our own barriers sometimes. Getting a BGG page approved definitely felt like a barrier, but... what was I before that?
I think we all create our own barriers sometimes. Getting a BGG page approved definitely felt like a barrier, but... what was I before that?
I was a board game designer, and I still am. I& #39;m excited to be listed on BGG, but I shouldn& #39;t have put unreasonable validation in having a page.
I can& #39;t let myself be defined by recognition.https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="đ" title="Leicht lĂ€chelndes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Leicht lĂ€chelndes Gesicht">
...but this is still really cool to see!
I can& #39;t let myself be defined by recognition.
...but this is still really cool to see!
...but this is still really cool to see!" title="I was a board game designer, and I still am. I& #39;m excited to be listed on BGG, but I shouldn& #39;t have put unreasonable validation in having a page.I can& #39;t let myself be defined by recognition.https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="đ" title="Leicht lĂ€chelndes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Leicht lĂ€chelndes Gesicht">...but this is still really cool to see!" class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>
