![Links: Gaming While Irish, Designing Small Games & Playing Games from Other Designers](https://cf.geekdo-images.com/3NMG3F8klJC-g6hveX3yzQ__medium/img/bMV-4Wjzon4IBmF4RBM96iaUhcY=/fit-in/500x500/filters:no_upscale():strip_icc()/pic1616385.png)
• On his blog Berlin Game Design, designer Jeffrey D. Allers asks "Should game designers play other designers' games?" Yes, he answers, play as many games as you can as they'll inform your own designs as long as you approach them in a thoughtful way. He also suggests that Reiner Knizia, who has stated numerous times that he doesn't play games from other designers, is hobbling his creativity by dipping into the same well far too often.
• Publisher Eric Hanuise of Flatlined Games is publishing an online book, Board Games Publishing and Marketing, bit by bit on the Flatlined website. Topics covered to date include how to plan for your business before you start one and the different actors in the game industry.
• In a November 2011 blog post, social game designer Elizabeth Sampat writes about an encounter with a Brenda Brathwaite design – and it's not the much commented upon Train, but rather Síochán Leat, which seems to be Irish for "Peace to You" and which is also known as "The Irish Game". As with Train, Síochán Leat seems to play you as much as you might play it:
I guess now is a good time to tell you: I am — my family is — Irish. Completely and fiercely and ridiculously Irish, in the way that only Americans can be. From what I understand, Brenda and I had very similar upbringings, and Síochán Leat is the story of her family's history. Because of this, it is almost the story of my family's history, too.
• Works with generic components and has the proper card count.
• Variable setup OR play variants — lots of replayability.
• Supports different play group sizes.
• Easy enough for non-gamers, deep enough for gamers.
• Significantly fine-tuned already, with well-written and organized rules.
• Involved designer who is excited about the game and willing to work with us to refine and finalize the game.