It is impossible not to think about the economy right now. The tariffs and trade wars are the hot topic in the board game world and something we here at Cherry Picked Games are extremely aware of, given the imminent manufacturing of Far Away: Corporate Espionage. But those fees are a single (large) cost in a long and pricey process. There are so many other market considerations that go beyond pure production prices. Inspired by Carla Lalli Music’s excellent Substack piece on the true costs of YouTube videos, I want to share the other real financial concerns I have running a board game business: externalities, inflation, and labor.

Great expansions bring new life into their base games. Our marketing of Far Away: Corporate Espionage focused on the additional missions and new creature AI system, but there’s more to it than that. The next couple of blogs are going to focus on other additions and enhancements players can expect. First, we want to highlight the Hollows: a new terrain type with its own exploration system.

We’re hard at work testing all the missions in Far Away: Corporate Espionage. Whether it’s our local fans testing with cards from my printer or our excellent community testing the demo PNP, we need all eyes on the game to make sure it lives up to the promises of the crowdfunding campaign. Recently, I’ve found myself conscripting people who haven’t playtested a board game before. While the raw experience is most important, I can’t help but to think of some guidance for these people to get and give the most during the tests. Here are a few tips for anyone playtesting a game that ensure everyone walks away feeling great.