Golden Gate Gamemakers

Come by Game Kastle Redwood City to playtest some games in development!

It's a relaxed chance to try new board games and card games, get feedback on your own prototypes, and get advice on the games industry. New designers and interested players welcome!

Please be courteous to other designers and stay to test their games if you are bringing your prototype to be tested. If you are bringing a prototype game, try to comment below with a quick blurb including player count and time, and when you think you might arrive at GMKV.

ex. "Ticket to Ride is a lightweight game about building train routes. 2-5 players, 30-60 minutes"

Point of contact and organizer: John Brieger and Andrew

Kids are welcome, though some games played will not be age-friendly for children.

Come to Crooked Goat Brewing in Petaluma every 1st and 3rd Mondays to playtest some games in development! (there is a separate meetup post for both 1st Mondays and 3rd Mondays)

This is a relaxed chance to try new board / card / tabletop games, get feedback on your own prototypes, and get advice on the game industry. Designers and interested players welcome, no experience needed.

Please be courteous to other designers and stay to test their games if you are bringing your own prototype to be tested.

Point of contact and organizer: Jestin Brooks

• COST - Free! However you are encouraged to buy some of their delicious food and drinks.
• PARKING - They have parking at the taproom and in front of the City Hall lawn on English Street. There is also lots of nearby free parking in the Keller Street Parking Garage.

Come to Victory Point Cafe in Berkeley to playtest some games in development! This event is twice a month, First Wednesdays and Third Mondays (there is a separate event post for each).

This is a relaxed chance to try new board / card / tabletop games, get feedback on your own prototypes, and get advice on the game industry. Designers and interested players welcome, no experience needed.

Please be courteous to other designers and stay to test their games if you are bringing your own prototype to be tested.

Drop in any time, and leave when you'd like. RSVPing by using the Attend button through Meetup is appreciated but not required (we regularly get 15-20 attendees).

Point of contact and organizer: Velgus and Glenn

• COST - Participants may pay the regular $12/person reserved gaming fee or waive it by buying at least two items from the cafe. Pay or start a tab at the front counter upon entering.
• PARKING - Street meters should be free from 6pm onwards. There is free street parking on the street behind the venue and on surrounding streets during the day and evening.
• BART - Downtown Berkeley BART station is a straight 8-minute walk away.

Updated Date: We are meeting a week later to avoid conflict with Thanksgiving.

Welcome to the Golden Gate Gamemakers' board game playtesting event at Dogpatch Games in San Francisco!

We are a community of tabletop game designers & board game fanatics who meet monthly at Dogpatch Games (1095 Tennessee St. in San Francisco's Dogpatch district) to playtest each other's prototypes, provide feedback, help each other get published, and most importantly...have fun!

Whether you’re game is days away from Kickstarter, or just ideas on a napkin, or you just want to hangout and playtest other prototypes (we LOVE playtesters!)…all are welcome!

A few notes if this is your first time joining us:

- Our goal is to provide a community around creating new games. Every designer will get their prototype to the table. We give everyone the chance to play games and get their game played.

- Each designer gets equal time, which is about one hour. This includes rules explanations, gameplay, and time for feedback.

- Please arrive on time if you have a game to playtest. At the beginning of the night each designer will pitch their game to the group, then breakout into smaller groups. If you arrive and playtesting has already begun, we will try to accommodate you later in the evening.

- If your game requires more than one hour, or requires a player count of 6 or more, please contact us ahead of time so we can make arrangements.

- Please stay for as long as you can to playtest others’ games.

- When you arrive, please check in with the cashier and inform them you’re with the San Francisco Board Game Designers. Dogpatch Games charges customers an hourly fee (monthly subscriptions are available), but we have negotiated a flat rate of $12 for the evening.

- Dogpatch Games does not yet sell food or drink, but outside food is very welcomed. There are many great options within a couple blocks.

- Street parking is readily available nearby. Or take BART to the Powell Street station and transfer to San Francisco Muni “T”-line and take that eastbound to 20th & 3rd Ave stop. Dogpatch Games is then one block away.

- Please no “blind playtesting”. You must teach your game yourself and not require playtesters to read rules during the event.

- This is an event for playtesting your game and gathering feedback, and not promoting your upcoming Kickstarter campaign.

- Reach out to Phil Schwarzmann ([email protected]) or Jim McCollum ([email protected]) for any questions.

Looking forward to seeing you there!!

Phil & Jim