Golden Gate Gamemakers

Come to Guildhouse, San Jose's coolest gaming venue to playtest some games in development! This is a monthly event happening every 3rd Wednesdays.

This is a relaxed chance to try new board games and card games in development, get feedback on your own prototypes, and get advice on the games industry. New designers and interested players welcome! Drop in and out anytime during the night.

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

We typically run a small raffle each night for participants to win new and used board game prize.

Point of contact and organizer: Jordan Nichols

Come to Black Diamond Games in Concord to playtest some games in development!

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 very appreciated, yet we get walk-ins and those that don't RSVP all the time.

Point of contact and organizer: Velgus

• COST - The store charges $5 to access their regular Board Game Night. Anyone attending board game night may freely participate as a designer and/or player for Board Game Playtesting being run in the same area upstairs.
• PARKING - Free and plentiful parking in adjacent lot.

Come to Next Level Board Game Cafe in Downtown Mountain View to playtest some games in development!

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. New designers or interested playtesters 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: Ronald Melencio

• COST - FREE for all attendees!
• PARKING - Streets nearby and structures FREE after 6pm. Closest is LOT 1 Garage Parking, 13 Bryant St, Mountain View, CA 94041.
• CALTRAIN - Mountain View Station is a straight 7-minute walk away.
• OTHER PUBLIC TRANSIT - VTA and buses are available.

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 (phillip.schwarzmann@gmail.com) or Jim McCollum (james.mccollum@gmail.com) for any questions.

Looking forward to seeing you there!!

Phil & Jim