About us
Golden Gate Gamemakers is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that brings together board game creators and players in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Together we run 200+ events a year all over the Bay Area, including: San Francisco, San Jose, Berkeley, Oakland, Redwood City, Palo Alto, Dublin, Fremont, Santa Cruz, Mill Valley, Petaluma, Concord, Mountain View, and more!
We support playtesting, co-working, promotional, and educational opportunities for tabletop gamemakers, as well as interested players. Help local designers make great games and have fun doing it!
Whether you are a first time or veteran game designer, industry professional, tabletop game enthusiast, casual player, or just want to check things out, we welcome you to our events and are happy to share our knowledge.
If you have any questions, please message @Velgus or your event host, or contact through our website.
Our Code of Conduct:
Code of Conduct - Living Document
Our Website:
Golden Gate Gamemakers
Our Discord:
Golden Gate Gamemakers
Upcoming events
150
Sunday Board Game Playtesting at Game Kastle Redwood City
Game Kastle (Redwood City), 340 Walnut St, Redwood City, CA, USCome to Game Kastle in Redwood City to playtest some games in development! This event is twice a month, every two weeks on Sunday 1pm-6pm.
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.
Point of contact and organizer: Andrew, Lucas, Ting
- COST - Free! Though you are encouraged to shop at Game Kastle if you have any gaming needs.
- PARKING - Free plentiful shopping center parking.
See GGG's full code of conduct here.
Up-to-date details and our many other events can be found at meetup.com/playgoldengate
11 attendees
Board Game Playtesting at Victory Point Cafe Berkeley - 3rd Mondays
Victory Point Cafe, 1797 Shattuck Ave. Ste A, Berkeley, CA, USCome to Victory Point Cafe in Berkeley to playtest some games in development! This event is twice a month, 1st Wednesdays and 3rd Mondays, and exists as two separate listings on our meetup.
This is a relaxed chance to try new board / card / tabletop games, get feedback on your own prototypes, and learn about 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 and out any time and participate as much as you'd like, and just observing is fine too. RSVPing is appreciated but not required.
Organizers: Glenn and Velgus
- COST - Participants may pay the regular $12/person reserved gaming fee or waive it by buying at least two menu 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.
See GGG's full Code of Conduct here.
Up-to-date details and our many other events can be found at meetup.com/playgoldengate.
4 attendees
Board Game Playtesting at Crooked Goat Brewing Petaluma - 3rd Mondays
Crooked Goat Brewing, 110 Howard St, Petaluma, CA, USCome 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 learn about 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 and out any time and participate as much as you'd like, and just observing is fine too. RSVPing is appreciated but not required.
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.
See GGG's full code of conduct here.
Up-to-date details and our many other events can be found at meetup.com/playgoldengate
7 attendees
Board Game Playtesting - Online!
·OnlineOnlineThe Golden Gate Gamemakers would like you to join us ONLINE to playtest board games in development!
When: The last Monday of each month from 7-10 pm PT we host an evening of virtual board game playtesting.
Where: Join the GGG Discord Server and visit the "Alpaca" and other Room voice channels between 7-10 pm PT.
SCHEDULE
7:10 pm - Presentation on using digital prototyping or playtesting
7:30 pm - General discussion
8-10 pm - Unscheduled playtesting of online prototypes in any of the five available rooms in the GGG server.If you are joining our Discord Server for the first time, you will need to go through the onboarding process and wait 5 minutes before being able to join the Voice Channels along the left bar.
You will need to select a role to join, if you haven't during the onboarding process, go to the top of the left bar, click Channels & Roles and choose a role such as Gamemaker.
Who: We welcome you whether you're a designer with a prototype, an interested playtester, or you'd just like to observe and check things out.
Prerequisites: No experience needed. Connect, play, and give feedback - let's make better games together and have fun doing it!
Web: To lower any barriers, we encourage the use of web-based digital prototypes built on Screentop or PlayingCards IO.
Format: Each session we will rotate through games and share constructive feedback to help designers refine their games. If we don't get to your game, you'll be prioritized next meetup.
RSVP: Appreciated but not required.
Organizers: Greg Pool (Haole Boy Games) and Jason Parmele (The Misplay).
Cost: Our Discord server is FREE to join and use. Digital playtesting platforms like Screentop and PlayingCards IO have basic plans that are free for playtesters and designers.
Rules: GGG's Code of Conduct
More events: More GGG events at meetup.com/playgoldengate
1 attendee
Past events
886
