In the world of game development, iteration is essential. It’s about refining, tweaking, and sometimes, letting go. Playtesting is an invaluable tool in this process, allowing designers to see their game from a new perspective, identify what’s working, and more importantly, what’s not. Seeing what is NOT working often means either heavily modifying or outright cutting ideas, concepts, or mechanics that just aren’t working.
The Importance of Playtesting
Playtesting is the heartbeat of game development whether it is a board game, tabletop RPG, or video game. It’s where a game comes to life, where theory meets practice, and where designers get to see their ideas in action. It’s also where flaws and imbalances become painfully obvious. Playtesting provides a reality check and serves as a guide, helping designers navigate the complex process of game development.
The first iteration of Atomic Edge was exciting to create. It was nothing but pure potential and excitement. I worked for days, using Sharpies, index cards, and game components cobbled together from other games. I did a few trial runs with myself- mainly to practice explaining the rules and to see if it all made sense. A few weeks later some friends were over and we gave the game a try.
It became unplayable in less than 15 minutes.
All the hours I had put into the game had turned into a nonsense arts-and-crafts project quicker than it took us to finish a bowl of popcorn. But I didn’t lose heart.
Balancing Vision with Reality
As game designers, we start with a vision. A concept that excites us and that we believe will excite others. But a vision, no matter how exciting, needs to be put to the test in the real world. That’s where lots of playtesting comes in. It allows us to see if our vision translates into a fun, engaging, and balanced game. It’s important to remain open to feedback and be willing to adjust our vision based on what we learn.
That first playtest with Atomic Edge was a harsh learning lesson about being open to suggestions and criticisms, and also learning to see through your friend’s overly-nice verbal pats on the back. My initial vision for the game fell apart in mere moments, but I knew there was something there worth pursuing. I kept telling myself “There’s a good game in here somewhere. I just have to find it.”
The vision for your game must be able to flex and bend – but not break. It is difficult to objectively look at what you have done and be brutally honest with yourself about what needs to change – or what needs to go entirely.
The Art of Letting Go
One of the hardest parts of game development is letting go. It’s easy to fall in love with a particular game mechanic or concept, but not everything we love fits into the final product. Sometimes, a mechanic may be too complex, or a concept may not mesh well with the rest of the game. When this happens, we need to be willing to let go. It’s not about discarding our ideas but about refining them, honing them, and sometimes, saving them for another game.
A few playtests later with Atomic Edge, the game started to flow better though it was painfully long. And it was apparent. Playtesters were into the concept and the overall gameplay, but average playtimes were running into the 3-4 hour range and people were losing interest. The game felt like it was on the right trajectory, but there was just too much there. There was far too much for each person to keep track of on each turn. Once again, I had to take a step back and objectively look at the big picture. I had to cut a lot of smaller game mechanics to streamline the process. Without all the extra fluff, the game started to flow much better – and became much more enjoyable to play.
Iterating Effectively
Effective iteration is about making changes, playtesting, gathering feedback, and then making more changes. It’s a cycle that repeats until the game is as close to perfect as it can be. Here are a few tips for iterating effectively:
- Be Objective: Try to see the game from the perspective of a player, not a designer. Never assume something about the game is obvious.
- Seek Out Feedback: Don’t just rely on your own observations. Get feedback from as many different types of players as possible. Encourage honesty
- Be Open to Change: Don’t cling to ideas just because they were part of your original vision. If something isn’t working, swallow your pride and be willing to change it.
- Don’t Rush: Iteration takes time. Don’t rush the process. Give your game the time it needs to grow and evolve.
Conclusion
Game development is a journey, and like any journey, it involves a lot of learning and growing. It’s about balancing vision with reality, embracing the art of letting go, and learning to iterate effectively. So, keep playtesting, keep refining, and most importantly, keep enjoying the process. After all, at the end of the day, we’re all here because we love games.