PreMortem.Games

SEPTEMBER 28, 2023

All this before there’s ever any playtesting done. It usually starts with a ‘think pad’, which is basically just a google doc where I write down anything to do with a specific game concept. But I think the main lesson is to test more, test sooner, test elaborately and don’t only test for the game’s mechanics.

Dev 104

Dev Puzzle Prototyping Playtesting 104

Grid Sage Games

DECEMBER 22, 2023

In previous years I’ve opened the review with a collage of dev images of varying themes and content, but approaching the end of this year we have one major theme that stands out, and that I’ll be writing more about below, so let’s hear it for the interface mockups! The first three years there are Alpha, followed by Beta.

Beta 105

Beta Alpha Mechanics Build 105

Big Games

DECEMBER 5, 2023

Different teams collaborate – writers shape the narrative, engineers discuss technical details, artists align visuals, and developers plan in-game mechanics. Voice actors breathe life into characters, and developers write thousands of lines of code. Playtesters are vital in finding bugs, glitches, and potential issues.

Game Developer 52

Game Developer Game Development Development Bug 52

Brand Game Development

OCTOBER 23, 2017

I’ll also be writing responses for Will. Sarah: It was also in 2013 that we met Ben and were playtesters for his game Tower , which he launched on Kickstarter early in 2014. Along with handling all the business, Ben has playtested and helped develop our designs. How Ben, Sarah, and Will Got Started. Brandon: Excellent!

Prototyping 130

Prototyping Playtesting Games Game Design 130

Game Global

JULY 12, 2021

You should concentrate on building up your writing portfolio and getting regular game writing work. They’re related, but the difference is this: A game writer’s primary responsibility is to promote the story that the game tells through the scripts they write. Creative writing. Technical writing.

Cutscenes 52

Cutscenes Writing Scripting Localization 52

Brand Game Development

MARCH 16, 2020

You do the game development and playtesting. Publishers have all sorts of vetting mechanisms in place that keep you from going to market with a bad game. That may sound icky, but don’t simply write off the traditional publishing route. If you self-publish, there will be enormous demands on your time. You go find the art.

Games 130

Games Quality Assurance Art Game Developer 130

Brand Game Development

JANUARY 25, 2021

I’ve written before about the usefulness of documenting your playtesting. It contains both pragmatic advice and a primer to the mindset I want you to take into playtesting. In the meantime, clarify fuzzy parts where necessary, write down their feedback, and keep playing. Now your game is ready for blind playtesting.

Playtesting 130

Playtesting Games Mechanics Editing 130

Mnenad

JULY 8, 2018

The Mechanic I. I was looking for suitable solutions for having both views in the mechanic of the game. Having the character and the story set, the mechanic was implemented. I decided in the end for a “scan mechanic” instead of an “photography mechanic” The player has now to find the creatures aka.

Prototyping 52

Prototyping Terrain Open World Rigging 52

PreMortem.Games

NOVEMBER 17, 2023

Then I write down everything I consider relevant into spreadsheets to compare them all. But the process doesn’t end there, and usually I keep discovering things that make me go back and forth and iterate, playtest, iterate, refine, playtest, iterate… I definitely recommend getting feedback from external playtesters at each step.” “I

Dev 156

Dev Playtesting Art Games 156

Radiator Blog

MARCH 16, 2023

This recap post / viewing guide covers only the first half of the series (episodes 01-17) and I'll try to write-up the second half later. Each level also had unique mechanics and art styles that all tied into a cohesive whole. As a public service, I've written a short text summary and some notes for each episode.

Art 59

Art Concepts Dev Studios 59

Deconstructor of Fun

MAY 23, 2023

At that point, Second Dinner revealed that their first project just so happens to be a licensed Marvel IP, which the team has been working on for six months already and is currently beginning to playtest. This intro makes it easy for players to get started and feel comfortable with the game mechanics.

Tile 95

Tile Mechanics Feature Mobile 95

Brand Game Development

JANUARY 2, 2018

With various other developers, I’ve talked about all the different parts that go into making a board game: the core engine , the mechanics , rules , and storytelling / internal narrative. I sometimes use blank cards or write on prototypes if I need to iterate quickly, but that typically only happens at conventions.

Playtesting 130

Playtesting Games Advertising Prototyping 130

Grid Sage Games

MARCH 10, 2022

Mechanics that are never quite worth taking advantage of, items that haven’t lived up to their potential, or were later superseded by other options but remained unchanged, or even long-term experiments that were included at some point but never updated/expanded/removed.

Balance 52

Balance Mechanics Beta Prototyping 52

Grid Sage Games

NOVEMBER 16, 2023

Cogmind generally has fewer such direct escape options, but teleport mechanics are out there, if an advanced tech not usually available until the late game. How about we add one, maybe using this new type of charging mechanism (described towards the end). Controlled Teleporting?

Mechanics 52

Mechanics Concepts Balance Terrain 52

Designer Notes

SEPTEMBER 7, 2023

The programmers writing these games would absolutely make some pitchers better than others at preventing hits because that was how everyone thought baseball worked before McCracken. She writes: After I analyzed the results from this study, I was dismayed to find that playing the game had no effect on positive feelings toward the poor.

Simulation 77

Simulation Agent Game Design Game Designer 77

Deconstructor of Fun

MARCH 14, 2023

Kudos to Neil Long of Mobilegamer.biz for joining the event and writing the notes. You can find edited highlights of each talk below, and videos of each session – just hit play to start watching. He added that he loved the “passion and competition” in Turkey – but noted that he struggles to get two founders together over dinner.

Games 59

Games Cross platform Mobile Mobile 59

Grid Sage Games

JULY 17, 2022

I’m reminded of Beta 11’s spicing up the main complex with Heavies and Cargo Convoys , though in this case it’s not just adding one or two new mechanics but instead about turning Garrisons into proper branch maps in terms of content distribution… Encounter Architecture. …alert level xD. That’s a problem.

Beta 52

Beta Content Balance Mechanics 52

Tom Francis

AUGUST 20, 2019

I’ll write the rules here, but they’ll make more sense when you see it played: If you’re following closely, you might notice I slip up and fail to kill the king of clubs when he should have died, but I re-kill him with the next play so it’s fine. Could just be theme/art/flash, or perhaps a mechanics change?

Games 52

Games Playtesting Prototyping Concepts 52

Brand Game Development

JULY 20, 2020

That’s why I hit him up on Discord with the following message: I’m going to be writing a post soon called “Let’s Set Expectations: Time, Money, Effort.” We’re going to explore why that is so that you get a clear-eyed look at what you’re committing to. Garret is a sharp guy and a good game dev.

Prototyping 130

Prototyping Games Playtesting Dev 130

Radiator Blog

JUNE 30, 2022

L loss or often worse, since cops can exploit the same chain reaction mechanic as the player. In my playtests, it felt like the best tactic is to try to trap the cop in the corner with your body while the AIs coordinate a big orgy that gives you a huge payout. So for example, instead of redeeming two men for a +3.0

Code 52

Code Educational Education Prototyping 52