In my experience with making games, it's really important to change playtest goals as you work on the design. Here’s why you should keep updating those goals:
Adjusting to Game Changes: As you create and modify your game, things like game rules, graphics, and stories often change too. What you wanted to test at the beginning might not matter anymore by the time you’re getting ready to share your game. By updating your playtest goals, you make sure they match the latest and most important parts of the game. This way, the feedback you get stays useful.
Focusing on Specific Goals: At the start, you might care more about how well the game flows or how fun it is. But as you keep developing, you might want to focus on certain details, like how clear the game controls are or how balanced the characters feel. For example, if earlier tests show that players aren’t enjoying a certain part of the game, you can make a playtest goal to figure out why that’s happening.
Moving Towards Playable Versions: When you’re working with early versions of the game, your playtest goals may be about the main game mechanics. As the game grows and develops, your goals can shift to looking at how different systems work together and how the storyline flows. Knowing when to change your focus keeps your team on the same page and motivated.
Learning from Each Test: Each round of feedback helps you get better each time. By figuring out what works and what doesn’t, you can change your goals to explore problem areas more. For instance, if players find a level too hard, you can set a goal to look into how to balance the difficulty, maybe by asking players for their thoughts on specific challenges.
Improving the Player Experience: Your main goal is to create a game that players love. By updating your goals throughout the design process, you make sure your playtests are always aimed at making the player’s experience better. You can ask the right questions at the right times, leading to valuable insights and a more fun final game.
So, keep your playtest goals flexible. They should change as you learn more about the game and the players. This way, you can gather important insights, leading to a more polished and enjoyable game. Happy game designing!
In my experience with making games, it's really important to change playtest goals as you work on the design. Here’s why you should keep updating those goals:
Adjusting to Game Changes: As you create and modify your game, things like game rules, graphics, and stories often change too. What you wanted to test at the beginning might not matter anymore by the time you’re getting ready to share your game. By updating your playtest goals, you make sure they match the latest and most important parts of the game. This way, the feedback you get stays useful.
Focusing on Specific Goals: At the start, you might care more about how well the game flows or how fun it is. But as you keep developing, you might want to focus on certain details, like how clear the game controls are or how balanced the characters feel. For example, if earlier tests show that players aren’t enjoying a certain part of the game, you can make a playtest goal to figure out why that’s happening.
Moving Towards Playable Versions: When you’re working with early versions of the game, your playtest goals may be about the main game mechanics. As the game grows and develops, your goals can shift to looking at how different systems work together and how the storyline flows. Knowing when to change your focus keeps your team on the same page and motivated.
Learning from Each Test: Each round of feedback helps you get better each time. By figuring out what works and what doesn’t, you can change your goals to explore problem areas more. For instance, if players find a level too hard, you can set a goal to look into how to balance the difficulty, maybe by asking players for their thoughts on specific challenges.
Improving the Player Experience: Your main goal is to create a game that players love. By updating your goals throughout the design process, you make sure your playtests are always aimed at making the player’s experience better. You can ask the right questions at the right times, leading to valuable insights and a more fun final game.
So, keep your playtest goals flexible. They should change as you learn more about the game and the players. This way, you can gather important insights, leading to a more polished and enjoyable game. Happy game designing!