“The best way to learn games is to play games. The best way to make games is to work.” – Alan Emrich
Your Graded Course Project Game:
Completion, Part I: In-House Playtesting: Last week, you did some Gross Playtesting where you, playing solitaire or with your must trusted playtester / developer, played your Graded Course Project Game to make sure that the larger systems and mechanics in it actually worked together and to find and correct the most egregious errors it had. This should have caused you to iterate new versions of your game rules and components, and thus get the game in better shape.
This week, you move from Gross Playtesting to In-House Playtesting. This is where you don’t necessarily play the game, but you con a few trusted friends and playtesters to give it a try under your direct supervision. That is, you teach them how to play (and can join in, if you like). Again, your goal is to get the game into better shape – developing it to an improved (Alpha) state where you can inflict playing it on blind testers in class during Week 10.
So, this week; bring the ready-for-in-house testing (Alpha) version of your game to class next week. We’re having a (roughly three-hour) playtesting jam session in class and the feedback your fellow students will provide upon playing your game (and your observations of their play) will prove to be very valuable toward making a good game. The instructor will be available during this playtesting period to provide addition comments and award extra credit points to playtesters who make particularly valuable suggestions.
Article: Playtesting by Steve Peek
Steve’s thoughts and my comments about playtesting a board game have important ramifications for your future success as a game designer.
