Playtesting is a critical phase in game design & development, providing valuable insights into how players interact with your game. By gathering feedback from real players, you can identify issues, refine gameplay mechanics, and enhance the overall player experience. This article explores the importance of playtesting and offers practical tips on how to conduct effective playtest sessions.

What is Playtesting?

Overview:

Playtesting involves observing players as they interact with your game and collecting feedback on their experience. It helps developers understand how the game is perceived, identify potential issues, and make necessary adjustments.

Key Objectives:

• Identify Bugs and Glitches: Discover technical issues that need fixing.
• Evaluate Gameplay Mechanics: Assess the effectiveness and balance of game mechanics.
• Gauge Player Enjoyment: Determine how enjoyable and engaging the game is.
• Gather Feedback: Collect suggestions for improvements and enhancements.

 

Types of Playtesting

1. Closed Playtesting

Overview:

Closed playtesting involves a small, controlled group of testers, often consisting of friends, family, or colleagues. It provides an initial round of feedback before broader testing.

Key Features:

• Limited Access: Only selected individuals can participate.
• Early Feedback: Helps identify major issues early in development.
• Direct Interaction: Close interaction with testers for detailed feedback.

2. Open Playtesting

Overview:

Open playtesting, or beta testing, invites a larger group of players to test the game. It provides a broader range of feedback and helps identify issues that may not have been apparent in closed testing.

Key Features:

• Wide Access: Open to a larger audience, often through public sign-ups.
• Diverse Feedback: Insights from a diverse group of players.
• Real-World Testing: Simulates real-world conditions and usage.

Designing Effective Playtest Sessions

1. Set Clear Objectives

Overview:

Define what you aim to achieve from the playtest. Focus on specific aspects of the game, such as mechanics, difficulty, or user interface.

Key Points:

• Specific Goals: Outline the objectives for each playtest session.
• Targeted Feedback: Focus on gathering feedback relevant to your goals.
• Clear Instructions: Provide testers with clear instructions on what to evaluate.

2. Choose the Right Testers

Overview:

Select testers who represent your target audience. Their feedback will be more relevant and valuable in improving the game.

Key Points:

• Demographics: Consider age, gaming experience, and preferences.
• Diverse Perspectives: Include a mix of new and experienced players.
• Engagement: Choose testers who are willing to provide detailed feedback.

Collecting and Analyzing Feedback

3. Use Surveys and Questionnaires

Overview:

Surveys and questionnaires are effective tools for collecting structured feedback from testers. They help gather quantitative and qualitative data on various aspects of the game.

Key Points:

• Standardized Questions: Use consistent questions for comparative analysis.
• Open-Ended Questions: Allow testers to provide detailed feedback.
• Rating Scales: Quantify feedback with rating scales (e.g., 1-5).

4. Conduct Observation Sessions

Overview:

Observing players as they interact with the game provides real-time insights into their behavior and challenges. It helps identify issues that may not be captured through surveys alone.

Key Points:

• Passive Observation: Watch without intervening to understand natural behavior.
• Active Observation: Interact with players to clarify observations and gather immediate feedback.
• Record Sessions: Use video recordings to review and analyze player interactions.

Iterating Based on Feedback

5. Prioritize Issues

Overview:

After collecting feedback, prioritize the issues based on their impact on the player experience. Address critical issues first to ensure a smooth and enjoyable gameplay experience.

Key Points:

• Severity Levels: Categorize issues as critical, major, or minor.
• Impact Assessment: Evaluate the potential impact on player satisfaction.
• Resource Allocation: Allocate resources to address the most pressing issues.

6. Implement Changes and Retest

Overview:

Implement the necessary changes based on the feedback received and conduct additional playtesting to validate the improvements. Iteration is key to refining the game.

Key Points:

• Continuous Improvement: Regularly update the game based on feedback.
• Retesting: Conduct multiple rounds of playtesting to ensure all issues are resolved.
• Player Communication: Keep testers informed about updates and changes.

Tools and Resources for Playtesting

7. Playtesting Platforms

Overview:

Utilize online playtesting platforms to reach a broader audience and gather feedback efficiently. These platforms provide tools for distributing the game, collecting feedback, and analyzing data.

Key Platforms:

• PlaytestCloud: Designed for mobile games, offering remote playtesting services.
• Beta Family: A community of beta testers for mobile apps and games.
• GameAnalytics: Provides analytics tools for understanding player behavior.

8. Feedback Analysis Tools

Overview:

Use feedback analysis tools to organize, categorize, and analyze the data collected from playtesting sessions. These tools help identify patterns and prioritize issues.

Key Tools:

• SurveyMonkey: For creating and analyzing surveys.
• Google Forms: A free tool for collecting and organizing feedback.
• Trello: For managing tasks and tracking feedback implementation.

 

Conclusion

Playtesting is an essential part of game design & development, providing invaluable insights into how players interact with your game. By conducting effective playtest sessions, collecting and analyzing feedback, and iterating based on that feedback, you can refine your game and ensure a smooth and enjoyable player experience. Embrace the playtesting process to create games that resonate with players and stand out in the competitive gaming industry.

Ready to take your game designing & development to the next level? Start playtesting today and gather the feedback you need to make your game a success!