Interesting Choices

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

I've created an online prototype for playtesting that has seen almost 2000 games completed with at least a dozen players clocking in at over 100 games apiece. The rapid feedback and iteration cycles enabled by this level of playtesting mean that the game is currently in fantastic shape. Limited play decisions.

Build 40

Build Tile Point and Click Games 40

Brand Game Development

FEBRUARY 17, 2020

If you hate the game you’re playtesting, do something different. Tasty Humans is about monsters fighting humans instead of the other way around, which gets a sick laugh out of everybody who sees the game. Don’t just playtest it and refine the mechanics. This seems obvious, but never lose sight of it.

Game Design 130

Game Design Game Designer Tile Games 130

Sirlin

OCTOBER 20, 2015

If you'd like to learn more about Codex, here's three articles about the game's design: #1 Codex Design: Cards and Gold As Resources #2 Codex Design: Heroes and Tech Buildings #3 Codex Design: Combat and the Patrol Zone Anyway, all those Codex early access sets already shipped out and my patrons often play each other over Skype.

Fantasy 52

Fantasy Fighting Balance Concepts 52

Sirlin

JUNE 13, 2015

I want to show you some of what I'm working (Codex, Flowchart, and a Fighting game) and tell you about Patreon. Patrons helped playtest and also just point out errors or give suggestions how to improve things. Codex, Flowchart, and now.the Fantasy Strike fighting game (yes, really!). Instead.it's fun.

Fighting 52

Fighting Fantasy Art Build 52

PreMortem.Games

JULY 29, 2024

Feedback from playtest sessions with friends or players is really important. I’m not very comfortable with self-promotion, and don’t easily find motivation for things that aren’t contributing directly to the game build.” “I’m One that could run, jump, swing, climb, fly, flip and fight in a fluid way. Especially early-on.

Dev 138

Dev Development Sandbox Indy 138

Ask a Game Dev

MAY 26, 2023

This builds anticipation - leveling up should be something that the player looks forward to doing, and that isn’t possible if leveling up doesn’t actually do anything. Earning a level should be a fairly uncommon experience - players need time for the anticipation of the next level to build or it won’t feel meaningful.

Build 52

Build Playtesting Dev Fighting 52

Brand Game Development

JUNE 11, 2018

You fight to take the throne either through military conquest or economic prowess. Emelie: Exactly, I also think smaller cons are better to build an initial audience as it is easier to spend more time per visitor at the booth and there is more time to demo your game as well. Or overshadowed by larger companies. What to Do at Cons.

Prototyping 130

Prototyping Games Localization Demo 130

Grid Sage Games

MARCH 10, 2022

I must say this has been an exciting time, having the opportunity to revisit everything to iron out as many kinks as possible, in many places adding new build possibilities or even whole new mechanics. Categorical Approach. As an example, by far the most sought after prototype was Lightpack 2.0,

Balance 52

Balance Mechanics Beta Prototyping 52

Rindoku

OCTOBER 7, 2016

Everything would work out as designed if the player started fighting in the new area but of course players will surprise you. You’re working in a bubble for 12 hours a day to get that last build ready for the demo and then suddenly: BOOM! Fix the problems we identified during the playtest. Make the demo bigger and better.

Point and Click 52

Point and Click Dev Demo Playtesting 52

Grid Sage Games

OCTOBER 2, 2022

In fact, I was unsure throughout the entirety of building the system, which made it rather challenging to work up the motivation to power through a lot of what needed to be done (I normally need to see a clear goal to help with that!). Creating a construct and modifying one are two rather different processes. Construct Creation.

Engine 52

Engine Engineering Mechanics Balance 52

Grid Sage Games

JULY 17, 2022

I considered a lot of options here, going as far as thinking of building a new generator from scratch (one that would make encounters much easier to implement), but I liked the established and consistent core theme of existing Garrisons and didn’t want to mess with that.

Beta 52

Beta Content Balance Mechanics 52