Game Design & Analysis - Player Centered Design and Playtesting
It can be difficult to design games for someone that is not you. Even if you like the same kind of games, you might still have very different playing styles and content preferences. Thankfully, through player-centered design and playtesting, you can make sure that your game will appeal to your target audience. Bob explains all about it in this video.
CONTENT
0:29 The history of Player-Centered Design and connection to HCI
1:24 Defining usability and the introduction of enjoyment to it
3:39 Introducing Blast From The Past
6:50 Intergenerational Knowledge Transfer as a Design Challenge
7:40 The 4 Tenants of the P-III Framework
9:30 Concept Design: User and Task Analysis
10:40 Concept Design: Participatory Design
11:55 Concept Design: Concept Definition
12:48 Game Design: Storyboarding and Focus Groups
13:32 Game Design: Paper Prototyping and Playtests
15:22 Game Design: Design Document
15:52 Game Development
16:44 Playtesting Example Video
18:45 Takeaway 1: Natural Setting
19:13 Takeaway 2: Playtesting Parts
19:35 Takeaway 3: Using a Script
20:03 Asking the right questions
20:15 Using scientific method
20:49 Think Aloud Example Video
21:41 Takeaway 4: Test your test
22:04 Takeaway 5: Be critical
23:13 Playtesting is hard
23:55 Wrap-up Time with Reggie
FURTHER WATCHING AND READING
De Schutter, B. (2021) "Game Design and Analysis - MDA and Player Motivation". [Video]. Youtube. Retrieved from • Game Design & Analysis - MDA and Player Mo...
Delventhal, W. (2019). What Cats can teach you about empathic design. GDC2019. [Video]. Youtube. Retrieved from • What Cats Can Teach You About Empathic Gam...
Fullerton, T. (2008) "Game Design Workshop: A Playcentric Approach to Creating Innovative Games." Elsevier Morgan Kaufmann. Available here: https://www.amazon.com/Game-Design-Wo...
Vanden Abeele et al. (2011). "P-III: A Player-Centered, Iterative, Interdisciplinary and Integrated Framework for Serious Game Design and Development". Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol. 1, no. 280, pp. 82–86. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/chapter/10....
SUGGESTED TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION
What other scientific methods can you use to improve your game design?
What are the qualities you are looking for in a good participant for a playtest?
What would be a difficult game to playtest and how do you overcome these issues?