playtest
Pre-release game evaluation
To playtest is to test a game by playing it, typically before release.
Developers playtest to find bugs, balance issues, or confusing mechanics.
The noun is the session itself: We ran a playtest with focus groups last week.
Playtesters are often recruited from target audiences to provide fresh perspectives on gameplay.
First functional specimen
- iterationRepeated procedural pass
- alphaFirst Greek letter
- betaGreek alphabet's second letter
- balancingAchieving equal distribution
mechanics · ruleset · tweaking · debugging · playability · usability · polish · tuning
Systematic data collection
- responsesAnswers or reactions
- impressionsEffects on the mind
- bugsSmall crawling creatures
- glitchesMinor system malfunctions
suggestions · comments · critique · focus-group · participant · observer · notes · questionnaire
Game participants
- testersThose who assess quality
- facilitatorNeutral process guide
- moderatorOne who presates proceedings
- demoShort trial presentation
hands-on · walkthrough · onboarding · tutorial · fresh-eyes · round · run-through
Formal evaluation of worth
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- scoringEarning points in competition
- ratingAssigned evaluative score
- observationAttentive watching or remark
examination · metrics · data · pacing · flow · frustration · accessibility · learnability
prototype
First functional specimen
balancing · mechanics · ruleset · tweaking · debugging · playability · usability · polish · tuning · refinement
survey
Systematic data collection
- responsesAnswers or reactions
- impressionsEffects on the mind
- bugsSmall crawling creatures
glitches · suggestions · comments · critique · focus-group · participant · observer · notes · questionnaire · debrief
players
Game participants
- testersThose who assess quality
- facilitatorNeutral process guide
- moderatorOne who presates proceedings
demo · hands-on · walkthrough · onboarding · tutorial · fresh-eyes · round · run-through
assessment
Formal evaluation of worth
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- scoringEarning points in competition
- ratingAssigned evaluative score
observation · examination · metrics · data · pacing · flow · frustration · accessibility · learnability · replayability
- game developmentgame engine, game design, game engines, game designer, rendering
- meetingsmeeting, AGM, meet, attendee, meetings
- previewspreview, movie trailer, book excerpt, sneak peek, teaser
playtestfinal release
Completed production version
gold master · finished product · live version · launch · ship