playtested
Tried before release
Playtested is the past tense of playtest—to test a game by playing it before release.
Developers playtest to find bugs, balance issues, or confusing mechanics: We playtested the board game with friends before sending it to the publisher.
The practice is standard in video game and tabletop game development.
Repeated procedural pass
- prototypeFirst functional specimen
- alphaFirst Greek letter
- betaGreek alphabet's second letter
- demoShort trial presentation
pilot · refinement · polishing · tweaking · fine-tuning · optimization · balancing · debugging
Science of motion
- balanceSteadiness or amount owed
- controlsOperates or regulates
- difficultyState of being hard
- pacingRate of movement
tutorials · multiplayer · hitboxes · collision · progression · spawning · economy · matchmaking
Detailed evaluative analysis
- suggestionsProposed ideas or advice
- impressionsEffects on the mind
- observationsNoted perceptions
- reactionsResponses to events
responses · input · notes · comments · recommendations · survey · ratings
Those who play electronically
- playtestersPre-launch game evaluators
- streamersDecorative hanging ribbons
- volunteersUnpaid willing workers
- speedrunnersGamers minimizing completion time
iteration
Repeated procedural pass
demo · pilot · refinement · polishing · tweaking · fine-tuning · optimization · balancing · debugging · patching
mechanics
Science of motion
- balanceSteadiness or amount owed
- controlsOperates or regulates
- difficultyState of being hard
pacing · tutorials · multiplayer · hitboxes · collision · progression · spawning · economy · matchmaking · loadout
critique
Detailed evaluative analysis
- suggestionsProposed ideas or advice
- impressionsEffects on the mind
- observationsNoted perceptions
reactions · responses · input · notes · comments · recommendations · survey · ratings
gamers
Those who play electronically
- playtestersPre-launch game evaluators
- streamersDecorative hanging ribbons
- volunteersUnpaid willing workers
playtesteduntested
Not yet examined
untried · unevaluated · unexamined · unchecked · unproven
playtestedunpolished
Lacking finish or refinement
unrefined · half-baked · raw · rough · rushed