playtests
Pre-release game trials
Playtests are trial runs of a game before its official release, designed to identify bugs, balance issues, and design flaws.
The verb playtest means to conduct such testing: We playtested the board game with friends before sending it to the publisher.
Playtesting ranges from informal sessions among developers to organized beta tests with outside players.
Repeated procedural pass
- prototypingMaking preliminary models
- balancingAchieving equal distribution
- debuggingError removal from programs
- mechanicsScience of motion
alpha · beta · pre-production · usability · build · milestone · polish · tweaking
Those who assess quality
- impressionsEffects on the mind
- commentsSpoken or written reactions
- reactionsResponses to events
- suggestionsProposed ideas or advice
critique · insights · focus-group · debriefing · survey · responses · opinions · observations
Formal evaluation of worth
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- scoringEarning points in competition
- ratingAssigned evaluative score
- metricsStandards for assessment
benchmarking · validation · measurement · examination · review · pass-fail · pacing · retention
iteration
Repeated procedural pass
- prototypingMaking preliminary models
- balancingAchieving equal distribution
- debuggingError removal from programs
mechanics · alpha · beta · pre-production · usability · build · milestone · polish · tweaking · refinement
testers
Those who assess quality
- impressionsEffects on the mind
- commentsSpoken or written reactions
- reactionsResponses to events
suggestions · critique · insights · focus-group · debriefing · survey · responses · opinions · observations · enjoyment
assessment
Formal evaluation of worth
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- scoringEarning points in competition
- ratingAssigned evaluative score
metrics · benchmarking · validation · measurement · examination · review · pass-fail · pacing · retention · satisfaction
playtestsfinal release
Completed production version
gold master · live version · launch · finished product · RTM