11 Prototyping Tips with Stuart Jeff
Prototyping is a critical stage in game development as it affects the rest of the development process. Knowing what to accomplish in this phase, how to prepare and transition into the rest of the game’s development can increase your capacity to create better games.
1. Momentum is key
2. Do not paper design.
3. Don’t use real game assets.
4. Don’t use programmer art either because it gets in the way of a lot of people’s enjoyment of the game.
5. A great game is fun even when played with squares.
6. Break down disciplinary walls.
7. Practice non-attachment.
8. Spend as much time understanding why something is working as you do trying to understand something that isn’t.
9. Start with a toolset that you are comfortable with.
10. The only optimization you should be thinking about is how could you iterate on the gameplay faster.
11. Get the game in the hands of others as soon as is practical.
These tips touch upon a variety of subjects such as art, programming, design, production and team management. To see the full list of tips, head on over to the post by Stuart Jeff.
2 Responses to “11 Prototyping Tips with Stuart Jeff”
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From my experience at PreviewLabs, I’d recommend the following as well:
12. Iterate, but only improve what’s necessary
It can be easy to play-test your prototype and find dozens of things that could be improved – and get lost in this. Keep in mind the scope of your project when determining which improvements to make: Is the improvement you’d like to make part of the core gameplay? Does it contribute to the point you want make when pitching your game idea?
Very true! Not only does your tip apply to the prototyping stage but also throughout the whole process of development. Maintaining the focus on the game’s core will surely help you keep everything on track.