Rapid, Iterative Prototyping for IGDA 1-27-10

Rapid, Iterative Prototyping

What we’re gonna cover
The prototyping phases
1 st iteration (~ 1 – 2 weeks)
2 nd iteration (~ 1 – 3 months)
Vertical slice
Lessons learned from prototyping our upcoming game, Slam Bolt Scrappers
And occasionally dinosaurs

Who Am I?
I'm Eitan!
AudiOdyssey, Immune Attack
Loves Ice Hockey
Founded Fire Hose, new Boston Indie Studio
Big Nerd

What does prototyping get you?
Can lead to a stronger design + mechanics
Can save you time in the long run
Lets you bail on bad ideas sooner
You'll make more of the costly mistakes up front, when they are easier to fix
You'll learn how to talk about your game

Starting out

Starting out PLAYER INVENTORY 2 Programmers/Designers 1 Designer/Business Small Office $40,000 +2 Wireless Router of Internet, 50% bonus against Orcs

Starting out
Focus on our strengths, temporarily ignore our weaknesses

Scope it right! NO Too Big Perfect Size (Awesome Game, btw)

Start Prototyping Four Days, Three Prototypes Test on the fifth day, and listen to testers Mon Brainstorm Ideas Tues Prototype ideas 1 and 2 Wed Prototype ideas 2 and 3 Thurs Prototype idea 3, polish all Friday Test all Day

Just get it done Art assets? Code base?

1 st Week Demos

1 st Round Prototypes
Anything to get it done fast
Rough or stolen assets OK
Use open source code
Paper prototyping is also OK
Don't forget to play test!

Analyze Testing Results > Take feedback with a grain of salt. Is it viable as a full game?

Start fixing deficiencies Hire artist Begin looking for more $$$

Use Tools, Keeping Records Start With: Graduate To:

Deadlines are your friend Test every week, no matter what! Always have a playable build Mon Work on Game Tues Work on Game Wed Read Comics Thurs Work on Game Friday TEST! TEST! TEST!

Incremental Improvements = Big Progress Neil Armstrong: “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”

Find Creative Solutions Make friends and ask for help + advice!

Do it now, get it right later
Stealing is OK early on, but you want to start replacing stolen assets
Code base can still be throw away

Experiment! Try out different modes (single vs. multiplayer), big features (AI, physics, networking)

1 st and 3 rd Month Demos

2 nd Round Prototypes
Start covering long term problems (team building, finding money)
Start using project management tools
Test constantly, always have playable build, make deadlines and stick to them!
Focus on incremental improvements
Make friends, ask for help, get advice
Just get it done, but start replacing stolen assets
Experiment with weird ideas!

Build the Vertical Slice

Switch to Real Controls
No lazy keyboard controls (debugging shortcuts still OK)

(Finally) Start Real Code Base
Keep overall architecture in mind; you should have a good idea of that by now

Make Tools
Level Editor, Tools for Artists, Config Files

Identify + kill bad ideas

Start Polishing

Make it Sellable! Most exciting part of the game, make some marketing materials if you actually have to sell it

Lessons from Vertical Slice
Start building real code base
Make helpful tools for everyone on the team
Identify and kill bad ideas quickly and ruthlessly
Make it look as sexy as possible
Create something sellable!

When To Stop Prototyping When you've finished the vertical slice, and it is GOOD, it's time to make the full game!

Prototyping Pitfalls
Be careful of ballooning scope
Need to know when to stop prototyping
Avoid ping pong-ing back and forth
Still need design doc, asset list

What does prototyping get you?
Can lead to a stronger design + mechanics
Can save you time in the long run
Lets you bail on bad ideas sooner
You'll make more of the costly mistakes up front, when they are easier to fix
You'll learn how to talk about your game

Closing Thoughts Please don't sue us Ryan North!

Questions? [email_address] www.firehosegames.com www.slamboltscrappers.com FB, Twitter: Fire Hose Games

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Rapid, Iterative Prototyping for IGDA 1-27-10

by firehosegames on Jan 27, 2010

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Rapid, Iterative Prototyping for IGDA 1-27-10 — Presentation Transcript