The document discusses playtesting methodologies tailored for indie game studios, focusing on improving player experience through user research. It emphasizes key factors for effective playtesting, including defining processes, establishing participant databases, and providing developer training. The authors call for further exploration into addressing the unique needs of indie developers for better resource allocation in playtesting.

1. Playtesting for Indie Studios
Pejman Mirza-Babaei, Ph.D.,
Brandon Drenikow
Naeem Moosajee, M.Sc.
@naeemmoose
naeem.moosajee@gmail.com

2. Me
o Focus on taking methods and techniques learned in
industry and developing techniques indies can u7lize
o Research focused on Games User Research
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3. Agenda
Intro
Methods &
Approach
Games
Tested
Takeaways
Next Steps

4. Execution Labs 4
o XL is a hands-on early stage investor in game studios

5. Games User Research 5
o Games User Research focuses on players’ psychology
and their behaviour via techniques such as
playtes7ng, analy7cs, expert analysis, and others.
o Game User Researchers aim to help game developers
deliver players the best gaming experience possible.
h"p://gamesuserresearchsig.org/what-is-gur/

6. Approach 6

7. Summary
o 6 different commercial games
o 11 playtest case studies
o 118 par7cipants in total
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8. Five Key Factors - Tips
o Influencing playtes7ng for indie studios
1. Playtes7ng process
2. Playtest focus and methods
3. Playtest lab setup
4. Building par7cipants database
5. Developers playtes7ng training
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9. (1) Playtesting Process
o Process should define
• Design of playtes7ng stages
• Number of par7cipants, 7me playing, number of
researchers needed etc.
• Analysis and repor7ng
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10. (2) Playtest Focus & Methods
o What to evaluate?
o What ques7ons do you want me to answer?
o What is your design intent?
o FTUE and RITE
o First hour experience and onboarding phase
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11. (3) Playtest Lab Setup
o Dedicated lab vs ad hoc
setup
o Observa7onal data
• Video game capture
• Microphone recording
• Webcam recording of faces or
input interac7on
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12. (4) Building Participants Database
o Large diverse par7cipant pool
o Online form with demographic data
• On which pla^orm do you usually play?
• How many hours per week do you spend playing video
games on consoles or PC?
• What are your favorite gaming genres and themes?
• At which frequency do you play video games on tablets or
smartphones?
• What are your favorite mobile gaming genres and themes?
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13. (5) Developer Training
o Workshops to train developers
o Sessions on how to:
• Conduct an interview / focus group
• Create a survey
• What telemetry hooks are important to track
• Selec7ng par7cipants
• Colour, shape and signs for Usability
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14. Next Steps
o Playtes7ng can help
• Resources are not always available
o Focus on how to address indie needs
• More explora7on needed
• Indie development 7meframe
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15. Questions?
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