Skip to Content
 

How do you do your playtesting - Quick Survey

9 replies [Last post]
JohnBrieger
JohnBrieger's picture
Offline
Joined: 11/04/2016

I'm doing a little research for some upcoming analysis on different playtesting practices. I try to write fairly regularly about playtesting and think there'll be some great insights from this next bit of work.

It would be awesome if some BGDF people participated.

If you are interested in participating, please take the following (quick) survey:

Survey Link

I post pretty often about playtesting on BGDF so interestied in learning more about how ya'll test your games!

I think the results will be super interesting, and I'll be sharing them back out in a few weeks.

The Professor
The Professor's picture
Offline
Joined: 10/25/2014
Good luck!

I've just completed the survey...best of luck with your analysis.

JohnBrieger
JohnBrieger's picture
Offline
Joined: 11/04/2016
Thanks!

I'm already starting to see some really interesting trends (though I'll need a larger sample size before I can say anything for sure)

X3M
X3M's picture
Offline
Joined: 10/28/2013
Mine is a hobby, nothing more.

I was interested in participating. But the survey is clearly meant for the real deal.

The question of for who I was designing got me going on. "Family and friends". But later on, I thought that the information would be of no use at all to you. It sounded like you are only asking the true professionals.

Where does a never ending evolution of a game fit in all of this? Mine is a hobby. I play, and it is a test in one. We discuss parts that are new. And change accordingly. It will never end, or it would have years ago.

Perhaps changing some questions of average, into a minimum and maximum. Example: the question about an average play test time and the average gaming time of a game. Have you thought of the possibility that games can have different modes? Or that there is a lot of variation in time? Due to this, I can play 20 minutes, but "3 days" is also an answer. The same goes for the testing. Sure I have an average of 150 minutes. But it doesn't tell you how big or small the game can be if something might go well or wrong. I got my times recorded on paper and the reasoning behind them.

On the other side. I do understand that you wanted to keep the survey simple and clean.

I didn't finish the survey. I stopped at halfway page 3. I don't feel like my results belong in there. And if they did, you would receive an absolute minimum of a guy who does this for fun, not a professional.

If you still like me to answer the questions as good as possible. But want the results to be left out. I could pm them instead.

Cheers, X3M

JohnBrieger
JohnBrieger's picture
Offline
Joined: 11/04/2016
would love to have you participate

Everyone's results definitely belong. That's one of the reasons I ask that first question about the goal of your design, because I definitely understand not everyone designs to try to commercially release, or even to release out to lots of people.

In fact, while I'm still at about 1/2 the sample size I need for good margin of error, I can say right now that about 12% of board game designers are making games for purposes other than "release to the general public". (+/-7% due to the fact that I haven't finished the sampling)

For questions that are difficult for you to answer, pick an answer you think best fits the question. e.g. If your game has multiple modes with different play lengths, pick the "default" mode or recommended mode.

X3M
X3M's picture
Offline
Joined: 10/28/2013
All finished

I wish you the best of luck with analysing the results. No doubt that you can pick mine out of the majority.

Cheers, X3M

JohnBrieger
JohnBrieger's picture
Offline
Joined: 11/04/2016
Strong first days

Over 200 responses and still climbing!

If you haven't taken the playtesting survey yet, I'd really appreciate it. Have already started spotting some really interesting trends!

Survey link. (It even opens in a new tab!)

ssm
ssm's picture
Offline
Joined: 04/06/2017
:)

:)

JohnBrieger
JohnBrieger's picture
Offline
Joined: 11/04/2016
Extended the deadline

The survey on designers' playtesting habits is going to stay open until May 7th!

If you haven't contributed yet, it would be amazing if you could take it.

Even better if you could share it on twitter or with any local design groups you are a part of.

Survey link.

JohnBrieger
JohnBrieger's picture
Offline
Joined: 11/04/2016
Final day for this

Last day to participate in some quick research on the way you playtest your games.

If you can share on twitter extra excellent

https://goo.gl/forms/4f0aZe9hwblaKdIu2

Syndicate content


forum | by Dr. Radut