At What Point Do You Go From Prototype to Play testing

By non-local playtesters, do you mean sending the game away for people to play when you are not present? Or do you mean playing with people outside your family and close friends?

Personally, I generally iterate over a design for a long time before I consider sending it to people to play remotely. For an example, "Invaded", the game that I have been working on most over the last year or so, was on prototype version 16 before I sent it to anyone to play remotely.

I took the same game to be played with a group of game designers at a meetup that I attend most months, on its 2nd iteration, and took it for more open testing at a convention on version 8.

Other games get treated on a case by case basis. Basically I tend to do as much testing with me in the room as I can and iterate a lot, gradually improving the game. Occasionally I share print & play files online, and sometimes I get copies from that, but mostly I concentrate on the local work until I feel we're just about done.

Good luck with your game.

Rob

Test it 100 times with local play testers first. I highly recommend the folloowing articles for the subject of play testing:

http://www.boardgamedesignlab.com/playtesting/

And also in particular, this article answers your question about what is called "Blind Play Testing":

https://www.dancinggiantgames.com/blog/when-is-your-game-ready-for-blind...

Here is a non-exhaustive list of Game Consultants that you can hire (not sure about the pricing structure ... but it's a start).

http://www.jamesmathe.com/hitchhikers-guide-to-business-consultants/

Many of those people are Developers or Playtesters. Take "Tyson Mertlich" (aka Game Smiths)... They are a group of playtesters that you can submit your game to and they'll do a few runs of your game. There is a minor fee and if you want your "prototype" back that'll cost you extra (the price for return mailing the prototype).

There are a bunch of people on that list that consider themselves "Developers"... So I would go through that list and pick out a few and send them e-mails. And ask questions about their Development experience too.

Again another "resource" to help you maybe find what you might be looking for. Cheers!

When your local group no longer provides any meaningful feedback leading to changes is a sure sign to expand your playtest group (unless you think you are ready to try and publish / get published without further testing...............