Worried that your game is not quite hitting the mark? Itching for some early insight around how your game is coming together? Then my paid playtesting offer may be right for you.
What happens?
I will play your game at whatever development stage it is at (alpha, beta, vertical slice, or just the portion built to date) on a mid-high-end Windows 11 PC. My playtesting will focus on:
- Content design (the words).
- Interaction design (the menus and user interface).
- Playtesting (how the game feels to play, and does it make sense).
- Accessibility issues.
- Sentiment (fun factor, engagement, and satisfaction).
If you have particular concerns about accessibility, user experience, or usability, I can use various user personas to simulate how different user needs may occur.
What do I get for my money?
There are two standard packages available that cover most developers’ needs. If you’d like a bespoke playtest, please get in touch.
1-hour playtesting package
This is designed to strategically playtest concepts, early gameplay mechanics, or a very specific element of your game design.
- One hour of playtesting, video captured with thinking-aloud feedback throughout the entire experience.
- Playtest uploaded to YouTube as an unlisted video, so only trusted people can view it.
- A detailed report of particular points of note and questions asked, be they positives, negatives, or potential issues around accessibility, content design, or interaction design.
- The ability to ask follow-up questions and clarifications on any points raised during the playtest or report, either through email or a 30-minute video call.
- Sometimes I may offer alternative design solutions or “even better if” suggestions, if that is something you would be interested in. I try not to move into solution mode during a playtest where possible, as more value comes from understanding a player’s thought process and behavioural cues. However, if I then have an “a-ha” moment later, I’ll explain what helped a gameplay mechanic, system, or idea click.
3-hour playtesting package
This is designed for developers looking to understand difficulty curves and players’ understanding of your systems and concepts over time. This package works best for more mature development states, as the feedback is focused on how your game explains
- Three hours of playtesting, video captured with thinking-aloud feedback throughout the entire experience.
- Playtest uploaded to YouTube as an unlisted video, so only trusted people can view it.
- A detailed report of particular points of note. This includes your developer questions, positives, negatives, design clarifications, and things to consider.
- An accessibility audit (accessibility, content design and interaction design issues) if your build is in a mature state.
- The ability to ask follow-up questions and clarifications on any points raised during the playtest or report, either through email or a 30-minute video call.
- Sometimes I may offer alternative design solutions or “even better if” suggestions, if that is something you would be interested in. I try not to move into solution mode during a playtest where possible, as more value comes from understanding a player’s thought process and behavioural cues. However, if I then have an “a-ha” moment later, I’ll explain what helped a gameplay mechanic, system, or idea click.
- A bespoke KANO analysis survey mock-up to help you hone in on what your game’s unique delighters are for wider, more generic playtesting. KANO analysis is a type of product research to understand what really matters to your customers (players).
Playtests can be livestreamed upon request.
The following shortened example demonstrates the kind of feedback a playtest could provide.
The value of focused playtesting
A focused playtest can tease out elements of your game design that work well, block or prevent players from progressing, or discover ways that players use your mechanics that maybe hadn’t occurred to you beforehand. It is great to understand if players are following visual, audio, or logic design cues. It can also confirm that a concept makes sense to a player.
Prices
1-hour playtesting package: £50.
3-hour playtesting package: £110.
Custom packages will be tailored to the individual request.
Payment can be made using PayPal or a bank transfer.
Turnaround time
The initial playtest video and report will be ready in 5-7 days.
The follow-up meeting or email will be determined by our mutual availability.
What do you need before commissioning a paid playtest?
You will need:
- A game that can be sent either using a store like Steam or Itch, or using Google Drive or a file-sharing service.
- Any information that I should already know before I begin the playtest.
- An idea of what to focus on. Some examples include focusing on a specific gameplay loop or mechanic, the difficulty curve, player understanding, uniqueness, or replayability.
- Payment once the service is complete.
My background
I have worked in digital product development, content design, and service design since 2014. Most of my experience has been in the public sector, developing government services, communications, and guidance for those who use them. The products I have supported the development of are used by over 7 million UK households. The content I have written and published impacts over 50 million user journeys a month. If you’ve ever used GOV.UK, you may have experienced part of my work.
My specialist game genres
My gaming experience is wide and varied. My specialist genres are narrative adventures, racing, rhythm, party, and platformer games. You’ll be able to get a feel for the games I play and personally enjoy by browsing my “best of genre” lists.
Things I do not playtest
I do not playtest FPS as I get motion sickness with them and cannot provide a clear critique.
