Prototypes are often seen as a "version one" of your game, but I think we can do better. Prototyping is a powerful tool, a mindset even, that can guide your development journey, answer critical questions, and ultimately lead to a game that’s more fun, more successful, and more aligned with your original vision.

Your Compass

Game development is an exciting but often unpredictable journey. It's not a straightforward path from idea to release, but rather a series of decisions and discoveries. Prototypes are your compass in this journey, helping you navigate the decision tree, answering questions about design, controls, marketing, and even uncovering new questions you hadn't considered.

The Process

During the development of my game, Polyfury, I prototyped everything – input methods, scoring systems, visual styles, when and where to use random number generation, and even a giant laser that completely changed the game's core mechanics. Each prototype was a focused experiment aimed at answering a specific question.

1. Branch Off: Create a separate branch in your version control system (like Git) for each prototype. This keeps your main project clean and allows for experimentation without fear of breaking anything.
2. Experiment Freely: Mess around, get creative, and don't worry about perfection. The goal is to explore possibilities and gather insights.
3. Get Feedback: Share your prototype with others – friends, colleagues, or even a small group of players. Their feedback is invaluable, having even one person play it in front of you provides excellent insight. Ideally get a recording or test it live in person!
4. Evaluate and Decide: Reflect on the feedback and assess whether the prototype successfully answered your question. Does it enhance the game?
5. Trash the Branch: Okay, you don’t have to actually delete it, but don’t expect to reuse any code. You’ve learned your lessons, you can integrate it into the game in a much better way. This part of the process is the most important in my opinion - by building like this, you have much more freedom to do things quickly. For the prototype, don’t worry about how, just get something in front of people!

This process is surprisingly efficient and low-cost. You don't need fancy assets or weeks of development time. Sometimes a few days of focused work, even on paper, can yield valuable insights. Some worry about "trashing" prototype code after the experiment - the key is disposability, which frees you to experiment without getting attached to code that might not be the “optimal” solution.

Not Just A Phase

Prototyping isn't confined to the early stages of game development. In fact, it's a valuable tool throughout the entire lifecycle of your project, from the initial spark of an idea to the final polish before release.

In the beginning, prototypes help solidify your core concept. You can experiment with different gameplay mechanics, core loops, and even the overall genre of your game.

As your game takes shape, prototyping becomes a way to iterate and refine. You can experiment with new features, level designs, or even monetization strategies. For example, you might prototype a new enemy type or boss encounter, test out different level layouts, or explore various in-app purchase options.

Sometimes, prototypes can lead to unexpected breakthroughs. In Polyfury, my "giant laser" prototype, implemented late in development, transformed the entire game. It was a risky move, but the prototype clearly showed how much more fun the game became with this addition. Don't be afraid to experiment throughout development, as you never know what game-changing discoveries you might make.

Remember: Prototyping isn't about creating perfect, polished content. It's about exploration, experimentation, and making informed decisions based on evidence and feedback. By embracing prototyping throughout your development journey, you can create a game that is not only fun and engaging but also refined and well-balanced.

Prototyping in Practice

• When: Anytime you have a question about your game, or if feedback raises concerns, it's a prime opportunity for prototyping. Don't hesitate to prototype even the most outlandish ideas - in Polyfury, that “wouldn’t it be funny if…” laser turned out to be a game-changer!
• What: You can prototype marketing materials, level designs, and even sound design. For example, create variations of capsule art to see how people perceive your game, sketch rough level layouts to test flow, or experiment with different sound effects to set the mood.
• Team Dynamics: Prototyping on a team can be challenging, but demonstrating the value through working prototypes often wins over skeptics. If a prototype raises more questions than it answers, that's excellent! It means you've discovered an area worth exploring further.
• Mistakes: The biggest prototyping mistakes are not branching off from your main project and trying to write reusable prototype code. Trying to write “good” code in your main project branch puts the breaks on this whole process, the key is speed and flexibility!

Embrace the Prototyping Mindset

By embracing prototyping as an ongoing practice, you'll unlock a world of possibilities for your game. So, go forth and prototype! Start small, experiment freely, and let your discoveries guide you.

Have you experienced the power of prototyping firsthand? Share your most surprising discoveries, your biggest challenges, or your favorite prototyping techniques in the comments below!