Super Secret Communications, X002Y: Imagine Cup Games
For games: Design, design and then code code code, also determine how playable your game is, a good survey can be found at the bottom of this Super Secret Communications (remember this is just between you and me, really, there aren’t that many people who read this blog). Now the game survey is by Robert Wilson and was for a fully operational game. In your case that may not the situation, but you can pick and choose, in fact you should keep the number of questions to about 10, you pick and choose them.
Then to really dig in:
One person on the Game Design Team should:
Find some friends, not close friends since they most likely will avoid you after this, but now you need to get them to play your game, even at the early stages of design. Talk to them about what they are thinking about, what fun is to them. Write down what they say. Think about it and then ask them again the same questions, except with a slightly different way of phrasing the questions. Write down the answers.
Everyone on the team: should
Now talk to everyone about your game, everyone, find out what they think is fun in a game. Write that down. Once everyone is tired of this line of questioning (which won’t take long), now start asking everyone what annoys them about games.
Keep in mind that you have to ask everyone these questions: What is fun? What annoys them about games? The person working in the office, a professor who is trying to get to their car (maybe a good idea to talk to professors who aren’t giving you a grade), your mother, your father. It is a good idea to ask your Mom and Dad, at least they are stuck with you so they won’t avoid you later in the year.
Once you get to a point where everyone is annoyed with you, this is a sign that you need to do coding. Actually about this time, no one wants to talk to you, so it is likely the only thing you can do that is worthwhile. It’s should just be you and your team, because everyone else is simply tired of your questions, this is a good thing, really. Ok, lonely, but Friday Night you and your teammates could watch Dr. Who on NetFlix! Hey, these are the good times! Or Mystery Science 3000, I love that show. Anyway, now get coding and drawing and finding out what is fun!
Start of the Playability Survey:
1) At any time during the game did you become bored?
a. Yes – if yes, at what point did the game become mundane?
b. No
2) Was there a believable story line within the game?
a. Yes
b. No - if no, please briefly explain
3) Was the end game goal concise and clear?
a. Yes
b. No - if no, please briefly explain
4) Were there enough short-term goals to make the game play enjoyable?
a. Yes
b. No - if no, please briefly explain
5) Would you play the game again?
a. Yes
b. No - if no, please briefly explain
6) Was there a story that unfolded as the game progressed?
a. Yes
b. No - if no, please briefly explain
7) Was the game fun?
a. Yes
b. No - if no, please briefly explain
8) Does the game give you appropriate rewards while playing?
a. Yes
No - if no, please briefly explain
9) Was the pace of the game:
a. Too Fast
b. Too Easy
c. Just Right
10) Was the game challenging enough, but still fun?
a. Yes
b. No - if no, please briefly explain
11) Was the storyline an interesting part of the game?
a. Yes
b. No - if no, please briefly explain
12) Where you able to use tactics or strategies to become better?
a. Yes
No - if no, please briefly explain
13) Where you interested in the characters in the game?
a. Yes
b. No - if no, please briefly explain
14) Was there immediate feedback for your actions?
a. Yes
b. No - if no, please briefly explain
15) Was there an appropriate level of help?
a. Yes
b. No - if no, please briefly explain
16) Where the controls where you expected them to be?
a. Yes
b. No - if no, please briefly explain
17) Where you able to identify your score or status of the goal?
a. Yes
b. No - if no, please briefly explain
18) Could you easily save your game progress and turn off the game?
a. Yes
b. No - if no, please briefly explain
19) Was the game easy to learn?
a. Yes
b. No - if no, please briefly explain
20) Did the sounds in the game provide feedback or enjoyment?
a. Yes
No - if no, please briefly explain
21) Was the interface simple and appropriate for the game?
a. Yes
b. No - if no, please briefly explain
22) Did the art speak to its function in the game?
a. Yes
b. No - if no, please briefly explain
23) Could the game sessions be started quickly?
a. Yes
b. No - if no, please briefly explain
24) Was the progress in the game clear?
a. Yes
b. No - if no, please briefly explain
25) If there are rewards in the game, are the meaningful to the game design?
a. Yes
b. No - if no, please briefly explain
26) Is there an appropriate level of challenge, strategy, and reward?
a. Yes
No - if no, please briefly explain
27) Are there any boring tasks in the game?
a. Yes
b. No - if no, please briefly explain
28) Is the game consistent?
a. Yes
b. No - if no, please briefly explain
End of Super Secret Communications X002Y
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