In game development, early prototyping allows developers to test core gameplay mechanics, identify potential issues, and refine the elements that will make the game fun and engaging. It’s a great way to see if your ideas work first before they become more complicated to fix. In this post, we’ll dive into why you should prototype early in your development process, how it can help you maintain your vision, and how it contributes to a better game.
What is Prototyping in Game Development?
Prototyping is the process of building a simple version of your game to test its basic mechanics and gameplay. It’s often an early version of your game that focuses on core features without fully fleshed-out assets, art, or additional content. The aim is to quickly test ideas, identify potential issues, and refine gameplay mechanics before you commit significant resources to the project.
Why You Should Prototype Early
1. Identify Potential Issues Early
One of the biggest advantages of prototyping early is the ability to spot issues with your game concept before fully committing to production. Whether it’s a flaw in the gameplay loop, a mechanic that feels clunky, or a design element that isn’t as engaging as you thought, early prototyping allows you to catch these problems before they snowball.
For example, if you’re working on a platformer in GameMaker and you prototype the jumping mechanic, you might realize that the character’s jump feels too floaty or doesn’t have enough responsiveness. By identifying this issue early, you can make adjustments to the physics or movement system before you spend time building out levels and creating assets. This saves you from investing in a feature that won’t work well in the final game.
2. Refine Core Mechanics Before Full Development
Prototyping allows you to refine your core mechanics before diving into full-scale development. It’s much easier to tweak basic systems in a prototype than to revise complex, fully developed systems later. By building a small-scale version of your game and testing it with players, you can identify what works and what doesn’t.
For instance, if you’re creating a combat system, prototyping early lets you see if the mechanics feel intuitive and engaging. You can adjust attack animations, cooldown times, and enemy behavior during this stage, ensuring that these mechanics form a solid foundation for the rest of the game.
How to Prototype Effectively in Game Development
1. Focus on Core Gameplay and Mechanics
When creating a prototype, it’s essential to keep your focus on the core gameplay loop—the repetitive cycle that players will engage with throughout the game. In a platformer, for example, the core gameplay loop could consist of jumping, dodging obstacles, and collecting items. In a puzzle game, it might involve matching tiles or solving puzzles.
Your prototype should prioritize testing these fundamental mechanics. Focus on getting the controls, interaction, and feedback right before worrying about things like story elements, complex level design, or high-quality art.
By focusing on the core loop, you can validate whether your game idea has potential without getting bogged down by the details.
2. Use Placeholder Assets
When you’re prototyping, you don’t need to use completed game assets. A simple rectangle or a rough shape might be sufficient for your characters, and repetitive or rough sound effects might work just fine. At this stage, things are bound to change so you don’t want to spend time on things that might not be permanent. You’re just making sure that the game mechanics work, that the game is fun, and that how you feel while playing it matches your vision.
If you’d rather put in some basic assets anyway, we’ve got you covered for a variety of game genres!
3. Iterate Based on Feedback
Once your prototype is up and running, share it with others! They’ll provide valuable insights into how the game feels, where it’s confusing, or what mechanics might be too difficult or too easy. After you’ve been developing your game for some time, it’s easy to lose sight of things that may be obvious to new players.
Maybe the jumping mechanic feels good, but the character’s movement is too slow… or maybe the puzzle mechanics are too complex for beginners. Take this feedback back to your game, make adjustments, then hand it back. Repeat this process.
Oftentimes, things aren’t as clear to your players as they are to you when you made them. Prototyping early allows you to make adjustments based on real player experiences, leading to a better game later on.
4. Test with Different Audiences
It’s also important to test your prototype with a variety of players. While you have a target audience, don’t just playtest with people who are familiar with game design or your project. Get feedback from people outside the development process who can provide fresh perspectives.
If your game has an unusual control scheme or gameplay style, players who are unfamiliar with it can give you insight into potential usability issues. Testing with a diverse audience will ensure that the game is accessible and enjoyable for a broader range of players.
The Benefits of Prototyping Early
1. Save Time and Resources
Prototyping early helps you avoid wasting time and resources on ideas that might not work. By validating concepts in the prototype stage, you can quickly identify what’s working and what isn’t, allowing you to focus on refining the aspects of the game that have the most potential.
2. Reduce Risk
Committing to full development without testing your ideas first can be risky. If a core mechanic doesn’t work, it could ruin the entire game, forcing you to scrap months of hard work. Prototyping minimizes this risk by allowing you to test ideas in their simplest form before diving deeper into the development process.
3. Boost Creativity and Flexibility
Prototyping encourages experimentation. When you’re not committed to a fully developed game, it’s easier to try out new ideas and take risks. You can prototype a variety of gameplay mechanics or design elements to see what fits best. This flexibility leads to more creative solutions and potentially more innovative gameplay features.
Wrap Up: Prototyping Early Sets You Up for Success
Early prototyping is one of the fastest methods to validate your game. This will allow you save lots of time, minimize risk and build a better end result by testing your core gameplay mechanics, finding bugs, improving ideas early on. No matter what kind of game you are making, be it an indie title or a big AAA project, prototyping brings your attention to the whole experience of the game.
Looking for more game development tips? Be sure to check out our other posts on game design best practices.