Game Design Workshop, 3rd Edition

Chapter 7

Prototyping

Prototyping lies at the heart of good game design. Prototyping is the creation of a working model of your idea that allows you to test its feasibility and make improvements to it. Game prototypes, while playable, usually include only a rough approximation of the artwork, sound, and features. They are very much like sketches whose purpose is to allow you to focus in on a small set of the game’s mechanics or features and see how they function.

Many first-time designers would rather jump in and start making the “real” game rather than starting with a prototype. But if you invest the time, you will discover that there is nothing more valuable for improving gameplay than a good prototyping process. When you are making a prototype, ...