More Rapid Prototyping for Game Developers · 1595 days ago

A great article on rapid prototyping was just posted on gamasutra:
How to Prototype a Game in Under 7 Days

From the article:

Rapid prototyping is more than just a useful tool in pre-production – it can be a way of life! This section will show how to set up and begin thinking like a rapid prototyper.

After my own experience trying to make a game in a day, I’ve been able to take these sorts of ideas and make a ton of rapid progress on my game UnEarthed Gods. I’m convinced and turned onto the mindset. It’s a way of working I find much more enjoyable. For me, it is a sort of letting go and not worrying so much about whether I’m doing the right thing or not. Whether through habit, fear of failure, or nature, I tend to over think things too much. Many times it’s so much easier and faster to just try an idea out. I think a lot of you work this way naturally already, I’m glad to join you.

There’s a section at the end of the article that talks about general gameplay ideas that’s particularly well written. We get far too many serious articles on gameplay and design. I hope others writers let themselves have more fun. The ideas are serious, but the presentation doesn’t have to be starch pressed and ready for scientific conference presentation.

After you read the article…or before…go and check out the games they made with this mindset. The Swarm is extremely satisfying (I wonder if that makes me a bad person), and On a Rainy Day is sublime (if extremely bizarre).

It’s interesting I think that both games would be no where as enjoyable if it wasn’t for the audio. The music sets a perfect tone.

Throwing caution to the wind,

-Clint



  1. the experimental gameplay site seems down right now, but the games are mirrored here: http://www.etc.cmu.edu/projects/experimentalgameplay/
    — orion    Oct 27, 08:15 PM    #

  2. thanks orion
    — Clint    Oct 27, 08:21 PM    #