Design, Playtesting, and Launch Planning

This unit focuses on integrating core game mechanics, progression, world design, and art style with player-centered research to create compelling, balanced gameplay experiences. Students will also plan scope, playtesting, production needs, and basic marketing/publishing strategies needed to prepare a prototype for launch.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze how mechanics, progression systems, social systems, and art style interact to affect player engagement and game balance, using specific game examples and proposed adjustments
• Apply design guidelines and audience research to produce a scoped game concept that documents world design, target player personas, chosen art tools/software, and core gameplay loop
• Demonstrate a playable production plan by developing a playtesting strategy (types, recruitment, metrics), iteration schedule, and scope-management checklist for a prototype
• Evaluate marketing and publishing options using player motivation data and analytics to recommend distribution platforms and a basic marketing/blog outreach plan for launch