feedback

How to be a Helpful Playtester

How to be a Helpful Playtester

We’re hard at work testing all the missions in Far Away: Corporate Espionage. Whether it’s our local fans testing with cards from my printer or our excellent community testing the demo PNP, we need all eyes on the game to make sure it lives up to the promises of the crowdfunding campaign. Recently, I’ve found myself conscripting people who haven’t playtested a board game before. While the raw experience is most important, I can’t help but to think of some guidance for these people to get and give the most during the tests. Here are a few tips for anyone playtesting a game that ensure everyone walks away feeling great.

BGG Comments and How We Think about Them

BGG Comments and How We Think about Them

I check Board Game Geek frequently. It’s probably not healthy. Still, I want to know how my games are doing. Does someone have a rules question? Better answer it. Did someone upload a new photo? Cool, I love the modifications people do to Far Away. Did someone leave a nice review or rating? What a wonderful feeling. Did someone leave a terrible review? Time to obsess about it!

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Playtesting - Feedback

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Playtesting - Feedback

Sharing a board game you are designing with other people is an intense experience. You are showing something personal, a piece of art, with the world. The inherent challenge is the need for critique. As we previously discussed, a game needs real players moving pieces and developing strategies for the designer to see how their ideas are interpreted. You need their feedback. However, playtesters have a different relationship with the game. They provide valuable insight, but filtered through their prior knowledge and biases. Refining your game based on these comments is as much of an art as the initial design.