Systems, Playtesting, and Launch Planning

This unit develops students’ ability to design balanced game systems, define target players, and choose art and technical tools while managing scope and fun. Students will plan and execute playtesting, analyze player data, and prepare basic marketing and publishing strategies to move a concept toward launch.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze how core mechanics, progression systems, and social systems influence player motivation, balance, and fun by comparing at least three game examples and summarizing implications in a design brief.
• Design and document a cohesive game segment that includes worldbuilding, core mechanics, progression plan, and art-style rationale aligned to defined player personas and scope constraints.
• Evaluate and select appropriate tools, software, platforms, and marketing approaches for a target audience, producing a one-page go-to-market and publishing plan that addresses platform requirements and distribution options.
• Plan and conduct iterative playtesting: create test protocols, recruit and manage playtesters, collect qualitative and quantitative data, and propose at least three prioritized, scope-managed design iterations based on analysis.