Short Exercise: What do Prototypes Prototype? – Emilio Rivas

by eerivas | Posted on
  1. What is the optimal pace of gameplay to encourage active participation by all players?
    1. This is an important question to answer as for group/party games, the most fun is achieved when all players are engaged and participating. A paper prototype can be used to answer this question, but it must be interactive. I imagine that shorter rounds would be best for active participation of all players.
  2. Is discourse/discussion among players something that adds to the fun of the game experience?
    1. This is an important question to answer as semi-open-ended discussion may bore players or hinder the flow of the game, but also may add to the more personal experience of the game. A paper prototype can be used to answer this question— one that includes an aspect of discussion among two or more group members. I believe that mandatory/mediated discussion may cause the game to feel slower and players to lose interest throughout the game.
  3. Should game strategy include power-ups/advantages?
    1. This is an important question to answer as it would add to the variability between games/rounds, but may increase the complexity of the game. A prototype that includes special advantages for certain players that earn them can be used to answer this question. My prediction is that a small number of individual advantages can add healthy variability and strategy to the game.

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