The Importance Of Video Game Test Play

What Is Playtesting?

Playtesting is one of the most crucial steps in game development. Imagine a scenario: players diving into your game for the first time, discovering hidden bugs or mechanics that developers might never have noticed. It’s a form of user research where real players test your game during development to ensure it meets your goals and delivers an enjoyable experience.

It’s tempting to try solving all potential problems before letting others play, but that’s nearly impossible without actual gameplay testing. Allowing others to play your game offers insights and perspectives that even the most experienced developers might overlook.

Let’s explore why test play is essential for better game development, the types of test players, and how to analyse gameplay tester feedback.

Why It’s Important to Playtest a Game

Having gameplay testers try your game allows developers to refine designs, improve mechanics, and ensure the game delivers the best possible experience. Here’s why it matters:

- See What Players Enjoy: Testers provide critical insights into what works and what doesn’t. Without playtesting, developers miss the opportunity to identify dull gameplay, unappealing UI, or other shortcomings. Feedback helps enhance the player experience.

- Iron Out Issues: Glitches, crashes, and broken controls can ruin an otherwise great game. Playtesting helps identify these problems early, ensuring they’re fixed before launch.

- Balance Game Mechanics: Balancing mechanics to be both challenging and rewarding is one of the toughest parts of game design. Testers can highlight areas where enemies or physics need adjustment to better suit the game’s audience.

- Gain Player Perspective: Developers often see their games differently than players. Test play lets you step into the player’s shoes, understanding how they interact with your game.

Imagine this: Without the sharp eye of a tester, a critical bug could slip into the final product. For instance, during SHADOW WAR’s early testing, players discovered a rare but game-breaking glitch in a key mission—something our team hadn’t encountered internally. Or consider a mechanic that feels fun to the developer but left players confused; it’s through their feedback that we could fine-tune it for clarity and enjoyment. This is why their input is invaluable.

Types of Playtesting

Playtesting can take many forms, each offering unique insights:

- Internal Playtesting: Developers test the game themselves. While useful for finding bugs, it can be biased when it comes to user experience.

- Blind Playtesting: Players test the game without instructions. This method is excellent for assessing user-friendliness and determining if the game is intuitive.

- Focus Group Playtesting: Developers work with a small, selected group of players in controlled settings to gather immediate feedback.

- Open Playtesting: Large-scale testing with the public. This approach is particularly beneficial for multiplayer games.

Each method serves a purpose, and using a mix of these ensures comprehensive feedback.

Analyzing Player Feedback

After playtesting, analyzing feedback effectively is key to improvement. Record gameplay sessions, conduct surveys, and identify patterns in the feedback. Focus on these factors:

1. Frequency: How often is the issue reported?

2. Severity: Does it significantly impact gameplay?

3. Impact: How does it affect the game’s overall quality?

Real-time feedback is invaluable. Watching how players react during playtesting can reveal immediate issues or unexpected interactions. For example, if players struggle with a control mechanic during a test session, it’s a sign to revisit that feature.

Why Playtesting Was Important For SHADOW WAR

In April of 2024, SHADOW WAR held its first global playtesting event. Players from around the world provided real-time feedback, uncovering over 26,000 interaction points within the first hour alone. This feedback allowed us to address critical issues and fine-tune game mechanics to create an experience that resonates with our audience.

Following this success, we embarked on an intensive playtest period over the following six months:

- Over 40 playtests conducted

- Participation from more than 1,000 players

- Over 2,000 hours of gameplay tested

Part of this process saw us work with over 20 leading gaming communities, including Paladins DAO, who had this to add: 'As a community of gamers, we see first-hand the importance of playtests for projects. This process allows them to test the game while simultaneously rolling out and refining new features still under development. It has been great to see how SHADOW WAR is not only using playtests to highlight bugs but also focusing on the player, seeing how they react and engage in the game and then adapt gameplay accordingly.'

Playtesting is the cornerstone of our commitment to excellence. Without your input, creating the best possible version of SHADOW WAR would not be possible. This is why we hold regular playtests—to iterate, refine, and meet both our expectations and yours.

Join the SHADOW WAR Community

Want to be part of the journey? Join us on Discord and X for updates and sign up for our newsletter here. Your feedback could shape the future of SHADOW WAR and together, we’ll build the ultimate gaming experience.