Making games is the process, and it doesn’t always work out right the first time, even if the concept and idea behind a game are great. That’s why it’s necessary for designers to iterate and test and tweak the game design until it’s as fun and engaging as possible. But what exactly does it mean for game design to be iterative?
We’re glad you asked because, in this article, we’ll tell you all about the concept of iteration in game design, discussing why it is so important and how it works in practice. Whether you’re a game designer who’s just started to work on his first project or just curious about how your favorite games are made, you’ll find this read interesting!
What Is Iterative Game Design?
As the part “iterative” in the name suggests, it’s a process in which game designers repeatedly create, test, and refine their game design ideas until they achieve a polished and enjoyable game experience. Same as with any product, the process involves several steps, including:
- Designing a prototype (an early version of the game);
- Testing it;
- Analyzing the results;
- Making changes and improvements based on the feedback.
This cycle is repeated multiple times until the game is completely debugged and considered satisfactory for release.
What Are the Advantages of Iteration?
It’s important to emphasize that iteration is a vital part of game development that cannot be skipped. However, there are good reasons why this is the case.
First things first, through iteration, designers have the opportunity to identify and fix issues with the game before it’s too late in the development process. Thanks to this, they can not only save the costs that would be spent on rework but also improve the user experience.
Additionally, iteration often inspires designers to come up with new and creative game ideas. When they are testing their prototypes, they may suddenly think of features that they had not previously considered. As a result, they can create a more engaging gameplay that better meets the needs of their audience.
Finally, iteration allows companies to have a competitive edge over the competition. If they iterate fast, they’ll stay ahead of the curve and appeal to a wider range of users, potentially resulting in higher sales and profits.
Risks of Iterative Game Design
Of course, iteration comes with its own risks, which game designers should be aware of. By knowing what challenges to expect, it should be easier to approach the iterative design process with a clear plan and set realistic expectations. So, here are the common risks:
- Design risk. There’s always a risk that the design of the game, no matter how good the team believes it is, won’t be appreciated by the end user;
- Design implementation. It may also be the case that the team simply doesn’t have the tech talent with the necessary skills to implement more complex game features;
- Market risk. Lastly, there’s no guarantee of a consistent income flow after releasing the game. Even if the game is excellent, if there’s no demand for it in the market, it may not sell.
That’s where iteration comes in, allowing companies to lower those risks and come up with a product that will be loved by gamers.
5 Steps of the Iterative Design Process
Now let’s take a closer look at the process of making a game, focusing on each step of the iteration. In general, the cycle can be broken down into the next 5 steps:
- Conceptualization;
- Prototyping;
- Testing;
- Evaluating;
- Refining.
More on each further in the article.
Step 1. Conceptualizing
Everything starts with an idea. To create a game, there has to be someone who comes up with the game idea first to get the whole process started. It’s not necessary to have a detailed plan when you start conceptualizing because you’ll most likely come up with more details as you move on to the next steps. To begin with, identifying the goals of the game is all you need.
At this stage, game designers often use a so-called method of the “How might we” question. For example, if you’re planning to create a game where cats are fighting with dogs, you could ask yourself “How might we create a game where the scenario where cats and dogs are fighting is possible?” or “How might we create a feeling of tension of fighting so that it feels real?”.
By using a “How might we” question starter, designers can get to the kernel of a game idea and create a one-of-a-kind game design that none has ever seen. Another question that is useful to ask is “What if?”. This is the best brainstorming question that can turn a simple game into a hot hit.
Step 2. Prototyping
When you have identified the goals and objectives of the game, it’s time for prototyping. A prototype is what makes it real, allowing you to see and feel how it will look and identify any issues that could have been improved.
For prototyping, designers can choose any tool they are comfortable with, starting with a piece of paper, quick code, or even their own body movements, if that’s the best way to explain an idea. What matters is that the idea should be understood by everyone on the team and be easily transformed from the conceptual stage to the testing one.
Also of note is that the faster the prototype is created, the faster the game will be made and the higher the chance of being the first on the market. So, it’s important not to overcomplicate things at this stage and focus on the essential features required to make the game usable for early adopters.
Step 3. Testing
Testing is, without a doubt, one of the hardest parts of game design development but also one of the most exciting at that. At this stage, designers can actually try their hand at the game and see if what they thought would be cool is really cool when put into practice.
Testing is no longer about questions. It’s about answers and powerful insights. By playtesting, you can actually see how well the mission “How might we” has been accomplished and if there are any other issues that are yet to be covered. For example, you can find out that the interface of the game isn’t very clear or easy to navigate. Or, that a player can’t track his progress.
You could start testing and find out that the whole game idea failed and nothing works as you expected. Yes, that’s right, this scenario is also possible. That’s exactly why testing is done before the game is shared with the public so its concept can be polished and take a desired shape.
Failure is an integral part of the game development process, or to be more precise any development process, and all teams occasionally experience it, including those with a long track of successful game releases. It often takes a few rounds of conceptualization and prototyping to create a game that passes the test.
Step 4. Evaluating
Finally, when testing is complete, the team evaluates the results. That’s where the feedback from playtesters is particularly important. It’s easy for designers not to notice small details simply because they are more focused on more important things, but it’s the details that make the difference.
For example, you might not have noticed that when your game character upgrades his gun, he doesn’t receive any points. Or, that it’s quite a hard job to collect rewards because some of them are hidden in areas that are too dark to see on certain monitor screens. The evaluation stage allows designers to get objective feedback and observations they may have missed themselves.
Not all feedback is going to be straightforward. Playtesters might not always know how to explain what exactly is not quite right in the game. Therefore, evaluation may take some time before designers figure out what the missing puzzle is.
Step 5. Refining
In the final step, designers make necessary changes and improvements to the game based on the feedback received, which may include:
- Modifying the gameplay mechanics;
- Changing the user interface;
- Tweaking any other elements of the game that can result in a better user experience.
And all the steps are repeated. As we stated earlier, iteration is not a single action. This is a cycle in which games loop through the iteration steps multiple times.
Final Thoughts
Wrapping up, iteration is an important part of successful game development. By embracing the iterative process and constantly refining their designs, game designers can create engaging experiences that capture the hearts and minds of players around the world.
Moreover, through iteration, they can save costs, improve user experience, and stay competitive in the ever-changing gaming industry by introducing new games and new features to the market before their rivals do.
Games can become obsolete very quickly, but not if the team gets hold of the iterative game design.