Process

Iterate

You might say: change, test again

Iteration changes a rule, part or value in response to evidence, then retests the revised system against the target experience.

What it does

Closes the designer loop and keeps learning in the design process.

Ask

What is the smallest change that tests the hypothesis?

Parts

• One-change iteration: Change one important rule or value before the next comparison so the result can be attributed.

Sources

1. Tracy Fullerton, Playcentric Design (ACM interactions, 2008), Playcentric Design, pp. 42–47: do it again after integrating feedbackCalled ‘playcentric’ design, it involves setting interesting player-experience goals, building a rough paper or digital prototype that attempts to achieve those goals, testing the prototype with players, evaluating the results and integrating feedback, and then doing it again.
2. Celia Hodent, Developing UX Practices at Epic Games, slides 31 and 44–45: early testing and faster iterationIt will help you find problems way sooner, so you’ll iterate faster and better, and your game will have more chances to delight your audience
3. Scott Rogers, IGDA Interview Series: Scott Rogers, interview: iterative honing and liquid designlots of iterating and honing of ideas and gameplay.
4. Anders Drachen, Pejman Mirza-Babaei and Lennart E. Nacke, Games User Research, ch. 1 pp. 1–8; ch. 2 pp. 24–29the refinement can be the result of a long and elaborate iteration process that involves feedback about the quality of experience.
5. Celia Hodent, How We Introduced UX to Epic Games’ Production Pipeline (GDC16), Prod36–41 processIt allowed us to go through the design – test – iterate – retest very fast so we could make quick wins.
6. Steve Swink, Game Feel: The Secret Ingredient, The Garden’s Ecosystem; Context; Polish; Conclusion: prototype, tweak, tune and testtweak and tune? Does it feel like you’re building a meaningful skill?
7. Ian Schreiber, Game Design Concepts, Level 16: Game Balance, More Game Balance Techniques; Homeplay: make a change and playtest againM ake at least one change and playtest again
8. Tynan Sylvester, The Simulation Dream, Eclipse Colony design case study: compare candidate designs and continue testingeven this could still change as the game gets tested more.

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