xtremflow/_bmad/bmgd/workflows/gametest/playtest-plan/instructions.md

Playtest Planning

Workflow ID: _bmad/bmgd/gametest/playtest-plan Version: 1.0 (BMad v6)

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Overview

Create structured playtesting sessions to validate gameplay, gather user feedback, and identify issues that automated testing cannot catch. Playtesting validates "feel" and player experience.

Knowledge Base Reference: knowledge/playtesting.md

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Preflight Requirements

• ✅ Playable build available
• ✅ Test objectives defined
• ✅ Participant criteria known

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Step 1: Define Playtest Objectives

Questions to Answer

1. What are we testing?

   • Core gameplay loop
   • Specific feature
   • Difficulty curve
   • Tutorial effectiveness
   • Overall experience

2. What decisions will this inform?

   • Design changes
   • Difficulty tuning
   • Feature prioritization
   • Ship/no-ship decision

3. What metrics will we collect?

   • Completion rates
   • Time-on-task
   • Failure points
   • Player sentiment

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Step 2: Choose Playtest Type

Internal Playtest

Best for: Early validation, bug finding, quick iterations

Aspect	Details
Participants	Team members, other teams
Duration	30-60 minutes
Frequency	Weekly or per-milestone
Setup	Minimal, informal

External Playtest

Best for: Unbiased feedback, market validation

Aspect	Details
Participants	Target audience, external testers
Duration	1-2 hours
Frequency	Monthly or milestone
Setup	Formal, NDA if needed

Focused Playtest

Best for: Specific feature validation

Aspect	Details
Participants	Selected for specific traits
Duration	20-45 minutes
Frequency	As needed
Setup	Specific build/scenario

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Step 3: Create Session Structure

Pre-Session (10-15 min)

1. Welcome & Context

   • Brief game description (no spoilers)
   • Session goals (what we're testing)
   • Comfort check (breaks, questions)

2. Consent & Setup

   • Recording consent (if applicable)
   • Controller/input preferences
   • Any accessibility needs

3. Instructions

   • "Play as you normally would"
   • "Think aloud if comfortable"
   • "There are no wrong answers"

Gameplay Session (30-90 min)

1. Observation Focus Areas

   • Where do players get stuck?
   • What do they try first?
   • What surprises them?
   • Where do they express frustration/joy?

2. Note-Taking Template

   [TIME] [LOCATION] [OBSERVATION] [PLAYER REACTION]
   0:05   Tutorial    Skipped help text    Seemed impatient
   0:12   Combat      Died to first enemy  Frustrated, retried
   

3. Intervention Rules

   • Let players struggle (within reason)
   • Note when you want to help
   • Only intervene for:
     • Critical bugs
     • Genuine distress
     • Session time running out

Post-Session (10-20 min)

1. Immediate Reactions

   • "What was your overall impression?"
   • "What stood out most?"
   • "Would you play again?"

2. Specific Questions

   • Feature-specific feedback
   • Difficulty perception
   • Clarity of objectives

3. Open Feedback

   • "Anything else?"
   • "Questions for us?"

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Step 4: Create Observation Guide

What to Watch For

Category	Signals	Record
Confusion	Pausing, wandering, repeating actions	Location, duration
Frustration	Sighing, repeated failures, quitting	Cause, frequency
Engagement	Leaning in, exclaiming, continuing	Features that work
Boredom	Checking phone, disengaging	Drop-off points

Quantitative Metrics

• Time to complete tutorial
• Deaths per section
• Items/features discovered
• Session duration
• Completion rate

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Step 5: Generate Playtest Plan Document

Document Structure

# Playtest Plan: {Build/Feature Name}

## Overview

- Build version: {version}
- Session date(s): {dates}
- Objective: {primary goal}

## Participant Criteria

- Target: {player type}
- Experience: {gaming background}
- Count: {number}

## Session Structure

### Pre-Session (15 min)

- Welcome and consent
- Setup and preferences
- Brief instructions

### Gameplay (60 min)

- Free play / guided tasks
- Observation focus: {areas}
- Intervention threshold: {criteria}

### Post-Session (15 min)

- Immediate reactions
- Structured questions
- Open feedback

## Observation Guide

{observation_template}

## Data Collection

- Recording: {yes/no}
- Notes template: {attached}
- Metrics: {list}

## Team Roles

- Facilitator: {name}
- Note-taker: {name}
- Technical support: {name}

## Post-Playtest Analysis

- Session debrief: {date}
- Report due: {date}
- Action items review: {date}

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Step 6: Post-Playtest Analysis

Synthesize Findings

1. Pattern Identification

   • What issues appeared multiple times?
   • What worked consistently well?

2. Severity Assessment

   • Critical: Blocks progression
   • Major: Significantly impacts experience
   • Minor: Noticeable but manageable

3. Recommendations

   • Immediate fixes
   • Design considerations
   • Further investigation needed

Report Template

## Playtest Report: {Session}

### Summary

- Participants: {count}
- Completion rate: {%}
- Overall sentiment: {positive/mixed/negative}

### Key Findings

1. {Finding with evidence}
2. {Finding with evidence}

### Recommendations

| Issue   | Severity | Recommendation | Priority |
| ------- | -------- | -------------- | -------- |
| {issue} | {sev}    | {rec}          | {P0-P3}  |

### Quotes

> "{Notable player quote}" - Participant {N}

### Next Steps

1. {action item}
2. {action item}

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Deliverables

1. Playtest Plan Document - Session structure and logistics
2. Observation Guide - What to watch for
3. Note-Taking Template - Standardized recording
4. Report Template - Post-session analysis format

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Validation

Refer to checklist.md for validation criteria.