Eitan Glinert's talk on rapid and iterative video game prototype development given online to the IGDA community on 1-27-10.

1. Rapid, Iterative Prototyping

5. Starting out

6. Starting out PLAYER INVENTORY 2 Programmers/Designers 1 Designer/Business Small Office $40,000 +2 Wireless Router of Internet, 50% bonus against Orcs

8. Scope it right! NO Too Big Perfect Size (Awesome Game, btw)

9. Start Prototyping Four Days, Three Prototypes Test on the fifth day, and listen to testers Mon Brainstorm Ideas Tues Prototype ideas 1 and 2 Wed Prototype ideas 2 and 3 Thurs Prototype idea 3, polish all Friday Test all Day

10. Just get it done Art assets? Code base?

11. 1 st Week Demos

13. Analyze Testing Results > Take feedback with a grain of salt. Is it viable as a full game?

14. Start fixing deficiencies Hire artist Begin looking for more $$$

15. Use Tools, Keeping Records Start With: Graduate To:

16. Deadlines are your friend Test every week, no matter what! Always have a playable build Mon Work on Game Tues Work on Game Wed Read Comics Thurs Work on Game Friday TEST! TEST! TEST!

17. Incremental Improvements = Big Progress Neil Armstrong: “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”

18. Find Creative Solutions Make friends and ask for help + advice!

20. Experiment! Try out different modes (single vs. multiplayer), big features (AI, physics, networking)

21. 1 st and 3 rd Month Demos

23. Build the Vertical Slice

27. Identify + kill bad ideas

28. Start Polishing

29. Make it Sellable! Most exciting part of the game, make some marketing materials if you actually have to sell it

31. When To Stop Prototyping When you've finished the vertical slice, and it is GOOD, it's time to make the full game!

34. Closing Thoughts Please don't sue us Ryan North!

35. Questions? [email_address] www.firehosegames.com www.slamboltscrappers.com FB, Twitter: Fire Hose Games