Playtest 3
Closed Beta Playtest

Due: Not Turned In

As with the alph release, today is another playtesting session. We had intended to ask you to bring a formal test script this time. However, because several groups are still not quite there in terms of testing, we are still going to keep this playtest a bit informal.

We do ask that you bring at least two devices capable of running your prototype. If this is not possible, please contact a staff member before this lab is held.

In preparation for this session, you should write a 5-10 minute test plan. We do not want an in-depth user study experiement. All we want is a script that outlines what the person manning your game station should be doing. This plan should include the following elements:

• Your artifacts (what are you testing?)
• A welcome script (what do you say to the player?)_
• A task or two (what should the player do?)
• A few of questions to ask of the player

To help you in writing your material, you should remember the playtesting lecture from the introductory course. In addition, you might want to look at the following online material:

Testing The Design With Users

This is a chapter from an online text about the basic principals of user testing

Cognitive Walkthrough

This wikipedia entry describes a basic tenant of user testing.

That is all that there is to this session. We are not expecting formal questionairres or rigorous data collection.

Working on the Two-Week Report

The other major activity this week is the two-week report. If you finish playtesting early -- which can happen because technical prototypes are still a bit simple -- you may start work on the two-week prototype. However, we want you to make a good faith effort at playtesting (at least 20 minutes) before starting work on the report.