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Playtest



 
 
A playtest is the process by which a game designer tests a new game for bugs and improvements before bringing it to market. Playtests can be run "open," "closed," "beta," or otherwise.

Playtests are very common with computer games, board games and role-playing game
Role-playing game

A role-playing game is a game in which the participants assume the roles of fictional characters. Participants determine the actions of their characters based on their characterization, and the actions succeed or fail according to a role-playing game system of rules and guidelines....
s, where they have become an established part of the quality control
Quality control

In engineering and manufacturing, quality control and quality engineering are used in developing systems to ensure product s or Service are designed and produced to meet or exceed customer requirements....
 process.

An open playtest could be considered open to anyone who wishes to join, or it may refer to a game company's recruiting testers from outside.






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A playtest is the process by which a game designer tests a new game for bugs and improvements before bringing it to market. Playtests can be run "open," "closed," "beta," or otherwise.

Playtests are very common with computer games, board games and role-playing game
Role-playing game

A role-playing game is a game in which the participants assume the roles of fictional characters. Participants determine the actions of their characters based on their characterization, and the actions succeed or fail according to a role-playing game system of rules and guidelines....
s, where they have become an established part of the quality control
Quality control

In engineering and manufacturing, quality control and quality engineering are used in developing systems to ensure product s or Service are designed and produced to meet or exceed customer requirements....
 process.

An open playtest could be considered open to anyone who wishes to join, or it may refer to a game company's recruiting testers from outside. Closed is an internal testing process not available to the public. Beta testing normally refers to the final stages of testing just prior to going to market with a product and is usually run semi-open with a limited form of the game in order to find any last-minute problems.

The playtest concept has even carried over into a full-fledged sport. Jim Foster
Jim Foster

Jim Foster is the founder and first commissioner of the Arena Football League. He is also a former National Football League and United States Football League corporate officer and was later the principal owner of the New York Dragons....
, inventor
Inventor

An inventor is a person who creates or discovers a new method, form, device or other useful means. The word inventor comes form the latin verb invenire, invent-, to find....
 and founder of the Arena Football League
Arena Football League

The Arena Football League was founded in 1987 in sports as an American football arena football. The AFL's attendance increased dramatically over its last few years, rising to an average of 12,415 people per game in 2007, and 12,957 per game in 2008, but the increases were accompanied by greatly increased expenses and debt, leading to the can...
, tested his concept of indoor football
Indoor football

Indoor football is a variation of American football with rules modified to make it suitable for play within indoor arenas....
 in a special one-time game in 1986. The Rockford Metros and the Chicago Politicians, played the game in Rockford, Illinois
Rockford, Illinois

Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Rockford is often referred to as "The Forest City" and is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, United States....
. The test proved successful, and four teams began the league's first season the following year.

See also

  • Quality control
    Quality control

    In engineering and manufacturing, quality control and quality engineering are used in developing systems to ensure product s or Service are designed and produced to meet or exceed customer requirements....
  • Software testing
    Software testing

    Software Testing is an empirical investigation conducted to provide stakeholders with information about the quality of the product or service under test , with respect to the context in which it is intended to operate....
  • User acceptance testing