Are you a spaghetti designer? or "How do you prototype?"

Games
#1

I know that different folks use different prototyping techniques. Some folks like to leap right in and start coding and plopping down art without any planning, while others like to write up design plans, notes, storyboards, the works…

I’m curious… “How do you prototype?”

I sometimes dive in and other times I use a slightly more methodical approach. When I am being methodical, I like to fill out a little questionnaire/worksheet I’ve put together before I start coding and dropping in art.

(Lunar Lander Example)

Again, I’m curious, very curious. Please post your ideas and approaches to prototyping below.

Thanks!

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#2

Hey Ed, Great topic!

When I get an idea, I immediately write it down in my notebook. For Stinky Kitty Slots, I had some graph paper, and drew out the basic screen and controls. I jotted some rules and a general feature list down, but nothing about mechanics on that page.

I already knew what the general gameplay was going to be like, but also wanted to include some extra mini games to keep things interesting. I kept a seperate sheet of paper with ideas and sketches for mini games, as well as some loose ideas about other screens, how to payout, what the winline combinations would be, etc.

So for the prototype, I just scanned in my drawing, chopped it into assets, added a background, and some squares/text to represent buttons. I think the first problem i tried to tackle was moving the slot piece down the screen, and having it pop back up atthe top of the screen after it reached a certain point.

You can watch the evolution from prototype to alpha version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUl72mcVcLU

I’ll periodically go back through my notebooks, and add to ideas that might be incomplete, Sometimes that process itself spawns new ideas.

I really like your template, I think I’ll try to transfer one of my Ideas to the form, and see how it helps me flesh out the idea

[import]uid: 135765 topic_id: 32872 reply_id: 130633[/import]

#3

Hey Ed, Great topic!

When I get an idea, I immediately write it down in my notebook. For Stinky Kitty Slots, I had some graph paper, and drew out the basic screen and controls. I jotted some rules and a general feature list down, but nothing about mechanics on that page.

I already knew what the general gameplay was going to be like, but also wanted to include some extra mini games to keep things interesting. I kept a seperate sheet of paper with ideas and sketches for mini games, as well as some loose ideas about other screens, how to payout, what the winline combinations would be, etc.

So for the prototype, I just scanned in my drawing, chopped it into assets, added a background, and some squares/text to represent buttons. I think the first problem i tried to tackle was moving the slot piece down the screen, and having it pop back up atthe top of the screen after it reached a certain point.

You can watch the evolution from prototype to alpha version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUl72mcVcLU

I’ll periodically go back through my notebooks, and add to ideas that might be incomplete, Sometimes that process itself spawns new ideas.

I really like your template, I think I’ll try to transfer one of my Ideas to the form, and see how it helps me flesh out the idea

[import]uid: 135765 topic_id: 32872 reply_id: 130633[/import]

#4

I too keep a notebook (with me whenever I go out) for ideas. :slight_smile:

I really like your idea of hand drawing the parts of the app/game and then transferring them over for placeholder art. (Nice video by the way.)
[import]uid: 110228 topic_id: 32872 reply_id: 130640[/import]

#5

I too keep a notebook (with me whenever I go out) for ideas. :slight_smile:

I really like your idea of hand drawing the parts of the app/game and then transferring them over for placeholder art. (Nice video by the way.)
[import]uid: 110228 topic_id: 32872 reply_id: 130640[/import]

#6

Great topic! Thanks for the guidance

Awesome help for a new user [import]uid: 134652 topic_id: 32872 reply_id: 131775[/import]

#7

Great topic! Thanks for the guidance

Awesome help for a new user [import]uid: 134652 topic_id: 32872 reply_id: 131775[/import]