Playtest Prototype: The World We built

The project began with pencil sketches, spreadsheets containing card information, and a living document explaining the game's mechanics. While the client had a strong vision and several non-negotiable requirements, many mechanics continued to evolve throughout development. New systems were introduced, existing ones changed, and the scope expanded to include additional components such as player boards. To better understand how experienced players process complex information, I researched modern strategy board games, particularly eurogames such as Terraforming Mars and Arnak. I focused on information hierarchy, board organization, player flow, and how successful games communicate large amounts of information without overwhelming players. Working from the client's initial sketches, we moved into low-fidelity layouts before gradually building a complete playtest prototype. Since the goal was validation rather than production, temporary icons and placeholder imagery allowed us to iterate quickly and focus our efforts on improving the overall player experience. Although the client led the game's mechanics and final decisions, I contributed regularly from a usability perspective, drawing on my experience with modern board games to simplify interactions and reduce complexity. My recommendations led to changes such as reducing card decks from nine to six, consolidating tracking systems, and introducing a dedicated point tracker, while the board itself evolved through multiple iterations into a more intuitive central element that helped players focus more on playing than interpreting the game.