Project 1 - Task 12 - Design Tools and Player Insights in Game Development

Alys

So, let’s dive into this—the tools we used for tackling dystopian game design. Milanote… where do you even start? I mean, those templates! Mood boards, character design layouts, all of it. They were kind of a lifesaver, weren’t they?

Rhys

They were, yeah. Milanote does a good job of keeping everything organized and visually cohesive, but there’s something to be said about the actual usability. Did you feel like it was intuitive enough? I mean, sometimes I I found myself getting lost in all the options.

Alys

Oh, for sure, you can get sidetracked resizing images or tweaking sections. But it’s like, when you’re building something so visual—like a mood board for a dystopian world—you need that flexibility, don’t you think?

Rhys

Absolutely. And it worked wonders for collaboration too. Everyone on the team could just jump in, drop notes, images, whatever. That part, I thought, was seamless.

Alys

Yeah, but then there’s sketching tools, right? Like, Milanote’s great for big-picture stuff but, for actual idea sketches? I mean, I’m old-school—I love pencil and paper! It’s immediate. No fiddling, no lag—just get those ideas down.

Rhys

And that’s brilliant at the beginning, but digital sketching tools have their perks too—like layers. You can iterate so quickly without starting over. Tools like Procreate or Adobe Fresco balance that immediacy you talked about with some, well, some advanced functionality.

Alys

But does it slow you down? I feel like messing with layers and settings kind of breaks the flow sometimes.

Rhys

It can. But it’s also a bit of a trade-off. For me, the ability to rapidly edit, undo…it makes up for it. And let’s not forget when we moved into prototyping—Godot 4?

Alys

Oh my gosh, Godot! I love that it’s open-source, and customizing mechanics is, well, it’s kind of satisfying, even for a non-coder like me. Although, debugging...

Rhys

Yeah, debugging can be—messy. But it’s incredible how it helps you catch things early, like figuring out if certain mechanics actually work as intended. I mean, you can prototype and test in a single space, and that alone is... invaluable for gameplay refinement.

Alys

Totally. And seeing those ideas come to life—like, going from sketches to playable sequences? There’s something magical about that.

Rhys

It’s the process, really. Iteration. Improvement. It’s where tools like Godot shine because they let you—

Rhys

And speaking of improvement, to really refine those mechanics, you’ve got to think about what players actually want. Surveys are such a straightforward way to get that insight. You know, just sending out a few questions and seeing what clicks with them—it’s invaluable.

Alys

Oh, yeah, but the answers you get—let’s be honest—they’re often way too broad, aren’t they? Like, "What do you want in a game?" Uhm, everything?

Rhys

Exactly. It’s like... if you don’t word your questions carefully, the data’s almost worthless. But when it works—when you hit the right questions—it can give you this broad overview of trends or preferences. That’s helpful, even for dystopian narratives.

Alys

True. And I love how focus groups dig deeper, like when you get people talking about why they love dystopian themes. You hear things you wouldn’t expect, like why they fixate on, I don’t know, the whole oppressive regime theme.

Rhys

Oh, yeah. That’s where you really start pulling out motivations. But focus groups come with their own headaches, like dominant voices, right? One opinion snowballs, and suddenly everyone’s agreeing.

Alys

Yesss, and then you’re sitting there, like, “Are you all just saying this because that one guy really loves dystopias?”

Rhys

Exactly. Interviews, though—they’re a bit more clean-cut. One on one, more personal, but they take forever. It’s such a time drag when you’re trying to hit tight development deadlines.

Alys

Yeah, but if someone’s super passionate, it’s so worth it. I feel like you pick up on the little things—like, why they can’t stand certain game mechanics. That sorta stuff doesn’t show up in surveys.

Rhys

Right, and playtesting takes that to another level. Like, the moment someone picks up the controller and goes, “Wait, this doesn’t work,” it hits different.

Alys

Oh, completely. This one time, someone in our test group kept missing a stealth mechanic I thought was obvious! I mean, it was like—

Rhys

Hidden in plain sight?

Alys

Exactly! And it made me realize... I hadn’t explained it properly in the tutorial. Without that feedback, I’d never have caught it.

Rhys

But at the same time, you’ve gotta watch out for biases during testing. People sometimes act differently just because they know it’s a test, you know?

Alys

Totally. It’s this weird mix of helpful and frustrating. But seeing someone struggle with mechanics—it’s a humbling reminder to, you know, really step into the player’s shoes.

Rhys

That’s the golden takeaway. Whether it’s surveys, focus groups, or testing, it’s all about challenging your own assumptions and adjusting, even when it’s...messy.

Rhys

Yeah, and it’s moments like that, seeing someone struggle or thrive during playtesting, that make you step back and think: what are we really doing right—or wrong? Taking that time to critically evaluate, it’s almost like playtesting our own design process.

Alys

Yeah, like debugging your brain, right?

Rhys

Exactly. And what’s fascinating is how iterative testing reshapes your work in ways you don’t expect. I remember one prototype, where a combat mechanic kept feeling clunky—

Alys

Oh, the one with the dual-blade attack, right?

Rhys

Yeah, that’s the one! It wasn’t until we got player feedback that we realized... it wasn’t the mechanic, it was the timing. Just a simple tweak made it click. It was a perfect example of how testing can uncover hidden flaws.

Alys

Totally. And it’s not just about fixing problems either—experimentation is a huge part of growth. Like when I switched from Aseprite to another pixel art tool, just for fun? The interface was super weird, but it made me try stuff I I probably wouldn’t have otherwise. It was kind of the spark I didn’t know I needed.

Rhys

That’s such a great takeaway. Getting out of your comfort zone forces you to see things differently. A lot of the tools we used—Milanote, Godot, even those sketching apps—they all contributed something unique. But none of them were perfect, right?

Alys

Nope. And that’s the thing about reflection—it’s not just about critiquing the tools but figuring out how to adapt and grow with them. I’ve gotta say, though, the biggest lesson for me? Just, like, staying open to change.

Rhys

Couldn’t agree more. Growth as a designer is really about embracing those messy, in-between moments. The iterations, the hiccups, the "aha" moments—they all lead to stronger designs.

Alys

And stronger designers.

Rhys

Absolutely. Well, on that note...

Alys

Right! That wraps up today’s episode. Thanks for tuning in, and we’ll catch you next time!