In a presentation delivered this past March, designer Brian Cronin challenged the industry standard for gathering user feedback. His talk, “Playtesting Process for Ultra Small Teams,” advocates for a highly intimate approach: synchronous, one-on-one playtesting conducted via live video calls. While Cronin\u2019s methodology was originally crafted for lean, independent studios, the core principles offer a scalable blueprint for development teams of any size.<\/p>\n
At its heart, this strategy is remarkably accessible and cost-effective. By hosting a live video session where a developer observes a player navigating a real-time build, the team bypasses the need for expensive third-party testing firms or complex automated data collection tools. <\/p>\n
The process is straightforward:<\/p>\n
Relying solely on telemetry-the data points showing where players click or die-often misses the “why” behind the behavior. According to recent industry reports, nearly 60% of indie developers struggle to interpret raw analytics without qualitative context. By engaging in a live dialogue, you gain immediate clarity on player intent.<\/p>\n
Think of it like a chef watching a diner eat a new dish. You can see if they leave food on the plate (the data), but watching their facial expression as they take the first bite (the qualitative feedback) tells you exactly which ingredient is missing or overpowering. This “playcentric” design philosophy ensures that every session yields actionable intelligence, allowing developers to iterate with precision rather than guesswork.<\/p>\n
While Cronin\u2019s approach is perfect for a solo developer or a two-person team, larger studios can adapt this by rotating team members through observation shifts. This keeps the entire development staff connected to the player experience, preventing the “ivory tower” syndrome where designers become disconnected from the actual user journey.<\/p>\n
By prioritizing these direct, human-to-human interactions, you transform playtesting from a bureaucratic hurdle into a creative engine that drives your project toward a more polished, player-focused final product.<\/p>\n
Related: How Forbidden Solitaire brought solitaire games to the forefront<\/a><\/p>\n