Inside Look: Playtesting at Legendspire Studios

Let me share something cool with you about how we make games at Legendspire Studios. It's all about playtesting. Simple word, big impact.

You might think creating games is just about coming up with fun ideas and cool mechanics. Trust me, after 30 years in the gaming industry, I can tell you it's way more complex than that. Every game we create goes through intense rounds of testing before it ever reaches your table.

Right now, we're deep in the playtesting phase for our new game (codename: "Black Sheep"), and I want to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what that really means. This isn't just people sitting around playing games all day - though that's definitely part of it!

What's fascinating about playtesting is how it reveals things we'd never catch otherwise. We have different groups testing the game - some from within our studio, others who've never seen it before. Each group gets their own version of the rules and specific things to focus on. That mix of perspectives is pure gold.

Here's the really interesting part. After every playtest session, our testers fill out detailed surveys. They tell us everything - was it fun? Were the rules clear? Would they play it again? Sometimes the feedback surprises me, even after all these years in game development.

Let me give you an example. Recently, one of our playtesters for "Black Sheep" mentioned they wished they had more to do in the middle of the game. They felt like they were just spinning their wheels for a little bit and kept wanting the game to come to an end. That's kind of generic right? You could get caught up on the fact that they didn't call out a specific card power, or rule. The interesting thing is that this kind of feedback often leads to some of the most game changing developments. In this case, that single comment sparked a whole series of questions and investigations from the team. What exactly felt missing? Was it just that player, or were others feeling it too? Was it a pacing issue or a balance issue in the game where the mid game was falling flat. As is often the case, it wasn't a straight forward problem and it took more playtesting to really figure out what was going on...and that answer ended up coming from another testers feedback. In this case, he was in the same place in a game and said "I wish I could do _____ with this card." That insight drastically changed the face of the game - for the better. Now, we are busy mapping out a new series of rules variations to pass out and have tested by the various teams. It'll curious to see where this leads us...

This is what I love about playtesting - it's like having thousands of fresh eyes looking at our game from every possible angle. Every piece of feedback, every frustrated sigh, every moment of confusion or excitement tells us something important. My team takes all that information and turns it into actionable changes.

We're not just looking for the big problems either. Sometimes it's the tiny things that can make or break a game experience. Is that card effect too powerful? Does this phase of the game drag on too long? Are players getting confused about certain rules? All of these questions need answers before we're ready to release a game.

And here's what really makes playtesting magical: it's iterative. We make changes based on feedback, then test those changes, then make more adjustments. It's like polishing a rough stone into a gem. Each round of testing helps us smooth out another rough edge.

The whole process might sound intense, and honestly, it is. But it's also incredibly rewarding. Every time I see players losing themselves in one of our games, getting excited about a clever play, or sharing stories about their gaming experiences, I know all that testing was worth it.

That's the real secret to creating great games - listening to our players, understanding their experiences, and being willing to make changes until everything feels just right. It's a lot of work, but hey, that's what it takes to create the kind of games that end up becoming favorites on your tabletop.

Want to know more about how we create our games? Drop us a note - I love sharing these behind-the-scenes glimpses into our creative process at Legendspire Studios.