How to Test your Story/Game?

Environment

Atmosphere

• What are the main Colors of your Story/Game?
• Are they memorable?
• Are the different environments easily identifiable?
• Are they welcoming?
• Do they look hostile?

• Will your Story/Game have Multiple Environments?
• How fluid is the Transition between each of them?
• Does your Story/Game have a Hub?

• How is the Climate?
• How is the weather?
• How does it affect the resources?
• How does it affect the Environment’s Structure?
• How does it affect its inhabitants?

Transportation

• What transportations systems will you use?
• What advantage do they procure?
• What trouble can they cause?
• Which energy model will you use?
• Which type of locomotion will you use?
• Should you Fly?
• Should you Dive?
• Should you Dig?
• What limitations will the Story/Game need?

• What are the Constrains & Specificities of each Environment?
• How is gravity?
• How is the pressure & temperature?
• How is electromagnetism?
• What are the Points of Interest?
• What are the Zones you’ll go most through?
• Where are Capitals?

• Are there Zone Limitations?
• Where can the Characters/Players go?
• Why can’t they access certain zones?
• Can they access them later?
• Through which means?

Creatures

• What’s their Use?
• How are they used?
• How are they treated?

• Which ones are Hostile?
• Which ones are Feral?
• Which ones are Domesticated?
• Which ones are

• How do they Behave?
• Amongst members of the same species?
• With creatures of other species?
• Do they welcome the foreign creature?
• Do they chase the creature away?
• Do they hunt it?
• Do they observe it?

Character Creation

• The Characters
• What do they want?
• What do they need?
• How to create Characters that will satisfy the Public?
• Which Public?
• How to create the right amount of relatability?

• Do the Character fit the Story/Team/World?
• …
• There’s always a way to create consistency.

• Manners & Behavior
• How do the characters behave?
• What’s the character voice like?
• What words do they use?
• How do they act when they see someone is dire?
• How do they act when they see someone they like?
• How do they act when they see someone they dislike?
• How do they react to agression?
• How do they react to compliment?
• Do they react?
• Are they indifferent?

• Customization
• What’s your character’s goal?
• What are your character’s interests?
• What are your character’s quirks?
• What are your character’s strengths?
• What are your character’s weaknesses?
• What are your character’s skills?

Relationships & Events

Crisis & Conflict

• Divergence of Interest.
• Why are we still here?
• Do we need to split?
• Do we need to fight?
• Do we need to wait until everyone is sleeping?
• Do we need to talk our way out of this dilemma?
• Do we need to find a solution together?

• Competition
• How can players hinder each other?
• What advantage does it bring them?
• Are there competition skills?
• Are there dissensions bonuses/shenanigans?
• Is Competition forced?
• What is the input of each player on Competition?
• Are there signs of reluctance?
• Are there signs of enthusiasm?

• Enemyship & Horror
• What are the threats?
• Are they well known?
• Are they easily identifiable?
• What is their influence?
• What are the limits of these Enemies?
• What can they do?
• What will they do?
• What are the limits of your Story?

Cooperation

• Create Convergence of Interest.
• Where are we?
• Why are we gathered here?
• Did we receive a message?
• Did we came here together?
• Did we met each other on the road?
• Why would we stay here?

• Collaboration
• How can players help each other?
• What advantage does it bring them?
• Are there collaboration skills?
• Are there cooperation bonuses/manœuvres?
• Is Collaboration forced?
• What is the input of each player on Collaboration?
• Are there signs of reluctance?
• Are there signs of enthusiasm?

Dialogues & Interactions

• Use Specific Phrases.
• Where are we?
• Why are the Characters here?
• What’s the Topic of interest?
• Are the Character Interested by it?
• How do they manifest their interest?
• When do they manifest their interest?

• Diversify Interaction options.
• What is the Object of interest?
• Which person needs it?
• Who else may want it?
• How do we acquire this?
• How would they acquire this?
• How do we destroy this?
• How would they destroy this?
• When will this Object be of use?

Mini-Games

• Riddles & Enigma
• Can you create Riddles that fit Character’s Story?
• Can you create Riddles that fit Character’s Goals?
• Can you create Riddles that exploit Character’s Weaknesses?
• Can you create Riddles that display Character’s Strengths?
• How can Characters express their quirks through Enigma?

• Puzzles
• What is the Puzzle’s scale?
• Do you need to gather the pieces?
• Assemble a figure/form/construct?
• How do you Combine the pieces?
• Should you reform the Puzzle in a specific Area?

• Character/Player Specific mini-games
• Tailored for them
• Involvement
• Display skills
• Engagement in assisting others to resolve their personal

Group Dynamics

• Initiative
• Are there choices taken?
• Are they taken preemptively?
• Are they taken in avoidance?
• Is action delayed?

• Leadership
• Does someone take initiative to distribute roles?
• Does this person listen to others input?
• Does she exploit the skills of others?
• Does she affect each person to a proper place?
• Does she create patterns for others to follow?
• Are thy easy to follow?
• Are thy easy to memorize?

• Involvement & Engagement
• Is everyone solicited?
• Is someone over-solicited?
• Is someone under-solicited?
• Is everyone asked to do things they want to do?
  • Individually
  • As a Group

• Fun
• Are we having Fun?
• Why having we fun?
• What’s everyone’s goal?
• Did everyone shared their goal at the beginning of the game?
• Is there fear to share the source of fun with others?

• What Motivates everyone?
• What Bores everyone?
• What is the source of everyone’s Enticement?
• Does everyone find an Interest in the story/game?
• Can everyone play Honestly & Freely?

Choices that Matter

• Choices & Diversity
• Does the Appearance of the Characters affect the outcome?
• Does the Behavior of the Characters affect the outcome?
• How does the Story of the Character matters?
• Will it lead them into trouble?
• Will they be discriminated?
• Will they be honored?

• Consequences
• How do you display Consequences?
• What kind of Consequences can occur?
• Are the Consequences memorable?
• Do they affect Cohesion?
• Do they affect the Environment?
• Do they lead you to more trouble?
• Do they lead you to Rewards?

• Replayability
• Are there different Outcomes?
• Are there different Endings?
• Are there branched Outcomes?
• Are there Choices?
• Can you see the impact of these Choices?
• Will you replay the game as soon as you finished it?
• How long is the game?

Critical Moments

• Best Moments
• How did you make the experience theirs?
• How did you reach Victory?
• How did you achieved your personal objectives?

• Terrible Moments
• Are there moments you never want to experience again?
• Are there Terrifying moments?
• Are there Horrible moments?
• Moment where the Story/Game almost collapsed.
• Moments no one enjoyed.
• You weren’t aware it could happen.
• But it have been tested out…

• Awful Moment
• Are there moments that will Gather everyone?
• Moments that will Link the Players fate?
• Unite Players before fatality?
• Moment that will end in common triumph?
• Moment that will bring a deep loss?
• Moment that will end every character?
• How impressive is the End?
• What brought Awe to the Experience?

• Just Ask.
• Are there interesting moments?
• But no one is sure how to think about them?
• What Emotions were experienced?
• What Emotions were not experienced?
• What Memories will every person bring with them?
• What would they reuse in another Story/Game?

Afterwards

• What’s the Main Idea?
• Is it working?
• What Changes are needed?
• What would you remove?
• What would you add?
• What Alternatives can everyone propose?
• Should you Restart?
• Should you modify the End?
• Should you modify the Introduction?

• Can you try something different?
• Create different Characters.
  • Characters that are the Opposite of yours
  • Characters that are the Related to yours
  • Characters that are the Indifferent to yours
• Create different Environments.
• Create new Games.

• Balance
• Do you consider your Story/Game Balanced?
• In Difficulty?
• In Tempo?
• Is the balance consistent?
• During whole experience?
• What are the greatest factors of imbalance?
• How much do they hinder the game?
• How can you balance Party Dynamics?

• Customization
• Is the Story/Game customizable?
• Can you create a Setting?
• Can you create a sub-Story?
• Can you build a tool/item/settlement?
• What kind of vehicles do you need?
• How much of the game is Facultative?
• Can you play the Story/Game without playing the Main Quest at all?
• How can you diversify the role of each Character?
• How can you Focus on each Character more?