Up to this point we have focussed on capturing, creating, and sharing insights which can improve your game, and your team. We are now at the end of the playtesting journey, it’s time to make use of what we have learned to drive action.

The approach taken in this book of focussing on the team as well as the game, is intended to increase the potential of action being taken. One of the main reasons why action is often not taken, is the team is not aligned on the findings, the momentum for change is low.

By building in team alignment at multiple points throughout the playtesting journey we are reinforcing the idea that ‘we are together’. We did this by:

• Aligning on which design elements to assess (hypotheses).
  
  

• Aligning on what we saw in playtests (what we all observed).
  
  

• Aligning on the underlying causes for the player behaviour (why we think this happened).
  
  

• Aligning on the severity of the findings (we all think this is the priority of what needs addressed).
  
  

• Sharing what was learned with the team, studio, and wider circle (creating common knowledge).
  
  

As a result of this process, the team should now be aligned on action to take, significantly increasing the chances of turning knowledge into action.

The next step then, is to move out of this evaluation phase, and back into design - to address the issues found. Once designed and implemented, these potential solutions should be re-assessed in a future playtest.

And so the circle goes on.

Key Takeaway

By building-in team alignment at multiple points throughout the playtesting process we can significantly increase the chances of turning knowledge into action.

Next: What To Do Now? > 62. Taking Action - Schedule Your First Playtest