Your playtest environment doesn’t have to be anything fancy, but you will need two distinct areas - one where the player will play the game, and one where the team can observe.

For the player area, ideally they’d be in a room where the door can be closed, this will help make sure they are free from distractions such as other people coming and going and general noise interference. If you don’t have a room available, then you’re going to have to find or make a space which offers some degree of privacy for the player. Using headphones can help them focus on the game.

For the observer area, an ideal space would be in a second room where the door can be closed. The team will not only be taking notes, but they will likely want to discuss what they are seeing, so having a room where they are isolated from other office noise is desirable. If a second room is not available, then they can make do by observing from anywhere else in the studio.

There are no fixed rules here, you certainly don’t need a high-tech playtest setup, but your aim is to help ensure the player is not interrupted, feels comfortable, and the team can observe what they are doing.

Key Takeaway

Having two separate areas would be ideal - one for the player, the other for the team. Space is often at a premium, but a makeshift setup is likely to be good enough.

Next: 35. Tech Setup