Feedback needed

Feedback needed

Feedback needed

For a few months now, I have been batting around the idea of a playtest program on Gauntlet Hangouts that prioritizes game designers of color. I’d like to get some feedback on the eventual Google Form that prospective participants will fill out. I am looking for all kinds of feedback on the form, but particularly feedback from game designers about what sorts of questions you would expect to be asked on such a form. You can comment here or message me on Hangouts chat.

Thanks!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1OpzNocCrxg-tFOfhRZIGcH9SysF-LaI5k2irpf42G6I/edit?usp=sharing

50 thoughts on “Feedback needed”

  1. Well, questions are pretty interesting, you even address things I haven’t thought of… also I don’t know if you may want to ask if the game has strong content, like if it is rated R. Or do you think the “What is your game about?” question covers that?

  2. Well, questions are pretty interesting, you even address things I haven’t thought of… also I don’t know if you may want to ask if the game has strong content, like if it is rated R. Or do you think the “What is your game about?” question covers that?

  7. This is good. For the self-publishing question, do you want to add an option for “no intent to publish?” Some people might just want to test things without knowing if they’re gonna publish, and some might consider just putting up a PDF not publishing.

  8. This is good. For the self-publishing question, do you want to add an option for “no intent to publish?” Some people might just want to test things without knowing if they’re gonna publish, and some might consider just putting up a PDF not publishing.

  15. “What is your game about? (in a sentence or two)” I’m guessing. Could someone copy-paste a paragraph in there? Maybe that’s not what you’re after.

    The number of players question might be broken into “Minimum” and “Maximum” (and even “Optimum”, but that might be overkill).

    For “How far in advance are you able to schedule a playtest session?” I might say “1 week” in eagerness. But I think you’re trying to see the longest lead time, right?

  16. “What is your game about? (in a sentence or two)” I’m guessing. Could someone copy-paste a paragraph in there? Maybe that’s not what you’re after.

    The number of players question might be broken into “Minimum” and “Maximum” (and even “Optimum”, but that might be overkill).

    For “How far in advance are you able to schedule a playtest session?” I might say “1 week” in eagerness. But I think you’re trying to see the longest lead time, right?

  19. Slade Stolar actually, if I was to fill the form “1 week” would be my answer to “How far in advance…”. My life is so chaotic that planning so long ahead is difficult. We latinos are bad at long term plans 😉 (just kidding… I am bad at long term plans).

  20. Slade Stolar actually, if I was to fill the form “1 week” would be my answer to “How far in advance…”. My life is so chaotic that planning so long ahead is difficult. We latinos are bad at long term plans 😉 (just kidding… I am bad at long term plans).

  23. I was going to suggest checkboxes instead of radio buttons for the “number of players” question, but I think I like Slade Stolar’s idea better, assuming it would actually impact how you set it up. (I think that’s how they asked me for Metatopia, and I appreciated that.)

  24. I was going to suggest checkboxes instead of radio buttons for the “number of players” question, but I think I like Slade Stolar’s idea better, assuming it would actually impact how you set it up. (I think that’s how they asked me for Metatopia, and I appreciated that.)

  25. “Do playtest participants need to read or prepare anything in advance in order to play your game?”

    Does Forms provide a long-form text box? I feel like it’s going to be annoying to elaborate on requirements in a small text box.

    Alternately, maybe a dropdown with a few example benchmarks? E.g., “A little (read over a few setting paragraphs, bring a piece of artwork, pick a character archetype)”

  26. “Do playtest participants need to read or prepare anything in advance in order to play your game?”

    Does Forms provide a long-form text box? I feel like it’s going to be annoying to elaborate on requirements in a small text box.

    Alternately, maybe a dropdown with a few example benchmarks? E.g., “A little (read over a few setting paragraphs, bring a piece of artwork, pick a character archetype)”

  27. I think this is a great project! I was wondering: Should the form ask designers if they have preferences regarding the background of playtesters? For example, designers might want players with design experience. (I think Metatopia divides their play tests into “high” tests with other designers and regular tests with non-designers.) Or players with experience with certain game systems, like PbtA. Or players with certain backgrounds, like other people of color. Also I think it might be useful to consider helping structure playtester feedback to maximize utility of playtests for the designers.

  28. I think this is a great project! I was wondering: Should the form ask designers if they have preferences regarding the background of playtesters? For example, designers might want players with design experience. (I think Metatopia divides their play tests into “high” tests with other designers and regular tests with non-designers.) Or players with experience with certain game systems, like PbtA. Or players with certain backgrounds, like other people of color. Also I think it might be useful to consider helping structure playtester feedback to maximize utility of playtests for the designers.

  29. (Totally off topic! I think racialized is a better term than PoC. My wife is Iranian and is whiter than a lot of white people, but she’s also a “person of colour”. Problem with racialized is it sounds overly academic and no one knows what you’re talking about. Mike Espinoza Jason Cordova)

  30. (Totally off topic! I think racialized is a better term than PoC. My wife is Iranian and is whiter than a lot of white people, but she’s also a “person of colour”. Problem with racialized is it sounds overly academic and no one knows what you’re talking about. Mike Espinoza Jason Cordova)

  31. Point of interest: I think ‘people of colour’ is largely only used in the U.S? One of the reasons it’s not used in Australia much is because it is not uncommon for fair skinned Aboriginal people to be discriminated against for not being black enough: even though they grew up in Aboriginal families and identify as being Aboriginal.

  32. Point of interest: I think ‘people of colour’ is largely only used in the U.S? One of the reasons it’s not used in Australia much is because it is not uncommon for fair skinned Aboriginal people to be discriminated against for not being black enough: even though they grew up in Aboriginal families and identify as being Aboriginal.

  33. I liked Avery Alder’s form for her mentorship program a lot and I think she simply gave a long paragraph field asking if one considers themselves as part of a marginalized community to keep it as broad and self descriptive as possible.

  34. I liked Avery Alder’s form for her mentorship program a lot and I think she simply gave a long paragraph field asking if one considers themselves as part of a marginalized community to keep it as broad and self descriptive as possible.

  35. I’ll go ahead and echo what was said about “person of color,” since while I am technically Latina, I would not be entirely comfortable calling myself a person of color because I look white af.

  36. I’ll go ahead and echo what was said about “person of color,” since while I am technically Latina, I would not be entirely comfortable calling myself a person of color because I look white af.

  37. I hope I can ask about the topic of diversity and bring something up that won’t upset people but does the phrasing of “person of color” really mean “not Caucasian?” Or does it just mean black person?

    I fully admit to not understanding the why’s of this, and maybe I don’t get it because I’m autistic and have a very different neurological wiring and so I feel really confused by all of this.

    Yet this does lead me to another question… In the desire for more diversity, why is there nothing aimed at those who are neurodiverse? Or does my outer shell overshadow my neurobiological reality?

    Because neurodiversity is pretty much never considered or thought of when people say they want more diversity in a group or industry. Generally the only measures of diversity that most consider is gender/women and/or skin color.

  38. I hope I can ask about the topic of diversity and bring something up that won’t upset people but does the phrasing of “person of color” really mean “not Caucasian?” Or does it just mean black person?

    I fully admit to not understanding the why’s of this, and maybe I don’t get it because I’m autistic and have a very different neurological wiring and so I feel really confused by all of this.

    Yet this does lead me to another question… In the desire for more diversity, why is there nothing aimed at those who are neurodiverse? Or does my outer shell overshadow my neurobiological reality?

    Because neurodiversity is pretty much never considered or thought of when people say they want more diversity in a group or industry. Generally the only measures of diversity that most consider is gender/women and/or skin color.

  39. I’m also not sure whether I’d fit into PoC. I look Caucasian, but I’m mixed race. My family and I have experienced racism in several contexts, but I’m not sure I’d say we belong to a marginalized community.

  40. I’m also not sure whether I’d fit into PoC. I look Caucasian, but I’m mixed race. My family and I have experienced racism in several contexts, but I’m not sure I’d say we belong to a marginalized community.

  41. Stacie Winters while I agree that it’s important for neurodivergent people to have visibility as well (I’m also autistic), generally speaking the first thing people see of a person is their (apparent) gender and skin color, hence the focus on women and people of color (i.e. not Caucasian).

  42. Stacie Winters while I agree that it’s important for neurodivergent people to have visibility as well (I’m also autistic), generally speaking the first thing people see of a person is their (apparent) gender and skin color, hence the focus on women and people of color (i.e. not Caucasian).

  43. I’ve been watching this space. This is terrific feedback, everyone, thanks so much. You have given me some stuff to think about. I will do an update on the project soon.

  44. I’ve been watching this space. This is terrific feedback, everyone, thanks so much. You have given me some stuff to think about. I will do an update on the project soon.

  45. Maria Rivera that’s often not true: depending on the context, the first thing people may see is your name on a computer screen, on a business card, job application, etc.

  46. Maria Rivera that’s often not true: depending on the context, the first thing people may see is your name on a computer screen, on a business card, job application, etc.

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