Playtest session 1

Playtest time: approx 10mins (play stopped after approx 5-6 mins in simulation of level advancement moment)
Playtester: Barry
Play test objective: trial controller model and instructions plus basic game feel

• Took approx 3 mins to read and absorb the instructions (which were in a separate document). Felt there was enough info to get started and try it out
• Launched the game. Liked the loading page
• Wasn't sure if the game had started - no sound or graphic to indicate this
• Freaked out when the first bird arrived (came quite early), but then one didn't arrive for ages - the pace of the threats seemed quite slow
• Seemed to enjoy deploying the stink bomb
• Noticed the health bar dropping during play
• Was wondering why oranges weren't reappearing...until found them all on the first tree (oops!)
• Thought the game play was OK - didn't find any real challenges or strategy. Being aware of not killing the trees was about the only thing that altered his play
  
• Didn't feel like he was under threat or that many things were attacking him, which made it boring. Said it might be Ok for a starting level, but maybe make it a bit shorter...
• Mentioned it was hard to appreciate the game feel without the correct sounds and graphics including the threat of the farmer (who currently looks like a box). Seemed quite freaked out by the random sounds
• Felt the interface was clear enough i.e. the set up of the premise etc
  
• Suggested the farmer's spray disperse gradually so you had a chance to avoid it. Seemed bothered that the farmer randomly sprayed without warning but conceded that not only would it not make sense to give warning, he wasn't actually bothered at all about the farmer - didn't feel he was a threat...
• Wasn't entirely clear re the objective of the game - survive? Get as far though levels as possible?
  

Observer notes:

• Although the game appeared to be a bit boring for Barry (without many challenges yet in place), he immediately picked up how to move around and quickly deployed the stink bomb (the only key not used in the main game play). The instructions were also sufficient and clear enough for him to go straight into playing. I do wonder though, if a left handed player would have as easy a time? I was considering also programming 4 letter keys (J, I, L, M) as an alternative directional set, to improve accessibility for people without appropriately arranged arrows on their keyboards, but maybe I should look at setting up a quadrant of keys on the other side of the keyboard to improve accessibility for left handed players? Robert (brother) is left handed - i might ask him his thoughts re if this is important to him)
• Need to set up sound for the game - launching background noise might help prompt a player that the game has started. Perhaps also launch a fading caption "Go Stink bug, Go!" at the opening segment? Might be a good idea...
• Maybe need to play up the premise more to give more of a drive of an objective? But then this is supposed to be a casual player game - and as I worked out recently, I don't care re the premise of casual games, as long as the game play works...

Anyway, that's enough for now...