"Marketing is King, Fun is Joker: First Playtests Fix the Joke"

Posted by Gemma Ellison

July 24, 2025

Marketing is King, Fun is Joker: First Playtests Fix the Joke

We’ve all seen it. A beautifully crafted trailer, a slick Steam page, and a marketing blitz that promises the moon. Then the game launches… and falls flat. Reviews are lukewarm, player retention is abysmal, and the forums are filled with complaints. What went wrong? Often, the core gameplay wasn’t fun.

The King’s Court and the Court Jester

Marketing (the King) can get your game noticed. It can generate hype and drive initial sales. But fun (or lack thereof, the Joker) will ultimately determine your game’s success. The Joker’s laugh, or lack thereof, echoes louder and longer than any royal decree.

Early playtesting is how you silence a bad joke.

Planning Your Royal Audience (Playtests)

Don’t just throw your game at friends and hope for the best. A structured playtest is crucial.

First, define your goals. What specific aspects of the game do you want to test? Is it the core combat loop? The tutorial? The balance of resources? Be precise. I once spent weeks balancing weapon stats, only to find out in playtesting that the players didn’t care about the numbers, they cared if weapons felt impactful. Focus on the feeling, not the figures.

Second, recruit the right players. Your mom might love your game regardless, but her feedback is unlikely to be useful. Seek players who fit your target audience. Consider using online forums, social media groups, or even local gaming clubs. Pay if you have to.

Third, prepare a clear playtest plan. This includes instructions, a list of tasks for players to complete, and a questionnaire to gather feedback. Don’t just ask "Did you like it?". Ask specific questions about specific elements of the game. Include open-ended questions that allow players to elaborate on their experiences.

Fourth, observe the playtest. Don’t just watch, listen. Pay attention to what players say (and don’t say) as they play. Note their body language. Are they engaged? Frustrated? Bored? Take detailed notes. Recording the playtest session is invaluable.

Deciphering the Royal Decree (Analyzing Feedback)

Feedback comes in two forms: qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative feedback is descriptive – player comments, opinions, and suggestions. Quantitative feedback is numerical – metrics like completion rates, playtime, and survey scores.

Qualitative data tells you why players are having problems. Quantitative data tells you where those problems are occurring. Both are essential.

Don’t dismiss negative feedback. It’s often the most valuable. Look for patterns. If multiple players are struggling with the same aspect of the game, it’s a clear indication of a problem. One common mistake is dismissing negative feedback as “player skill issue.” While this can be true in some cases, it’s far more likely that your game isn’t communicating its mechanics effectively.

Prioritize fixes based on impact. Fix the issues that are causing the most frustration and hindering player enjoyment. Don’t get bogged down in minor details. Focus on the big picture.

Fixing the Joke: Iterative Refinement

Playtesting is not a one-time event. It’s an iterative process. After each playtest, analyze the feedback, implement changes, and then conduct another playtest.

Don’t be afraid to make radical changes. If the core mechanics aren’t working, scrap them and start over. I once had to completely redesign the combat system in my game after realizing that players found it too slow and clunky. It was painful, but it was the right decision.

Track your changes. Keep a detailed record of all the changes you make based on playtest feedback. This will help you understand what’s working and what’s not. Use version control.

Be prepared to kill your darlings. That cool feature you spent weeks implementing? If players aren’t enjoying it, get rid of it. No matter how much you love it.

Case Study: From Laughing Stock to Loved

I worked on a game where the initial concept was a hardcore survival game. The marketing promised a brutal, unforgiving experience. However, early playtests revealed that players found the game too difficult and frustrating. They spent more time struggling to survive than actually enjoying the game.

We had two options: double down on the hardcore aspect and risk alienating a large portion of our audience, or adjust the game to be more accessible. We chose the latter.

We reduced the difficulty, added more tutorials, and made the resource gathering less tedious. The results were dramatic. Player retention increased, positive reviews started pouring in, and the game became a success.

The lesson? Be willing to adapt your game based on player feedback. Don’t let your ego get in the way.

Avoiding Common Mistakes

Testing too late: The earlier you start playtesting, the better. Waiting until the game is nearly finished is a recipe for disaster.
Ignoring feedback: Don’t dismiss player feedback just because you don’t agree with it. Take it seriously and consider it carefully.
Making changes without testing: Don’t just implement changes based on your gut feeling. Always test them to see how they affect the game.
Testing with the wrong players: Make sure you’re testing with players who fit your target audience.
Not having a clear plan: Prepare a detailed playtest plan before you start testing.

The Last Laugh

Marketing can get people through the door, but fun keeps them there. Early playtesting is your secret weapon to ensure that your game is not just well-marketed, but genuinely enjoyable. Listen to your players, iterate relentlessly, and be willing to kill your darlings. That’s how you turn the potential for a bad joke into a roaring success. Let the Joker guide you, not define you.