Prototyping in game design: externalization and internalization of game ideas

Prototyping is a well-studied activity in the field of human-computer interaction and interaction design, but its role in computer game design is relatively unexplored. It is clear though that prototyping is an important part of game design (Fullerton 2008, Fullerton et al 2006, Glinert 2010, Salen & Zimmerman 2004 Schell 2008). New game technologies are rapidly developing, which means that new game design possibilities arise (Schell 2008). These possibilities can be explored in short iterations with prototypes. Games are furthermore, more than average software, a piece of art (Costikyan 2002, Smuts 2005, Tavinor 2009), although this issue has been heavily debated outside the academic field, (Moriarty 2011, Ebert 2010). These characteristics of game design puts prototyping in a different perspective when compared to prototyping in other software industries. These characteristics of game design may put prototyping in a new perspective when compared to prototyping in other software industries.