Video: Make your games better with playtesting, the Uncharted way

"If the player only has so much attention to go around, we as designers have to stay aware of this so we don't overwhelm them." -Game industry veteran Richard Lemarchand, then the lead game designer at Naughty Dog, discusses the psychological concept of attention as it relates to game design.

We often use words like "immersive" or "engaging" when discussing some of the most powerful and well-crafted games ever made, but how much do we really know about how those experiences are practically crafted? How can you find the right balance of content to ensure that your players remain really, meaningfully immersed in your work?

Richard Lemarchand, then the lead game designer at Naughty Dog, attempted to dispel some of that confusion by discussing the psychological concept of attention as it relates to games at GDC 2012.

By using practical examples from his involvement in the playtesting of the Uncharted games, Lemarchand explored how we can use metrics data and other methods to measure and understand our players' attention, without breaking the bank with elaborate analytical equipment.

It's a talk with enduring value for all game developers, large and small, so we've gone ahead and embedded the free video of "Attention, Not Immersion: Making Your Games Better with Psychology and Playtesting, the Uncharted Way" above, but you can also watch it hereon the GDC Vault.
About the GDC VaultIn addition to this presentation, the GDC Vaultoffers numerous other free videos, audio recordings, and slides from many of the recent Game Developers Conference events, and the service offers even more members-only content for GDC Vault subscribers.

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