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I've promised to critique the games (15 first entries, that is) that make it through the game creation challenge this weekend. Here I present the guidelines for my game critique.
The guidelines are used in the Game Chef contest, yearly rpg design contest that is coming up once again this fall. They are the work of Ben Lehman of TAO Games . The original post can be found here (Thanks to lachek for pointing me to it!).
Image: A detail from My First Report Card, 1985 by Rutlo (Creative Commons-licensed,attribution)
I think this list of questions is an excellent list of critiquing practically any kind of creation. So, without further rambling, here are the questions I will be trying to answer when writing a critique of the games:
1) Please provide a summary of the game's goals, as you perceive them, with notes about why you think those are the game's goals.
Don't just say "to have a fun game." Talk a little bit about the whys
and hows: What sort of fun? How are the players engaged? How will they
interact? Feel?
2) What works within the game's presentation [was: text] and system to help accomplish those goals? Why? How could it be improved?
3) What doesn't work to fulfill the game's goals? Why not? Could it be removed? Should something else be added? Should things be changed?
4) What do you think of the game's goals? Are they worth achieving? Are there other things, also present in the game, that you think the author should focus on? What direction do you think the author should take the game?
5) Do you want to play the game? Why? Why not? What would have to change so you would want to play the game? Are you going to?
6) Please answer any questions that the author has asked, as well.
As for the last item, please ask any questions you like when presenting your game for critique.
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