In-store Playtesting at Rain City Games

Welcome to our in-person playtest session at Rain City Games! We will be at the back of the main store or in the extra room accessed rear left of the store. Please read all details below.

We hope you will enjoy playing, sharing ideas and helping to develop and inspire new games in a supportive environment. Bring a prototype if you have one, or simply get to know some friendly new faces and join in by playing prototypes brought by other members. Novice to veteran designers/playtesters, and all types of prototype, are very welcome!

IMPORTANT:
- Maximum 20 people. Please be sure to RSVP to reserve your spot.
- Both Rain City and Vancouver Playtest recommend that members wear masks to help protect the safety of themselves and others and sanitizer will be provided for each table.
- DO NOT ATTEND if you feel unwell or have any Covid symptoms, or if you have recently been exposed to Covid.
- Please respect our excellent hosts, Rain City Games. This includes clearing up on time so we are out by 9pm, and asking permission before handling their games. If you have games on your wishlist, buying from Rain City Games is a great way to support your friendly local game store.

Format: Try to arrive close to 6pm if possible. We do brief introductions before seeing what prototypes we have available to play. We will do our best to match these up with playtester preferences and include everyone as and when they arrive. The session is split into two halves of 90 mins each.

We are an inclusive group - please read our code of conduct, available here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1o-mBxEcPL2l2LvPNLRrb4pauqdUfSg46f1_ui3g8C48/edit#gid=966222642

Tips for designers:

• Give a brief 'pitch' to explain the type of game and how long it will take (aim to find playtesters with matching preferences/time)
• When explaining rules to playtesters, start with a simple overview before diving into details
• Have a purpose in mind for the session (e.g. 'I want to see if my basic mechanics make for a fun game')
• Write notes on your observations, and record feedback

Tips for playtesters:

• Be honest and also tactful with feedback
• When noting issues with a game, include positive comments and focus on helping the designer to improve their game
• Aim to help the designer make the game you are playing better, rather than suggesting a completely different game
• Note your thoughts/emotions during the game to help with feedback

Thanks for reading to the end, let's stay safe and have a great time exploring new games together!