QA vs. Playtesting: 3 Mistakes Every Game Dev Should Avoid
Co-author: Lydia Galeano, UX Researcher at Antidote In game development, the concepts of quality assurance (QA) and playtesting are often used interchangeably, even by the most experienced devs. Although they appear similar, both testing methods aim to achieve specific outcomes and misusing them can compromise the quality of the feedback. In this article, we’ll explore […]
How to Lead a Successful Multiplayer Playtest: An In-Depth Guide
Co-author: Lucila Drughieri, UX Researcher at Antidote Multiplayer playtesting is a research study that aims to evaluate a game’s social dynamics and overall user experience, focusing on uncovering real player interactions within multiplayer environments. This Game User Research (GUR) method goes beyond assessing basic functionality, ensuring the game mechanics are engaging, balanced and enjoyable. […]
3 Unique Insights That A Full Playthrough Reveals for Your Game
Co-author: Theadora Vaxevanou, UX Researcher at Antidote A full playthrough is a Game User Research (GUR) method that involves playtesting your game from start to finish. The aim is to closely observe how players interact with the game’s mechanics, engage with the narrative and perceive the overall gameplay experience. But why should game studios consider […]
Stress Testing in Games: 4 Key Factors You Should Consider
What makes a stress test a non-negotiable step in your game development process? When picturing the ideal game launch, studios often prioritize stunning visuals, gripping narratives, and intuitive in-game mechanics. While these Game User Research (GUR) factors are vital components of a memorable gaming experience, there is often an overlooked element – the assurance […]
Hogwarts Legacy | Antidote UX Review: A Potter-Head’s Perspective
Hogwarts Legacy is the most-watched single-player game on Twitch, breaking records with 1.3 million concurrent viewers. But did it live up to the hype? A Potter-Head shares her perspective on the game’s UX, including its attention to detail, character development, map design, and menus.
Dutch Game Day: Antidote’s UX Researcher Perspective
Today we bring you a post from Thea Vaxevanou, UX Researcher at Antidote. She loves Anthropology, Psychology, Films and obviously, games :). Her first console was a PS1 and her favourite games are Red Dead Redemption 2 and Crash. On the 6th of October, I attended the Dutch Game Day (including Dutch Game Awards) at […]
Blockchain and NFTs in Gaming: The Great Debate
After the initial hype wave of NFTs and Blockchain technology being adopted on video games, we’ve seen a decline in interest and sales volume which opens a window of rationality to analyse what has happened so far and build the next generation of games based on experience enhancement potential instead of jumping on the trend […]
Case Study: How NFTs, metaverses and blockchain boost the evolution of the gaming industry
An ever-changing technological world In our current technological landscape, it’s not unusual for innovative advances or possibilities to suddenly appear and take the world by storm. The same thing can happen with older concepts, that can sometimes receive a massive spike in popularity from day to night. 2021 was a year full of challenges and […]
Soft Launch Your Game on PC and Mobile
So, you are looking to soft launch your game? At Antidote, we are always reinforcing the core idea of what is essential when it comes to playtesting: it should be done at every stage of development. From the very first prototype analysis to the last test a week before the game goes live, the type […]
UX Reports for Game Studios and Publishers
Why are the Playtest’s reviews important? While it is not hard to understand the importance of playtesting, it might be easy for someone not familiar with this process to overlook certain aspects of it. One of the biggest examples of this is the sheer amount of results that may be obtained from even a single […]