DicePeak – Exploring the Craft of Game Design
Structured Playtesting and Rulebook Support for Board Game Designers
We assist designers in identifying problems in their game, analyzing game mechanics, facilitating better game experiences for players, and designing rulebooks that players can understand and use on their own.
We specialize in:
- Playtesting & Development Feedback: A consistent series of playtesting was carried out at various degrees of development, from initial playable prototypes to targeted and blind playtests.
- Game Analysis: concentrated on the examination of the mechanics, play balance, flow, decision making, interactions, pacing and the frequency of the characteristics.
- Rulebook Review & Development: clearer structure and usage, need for more obvious use of the terminology, missing rule identification, examples, usability testing, help with rewriting/structuring.
Every game is different. DicePeak modifies the testing process to fit your game‘s current state, your development goals, and all the questions you want answered. We tell you what is working, diagnose what could be holding back your game, and give you straightforward recommendations for the next version.
Why Choose Us
Testing Built Around Your Game
Each game has unique requirements. We tailor the testing goals, practices, the players, and the evaluations depending on which stage your game is in its development and on what you would like to find out.
Structured, Actionable Feedback
We don‘t just give you a general impression. Our report highlights priority issues, describes how they may affect your game, and offers actionable recommendations to inform your next steps.
Support Through Every Iteration
Game development is an ongoing process. We can help you by continuing to playtest, balancing, blind testing, and improving the rule book as the game develops.
Our Services
Structured Playtesting with expert groups and Rulebook support for Designers and Publishers
Every game comes to development with different needs. DicePeak offers targeted services to help designers determine gameplay, prioritize problems, refine their rules and make decisions for their next design.
Services can be contracted on an individual basis or bundled into a staged development schedule around the requirements of the game and its testing phase
Developmental Playtesting
We perform structured playteststo help understand how your game actually performs. Depending on stage, we look at: core gameplay loop, player decisions, interactions, pace, downtime, engagement, preparation, win/end conditions, and components.
Finally, results are grouped in to simple observations, major issues and recommendations for the next release of the game.
Targeted Playtesting & Balance Analysis
If a game is suspected of having a issue, or a specific aspect which needs examination, we construct a series of directed tests around that question. this may encompass any of the following: mechanics, faction design, individual cards, number of players, dominant strategies, scoring method, resource economy or game pacing.
As and when relevant, we keep structured results and run quantitative analysis to identify common results, trends and potential balance problems.
Blind Playtesting & Rules Usability
Blind playtesting tests to see if new players can learn the game and play it without direction from the designer.
Watching how players read the rulebook, setup guide, components, terminology, player aids, and order of play. It is from these observations that ambiguities, missing information, wrong assumptions and usability issues can be discovered that cannot be during designer led testing.
Rulebook Review & Development
We evaluate and enhance rulebooks with regard to clarity, structure, completeness, consistency, and user-friendliness.
May involve finding holes in the rules, reorganizing sections, removing inconsistent terms, making passage of play clearer, editing examples, verifying component references, catching odd situations, and rewriting or creating sections with the designer.
Iterative Development Support
Very few reports mark the end of a game development project. Updates allow us to perform focused retesting, check if the problems have been dealt with, ascertain the presence of unwanted consequences and help the game further during later updates.
The entire game, and therefore the scope of each new phase, is set by the modifications made to it and the unresolved questions.
Sell Sheet & Presentation Support
Once the game is ready to be shown, this is something we can help you organize and fine-tune, from the way the information is presented to publishers to the design of your portfolio.
May comprise editing or creating a one page sell sheet; explaining the game theme; on how the game works, how it plays, and including the player experience; and editing and polishing submission materials. This service enhances presentation, but does not guarantee acceptance by a publisher.
👉 Unsure which services your game requires? Provide a brief summary of your game and what stage it is currently in development, as well as your questions. We can advise.
“In the world of board games, every idea deserves its own peak. At DicePeak, we don’t just play, we help creators design, refine, and showcase their games, turning passion into polished, standout experiences.”
The DicePeak Team
Tell Us About Your Game
No matter if you are creating an early playable prototype, looking into a particular design issue, testing blind playtests, or refining your rulebook, tell us where your game is at and what you want to test.
Provide a brief overview of the game, such as what it is, where development is currently at, how many players and how long it lasts, and any particular questions or issues you‘d like us to address.
We will assess your enquiry and advise you on the best level to start with according to your projects requirements.
Ready to start? Request an Initial Assessment.
Dice Peak 