For Game Designers

Protospiel exists for you. Bring a game that's even vaguely playable, put it in front of real players, and find out what works, what doesn't, and what to try next. You'll also meet artists, editors, and marketers who can help you finish it. If you're a student designer, January lands right at the start of RIT's spring semester, so the timing is on your side.

Before the Event

The first thing you need to do is Buy a Designer badge. Get your badge.

Friday	Saturday	Sunday	Weekend
$20	$35	$25	$60

Then there are a few other optional things that will help boost your visibility:

Register your prototype. Use the Prototypes page. If you're bringing more than one game, please list them individually. Players use the same page to see what's coming and to mark the games they want to play, so you'll know who's interested.
Want players to know when to find you? After you buy a badge, you will receive an email with a link to a form where you can announce when you'll be running your game. These are 3-hour blocks throughout the day but there is no guarantee that the tables will be free. The public schedule looks like this.
Want a guaranteed table? Add a reserved 4-hour block to your badge for $16 (details below).

Games at Every Stage Are Welcome

Games can range from "just the shell of a concept" all the way to "final testing to see if anything was missed." Some designers will ask about particular parts of their game, and others just want general feedback. Tell your players which one you're after.

Vaguely playable? Bring it.
Nearly done and just needs more eyes? Bring it.
Thought of it on the drive over? Grab some parts and pieces and scribble down some rules. We'll see where it goes.
Published and available for sale? Leave it at home. This weekend is for games in development.

Your Table Options

	Open Play Tables	Reserved Table
Cost	Free	$16 per 4-hour block
How it works	First come, first served. About two hours per round.	A guaranteed table for your block, with a table sign and a spot on the printed schedule
Where	26 tables in the main space	6 tables, set apart in the main space

New This Year: Designer Scheduling

A limited number of designers can sign up to announce when they are going to try to be at an Open Play Table. (Restrictions apply.)

Announcing your run times is separate from reserving a table. It tells players when you'll be running your game, but it doesn't hold a table for you. When your time comes, grab any open table, or reserve one if you want a guaranteed spot.

Time Slots

Friday			3-6PM	6-9PM	9-Midnight
Saturday	9AM-Noon	Noon-3PM	3-6PM	6-9PM	9-Midnight
Sunday	9AM-Noon	Noon-3PM	3-6PM

Restrictions:

You cannot schedule back-to-back time slots.
There are only 10 scheduling slots available for each time slot.

If you want a guaranteed table, add a reserved table block to your badge.

Reserved Tables

Table reservations are for a 4-hour timeslot and slots can be reserved back-to-back. If you combine two table blocks in a row (Saturday or Sunday only), you have the table for 9 hours.

Friday			7-11PM
Saturday	9AM-1PM	2-6PM	7-11PM
Sunday	9AM-1PM	2-6 PM

You don't have to reserve. Most designers will use the Open Play Tables. Set up at any open table and put out a table-top pool noodle so people know you're looking for players. Setting a timer on your phone helps everyone keep time. The Open Play Tables page explains how it works.

Note: Reserved tables that are not reserved during a given time slot are WIP (Work in Progress) tables. There should be no game playing, but you can work on your revisions while they are free.

Keep the Tables Moving

Table space is limited. We'd like to see everyone's game, and you probably don't want to be talking all weekend long.

A good rule of thumb: for every hour you run a game, play someone else's game for an hour.
Set two alarms on your phone when your game starts: one at 2 hours to wrap up and collect your feedback, and one at 2 hours 30 minutes to pack up so the next designer can set up.
Making changes to your game? Use the "WIP" (Work In Progress) table instead of tying up a play table.
Need more than one table or more than eight players? Contact us in advance so we can plan how to schedule, promote, and recruit for your playtest.

What to Bring

Your prototype, and enough to explain it quickly.
Contact information. A business card, a QR code, or social media links someone can snap a picture of and start following you. If you only bring one thing, bring this.
A feedback form of your own, tailored to what you most want to learn.
Some spare cards, a pencil, and tape. Games can change in an hour or two, and quick fixes are half the fun.

Playtesting Both Ways

Giving and getting feedback is a skill. Playtesting 101 covers how to give feedback, how to receive it, and how to take turns.

Need Art, Editing, or Marketing Help?

Artists and professionals will be here to meet designers like you. Stop by the Artists & Professionals tables and bring your contact information. If you meet someone you want to work with, plan to pay them. Everyone who does professional work, including artists, deserves to be paid.