Making a game prototype: why the digital BAT (Good to Shoot, validation before printing) is not enough

I validated a digital proof with a client in 2023. Everything impeccable on screen. Three weeks after delivery, client feedback: "The cards slip too much, shuffling is impossible." The water-based varnish that was too smooth created excessive glide invisible on the proof. Reprint with matt varnish. Cost to the client: nothing (our mistake), to us: a significant cost + a lesson learned: require a physical prototype on any project >1,000 units.

A physical prototype of the game is produced in 5 to 10 days and costs a moderate investment depending on the level (uno-offset copy, mini-series of 5 or pre-series of 50). The cost is derisory in the face of the risk avoided on a project on a substantial budget. Here are the 3 levels of the prototype and the criterion of choice according to your technical uncertainty.

The three types of prototypes

Before you have a prototype game manufactured, identify which type is useful to you. The paper prototype (post-it, felt, white cards) is used for first player tests, cost almost zero. The digital print semi-pro prototype allows you to test in semi-final conditions, ideal for pitching to a publisher or a participatory campaign (more about our how to edit a gameThe pre-series prototype (5 to 50 copies) allows all aspects to be validated before the large series.

Each type has its own function. Many authors skip the semi-pro prototype and switch directly from paper to the large series. It is risky: the model can reveal visual or ergonomic defects that are only detected in hand.

Printing techniques for prototypes

To make a small-volume game prototype, thedigital printing It does not require tools, accepts very small prints (as early as 1 copy for some pieces), and gives professional quality. Disadvantage: Unit cost higher than offset.

For cards, count a few days of production. boxes, unit manufacturing is more complex: a prototype box is expensive but remains indispensable to validate the ergonomics of the hold and visual rendering.

Timeliness and organization

For a complete semi-pro prototype (box, cards, tray, pawns), take two to three weeks across Europe. The delay includes the pre-press (checking files, adjusting CMYK (printing color standard)), digital printing, manual assembly, and delivery. For a pressed project, certain steps can be accelerated for extra charge.

To make a prototype game economically, you can make it all at once: if you plan several versions to test (colour variations, format, cards). Our prototype offer allows these versions to be rolled out in one launch.

From prototype to series

A well-made prototype serves as a direct basis for the large series. pre-press validated on the prototype are reused as is (with adaptation to the offset The prototype is then moved to the series without any methodological break.

Remember to keep your prototypes preciously: they serve as a visual reference (colour sample, finished) throughout the project. Our team also keeps an archived copy internally, which secures any reissues.

Costs and MOQ : what we don't tell you in the initial quote

The initial quote for a project make prototype game almost always hides three variables that tilt the final budget. First variable: the actual MOQ per component. A manufacturer can display an overall MOQ, but impose distinct minimums per sub-element (specific cards, soft-touch lamination, printed wooden tokens). The quote announced in overall MOQ is therefore rarely the actual quote on arrival - hence the importance of requiring a breakdown by component to assess the consistency of the costing.

Second variable: the cost of tooling dies and plates. For an offset series, the plates represent an initial investment amortized over the quantity. On small series, this tooling cost is mechanically heavier per unit - which can transform the perception of the displayed unit price. Any serious quote distinguishes the material cost, the tool cost and the labor cost. If your quote shows a single unit price without breakdown, ask for it systematically.

Third variable: post-production logistics cost. Individual cellophane, placed in master carton, palletizing, labeling, multi-site transport, insurance: these lines are regularly forgotten in the first costing. For B2B projects delivered on several French sites (typical scenario of a large group distributing its make prototype game to several regional branches), require a costed logistics simulation before signing. This precaution avoids the surprise of a final invoice higher than expected.

On the MOQ side, several economic levels structure the market: a small volume for a test project (high unit cost but controlled investment), an intermediate volume for an initial deployment (declining unit cost), a large volume for a large deployment (optimized cost), a very large volume for a multi-year strategic project (floor cost). Choosing the right level involves balancing commercial risk and economies of scale - the classic error is to aim between two levels and pay the unit cost of a small series without benefiting from a real economy of scale. For a quote tailored to your real needs, our team will get back to you within 48 hours.

The 5 classic traps to avoid on a project make prototype game

Of the hundreds of projects make prototype game that we have supported since 2018, five errors recur more often than the others. Identifying them allows you to save several weeks on the project schedule and better control the budget. Here is the list, in order of observed frequency.

Pitfall #1: briefing the manufacturer too early. Before contacting the manufacturer, four internal decisions must be made: precise target audience, context of use (meeting, trade show, kit sent), expected behavior, internal validation circuit. Without these four decisions, any quote is arbitrary - therefore useless. This error systematically generates several commercial round trips and several lost calendar weeks.

Trap #2: underestimate the internal validation time. The period announced by the manufacturer generally starts after validation of the Good to Shoot. However, the validation of the BAT often takes more time than expected on the client side: back and forth graphics, legal validation for packaging, internal compliance verification. Anticipate this validation time in your back-planning.

Trap #3: not testing the prototype in real conditions. A prototype validated "in the office" can reveal critical defects in use conditions (room light, attention span, multi-player context). A structured test session with testers representative of the final public reveals the majority of critical defects before series production.

Trap #4: neglecting the post-manufacturing phase. Packaging, kitting, storage, split shipping: these steps represent a significant portion of the total budget but are often forgotten in the first estimates. Frame them from the initial brief to avoid unpleasant surprises at the time of delivery.

Trap #5: underinvesting in the creative brief. A creative briefing rich in visual references and textual details massively reduces the number of back and forths in the model phase. A vague brief mechanically generates significant readjustment costs and a schedule that slips. Invest time in the brief before launching manufacturing - this is the best ROI on a project. make prototype game.