**Wizard of Oz-ing** is a method where you create the **illusion of a fully functional product** while manually handling parts of the process behind the scenes. This technique gets its name from **The Wizard of Oz**, where a seemingly powerful wizard is actually just a person operating controls behind a curtain.

**Wizard of Oz testing** is a powerful way to **validate ideas and gather real user feedback** without fully building the product. It’s a **cost-effective and high-impact** approach to **experimenting and innovating**. Instead of diving straight into development, use **Wizard of Oz testing** to get a **sneak peek into your product’s future** and refine it before investing resources.

What is the main idea behind Wizard of Oz-ing?

Game design is the art and science of crafting engaging, immersive, and interactive experiences. Learn core game design concepts, such as player archetypes, gameplay mechanics, and design thinking, while also exploring ideation techniques, prototyping methods, and testing strategies. Through an iterative design approach, you'll gain the skills to conceptualize, refine, and evaluate games, whether for video games, board games, or interactive experiences. Perfect for aspiring game designers, developers, or anyone curious about the creative and analytical aspects of game design.

Learn the fundamentals of game design, including what defines a game, its key elements, and the role of a game designer.

Learn how different player archetypes influence game design and shape player experiences. Explore the MDA Framework to understand how mechanics, dynamics, and aesthetics work together to create engaging gameplay.

Generate ideas with Brainstorming and Crazy 8, challenge assumptions with The Worst Possible Idea, and refine concepts using Structured Ideation Techniques.

Explore different types of prototypes, create quick iterations with rapid prototyping, map player experiences using user journey mapping, and simulate interactions with Wizard of Oz-ing.

Assess game design with heuristic evaluation, gather insights through the think-aloud protocol, and collect player feedback using interviews and questionnaires.

Introduction to Game Design

Wizard of Oz-ing