| name | vertical-slice-planning |
| description | Define a vertical slice that proves gameplay, quality bars, and production viability without over-building the full game. |
| origin | everything-game-dev-code |
| category | workflow |
Vertical Slice Planning
Purpose
Define a vertical slice that proves gameplay, quality bars, and production viability without over-building the full game.
Use When
- moving from concept into pre-production
- you need investor, publisher, or internal proof of feasibility
- the team needs a shared quality bar
Inputs
- game pillars
- candidate feature set
- team capacity
- target platforms and risks
Process
- choose the smallest scope that still demonstrates the intended experience
- define what must be real versus what can stay stubbed or faked
- set success criteria across gameplay, UX, art, audio, and performance
- identify risks the slice must retire
- turn the slice into milestone-sized deliverables
Outputs
- vertical slice definition
- quality bar checklist
- risk retirement goals
- milestone scope for the slice
Quality Bar
- the slice has a single stated proof goal: what it must demonstrate and to whom
- every included feature ties to the proof goal; everything else is explicitly cut
- acceptance criteria are demonstrable in a single playthrough session
- the plan states what is faked (placeholder art, scripted sequences) and what must be real
Common Failure Modes
- slices that try to prove everything and become miniature full productions
- including features because they exist, not because the proof goal needs them
- undeclared fakery — stakeholders judge faked systems as real, or real systems as faked
- no explicit decision about what happens after the slice (promote, rebuild, or discard)
Related Agents
- planner
- producer
- gdd-designer
- technical-design-lead
Related Commands
- vertical-slice
- milestone-plan
- plan
Notes
- Keep this skill aligned with the relevant rules layer and current project documentation.
- If engine-specific constraints materially change the workflow, hand off to the matching engine skill or engine-specific reviewer.
