concept-validator

name	concept-validator
description	Validate game concepts by analyzing technical feasibility, scope warnings, and comparing to similar games. Use this when the user has a game idea that needs stress-testing.
domain	design
type	validator
version	1.0.0
allowed-tools	["Write","WebSearch"]

Game Concept Validator Skill

This skill stress-tests game concepts by analyzing technical feasibility, identifying scope risks, and providing realistic assessments based on similar games and industry patterns.

Workflow Context

Field	Value
Assigned Agent	design-lead
Sprint Phase	Pre-sprint ideation
Directory Scope	docs/ideas/
Workflow Reference	See docs/agent-team-workflow.md

---

When to Use This Skill

Invoke this skill when the user:

• Says "validate this game concept"
• Asks "is this game idea feasible?"
• Presents a game concept and wants reality-check
• Says "can I build [game description]?"
• Asks "what are the risks of this idea?"
• Wants to know "how long would this take?"
• Needs to convince stakeholders (team, investors, etc.)

---

Core Principle

Honest, constructive validation that:

• ✅ Identifies technical challenges early
• ✅ Provides realistic scope estimates
• ✅ Compares to proven similar games
• ✅ Highlights both strengths and risks
• ✅ Suggests scope adjustments if needed
• ✅ Empowers informed decision-making

This is NOT a "yes/no" tool - it's a reality check that helps users build smarter.

---

Input Requirements

The skill needs the user to provide:

Required Information

1. Game Concept Description
   • Core gameplay loop
   • Primary mechanics
   • Genre/style
   • Target experience

Contextual Information (Ask if missing)

2. Development Context

   • Timeline (days/weeks/months)
   • Team size and roles
   • Engine/tools being used
   • Experience level

3. Scope Parameters

   • Target platform
   • Expected playtime/content
   • Production quality expectations
   • Must-have vs nice-to-have features

---

Validation Workflow

Phase 1: Concept Analysis

Extract and categorize:

1. Core Mechanics

   • What are the primary gameplay mechanics?
   • How many systems need to interact?
   • What's the complexity of each system?

2. Technical Requirements

   • Physics/movement systems needed?
   • AI/pathfinding complexity?
   • Networking/multiplayer?
   • Procedural generation?
   • Save/load systems?
   • UI complexity?

3. Content Requirements

   • Art assets needed (count and complexity)
   • Audio requirements
   • Level/map design scope
   • Narrative/dialogue volume
   • Animation complexity

4. Scope Indicators

   • Number of interconnected systems
   • Content volume (levels, enemies, items)
   • Polish expectations
   • Platform requirements

---

Phase 2: Feasibility Assessment

Evaluate each aspect:

Technical Feasibility

• 🟢 Low Risk: Built-in engine features, proven patterns
• 🟡 Medium Risk: Custom systems, moderate complexity
• 🔴 High Risk: Novel tech, complex integration, multiplayer

Scope Feasibility

• Timeline vs Features: Can stated features fit timeline?
• Team vs Workload: Enough people for required disciplines?
• Experience vs Complexity: Does team have needed expertise?

Common Risk Patterns

🚨 Red Flags:

• "Open world" without large team/timeline
• Multiplayer for first-time developers
• "Procedural everything" without PCG experience
• 3D + physics + AI + multiplayer simultaneously
• "Like GTA but..." scope creep
• Vague core loop ("explore and discover")

⚠️ Yellow Flags:

• Many systems with unclear integration
• Ambitious AI without prototyping
• Complex UI/UX without designer
• Cross-platform without testing resources
• Content-heavy with small team

✅ Green Flags:

• Clear, focused core loop
• Proven mechanics in new combination
• Incremental feature set (MVP → polish)
• Technical scope matches team skills
• Realistic content volume

---

Phase 3: Similar Games Analysis

Find and analyze comparable games:

1. Identify Similar Games (3-5 examples)

   • Same genre/mechanics
   • Similar scope
   • Both indie and AAA examples
   • Successful and failed projects

2. Extract Lessons

   • Development timeline
   • Team size
   • What worked well
   • What they cut/simplified
   • Common player feedback

3. Scope Comparison

   • How does user's concept compare?
   • What did similar games ship with?
   • What features came later?

---

Phase 4: Generate Validation Report

Create comprehensive analysis covering:

1. Executive Summary

   • Overall feasibility rating
   • Key risks
   • Recommended path forward

2. Technical Analysis

   • System-by-system breakdown
   • Complexity ratings
   • Required expertise
   • Tech stack recommendations

3. Scope Analysis

   • Feature count vs timeline
   • MVP vs full vision
   • Suggested cuts/phases
   • Realistic estimates

4. Similar Games Comparison

   • Comparable projects
   • Development stats
   • Key learnings
   • What to emulate/avoid

5. Risk Matrix

   • High/medium/low risk items
   • Mitigation strategies
   • Critical path features

6. Recommendations

   • Proceed as-is / adjust scope / reconsider
   • Specific cuts or additions
   • Phasing strategy
   • Prototype priorities

---

Output Format

# Game Concept Validation Report

**Concept:** [Concept Name/Summary]
**Submitted by:** [User]
**Date:** [Date]
**Validation Status:** 🟢 Feasible | 🟡 Feasible with Adjustments | 🔴 High Risk

---

## Executive Summary

**Overall Assessment:** [2-3 sentence verdict]

**Feasibility Rating:** [X/10]

**Key Strengths:**
- ✅ [Strength 1]
- ✅ [Strength 2]
- ✅ [Strength 3]

**Key Risks:**
- 🚨 [Critical risk 1]
- ⚠️ [Medium risk 1]
- ⚠️ [Medium risk 2]

**Recommended Path:**
[Clear recommendation: proceed, adjust scope, or reconsider with specific next steps]

---

## Concept Breakdown

### Stated Vision
[Restate user's concept clearly and objectively]

### Core Gameplay Loop

1. [Player action]
2. [System response]
3. [Player decision]
4. [Outcome/reward] → Repeat

### Primary Mechanics
- **[Mechanic 1]**: [Description + complexity rating]
- **[Mechanic 2]**: [Description + complexity rating]
- **[Mechanic 3]**: [Description + complexity rating]

### Development Context
- **Timeline:** [X weeks/months]
- **Team:** [Size and composition]
- **Engine:** [Engine name]
- **Platform:** [Target platform]
- **Experience:** [Team experience level]

---

## Technical Feasibility Analysis

### System-by-System Breakdown

#### [System 1 - e.g., Movement System]
**Complexity:** 🟢 Low | 🟡 Medium | 🔴 High
**Description:** [What it does]
**Requirements:**
- [Technical requirement 1]
- [Technical requirement 2]
**Estimated Effort:** [X days/weeks]
**Risk Level:** [Low/Medium/High]
**Mitigation:** [How to reduce risk]

#### [System 2 - e.g., Combat System]
[Same structure]

#### [System 3 - e.g., Progression System]
[Same structure]

### Technical Risk Summary
| System | Complexity | Risk | Effort | Notes |
|--------|------------|------|--------|-------|
| [System] | 🟢🟡🔴 | Low/Med/High | X days | [Key challenge] |

### Critical Technical Challenges
1. **[Challenge 1]**: [Description + suggested approach]
2. **[Challenge 2]**: [Description + suggested approach]

### Required Expertise
- ✅ **Have:** [Skills team already has]
- ⚠️ **Need:** [Skills to acquire or hire]
- 🔴 **Critical Gap:** [Missing skills that block progress]

---

## Scope Feasibility Analysis

### Timeline vs Features

**Given Timeline:** [X weeks/months]

**Feature Count:** [Y features]

**Realistic Estimate:** [Z weeks/months]

**Scope Verdict:**
- 🟢 **Achievable:** Features fit timeline comfortably
- 🟡 **Tight:** Achievable if everything goes well
- 🔴 **Overscoped:** Need to cut features or extend timeline

### MVP Definition

**Minimum Viable Product (Core Experience):**
1. [Essential feature 1]
2. [Essential feature 2]
3. [Essential feature 3]
4. [Essential feature 4]

**Estimated MVP Timeline:** [X weeks]

**Post-MVP Polish & Content:**
- [Feature to add after MVP]
- [Content expansion]
- [Quality improvements]

**Estimated Full Scope Timeline:** [Y weeks]

### Recommended Cuts (If Overscoped)
- ❌ **Cut:** [Feature] - [Why not essential to core loop]
- ⬇️ **Simplify:** [Feature] - [How to reduce scope]
- 🔄 **Defer:** [Feature] - [Add in post-launch update]

### Content Volume Assessment

| Content Type | Planned | Realistic | Effort | Notes |
|--------------|---------|-----------|--------|-------|
| Levels/Maps | [X] | [Y] | [Z days] | [Comment] |
| Enemies | [X] | [Y] | [Z days] | [Comment] |
| Weapons/Items | [X] | [Y] | [Z days] | [Comment] |
| Art Assets | [X] | [Y] | [Z days] | [Comment] |

---

## Similar Games Comparison

### Game 1: [Title]
**Release:** [Year]
**Team:** [Size]
**Dev Time:** [Months]
**Platform:** [Platform]

**Similarities:**
- [How it's similar to user's concept]

**Key Stats:**
- Development time: [X months]
- Team size: [Y people]
- Budget: [If known]
- Content volume: [Levels, mechanics, etc.]

**What They Did Well:**
- ✅ [Lesson 1]
- ✅ [Lesson 2]

**What They Cut/Simplified:**
- [Feature they initially planned but cut]
- [System they simplified]

**Player Feedback:**
- [What players loved]
- [What players wanted more of]

**Lessons for Your Concept:**
[How this game's experience applies to user's idea]

---

### Game 2: [Title]
[Same structure]

---

### Game 3: [Title]
[Same structure]

---

### Comparative Analysis

**Your Concept vs Similar Games:**

| Aspect | Your Concept | [Game 1] | [Game 2] | [Game 3] |
|--------|--------------|----------|----------|----------|
| Scope | [Rating] | [Rating] | [Rating] | [Rating] |
| Team Size | [X] | [Y] | [Z] | [A] |
| Dev Time | [X mo] | [Y mo] | [Z mo] | [A mo] |
| Complexity | 🟢🟡🔴 | 🟢🟡🔴 | 🟢🟡🔴 | 🟢🟡🔴 |

**Key Insight:**
[What this comparison reveals about feasibility]

---

## Risk Matrix

### 🔴 High Risk Items (Must Address)

| Risk | Impact | Probability | Mitigation Strategy |
|------|--------|-------------|---------------------|
| [Risk 1] | High | High | [How to mitigate] |
| [Risk 2] | High | Medium | [How to mitigate] |

### 🟡 Medium Risk Items (Monitor Closely)

| Risk | Impact | Probability | Mitigation Strategy |
|------|--------|-------------|---------------------|
| [Risk 1] | Medium | High | [How to mitigate] |
| [Risk 2] | High | Low | [How to mitigate] |

### 🟢 Low Risk Items (Manageable)

| Risk | Impact | Probability | Mitigation Strategy |
|------|--------|-------------|---------------------|
| [Risk 1] | Low | Medium | [How to mitigate] |

### Critical Path Analysis

**Blocking Risks** (must solve to proceed):
1. [Risk that blocks all progress]
2. [Foundational risk]

**Parallelizable Risks** (can work on simultaneously):
- [Risk 1]
- [Risk 2]

**Deferrable Risks** (can address later):
- [Risk that affects polish, not core]

---

## Detailed Recommendations

### Verdict: [Proceed / Adjust Scope / Reconsider]

#### If Proceeding As-Is (🟢 Feasible)
**Why it works:**
- [Reason 1]
- [Reason 2]

**To maximize success:**
1. [Recommendation 1]
2. [Recommendation 2]
3. [Recommendation 3]

**Prototype priorities:**
1. [What to build first to validate concept]
2. [Second priority]

---

#### If Adjusting Scope (🟡 Feasible with Changes)
**Required changes:**
1. **[Change 1]**: [Why necessary]
2. **[Change 2]**: [Why necessary]

**Suggested MVP:**
[Redefined minimum viable product with cuts]

**Phased Roadmap:**
- **Phase 1 (MVP):** [Features - X weeks]
- **Phase 2 (Polish):** [Features - Y weeks]
- **Phase 3 (Content):** [Features - Z weeks]

**With these changes:**
- Timeline: [Original X weeks → Adjusted Y weeks]
- Scope: [Original features → MVP features]
- Risk: [Original risk level → New risk level]

---

#### If Reconsidering (🔴 High Risk)
**Why it's risky:**
- [Critical issue 1]
- [Critical issue 2]

**Alternative approaches:**

**Option A: Pivot to Smaller Scope**
[Suggest a narrower version of the concept that's achievable]

**Option B: Prototype First**
[Suggest building a small prototype to validate before committing]

**Option C: Build Prerequisite Skills**
[Suggest smaller projects to build up to this one]

**Questions to ask yourself:**
- Can you live with a much smaller version?
- Do you have 2-3x the stated timeline?
- Can you bring in experienced help?
- Is this the right first project?

---

## Next Steps

### Immediate Actions (This Week)
1. [Actionable step 1]
2. [Actionable step 2]
3. [Actionable step 3]

### Short-Term (Next 2-4 Weeks)
1. [Step 1]
2. [Step 2]

### Long-Term (Beyond Month 1)
1. [Step 1]
2. [Step 2]

### Decision Points
**By [Date]:** [Decision to make - e.g., "Decide if prototype validates core loop"]
**By [Date]:** [Next decision - e.g., "Commit to full production or pivot"]

---

## Appendix: Estimation Formulas

**Used in this report:**

### Feature Complexity Scoring
- **Simple (1x):** Built-in engine features, minimal custom code
- **Moderate (2-3x):** Custom systems, moderate integration
- **Complex (5-10x):** Novel mechanics, deep integration, multiplayer

### Content Volume Estimates
- **Art asset:** [X hours per asset]
- **Level/map:** [Y hours per level]
- **Enemy/character:** [Z hours including AI, art, balance]

### Team Velocity Assumptions
- **Solo developer:** [X hours/week productive time]
- **Small team:** [Y hours/week per person]
- **Experience multiplier:** [Beginner 0.5x, Intermediate 1x, Expert 1.5x]

---

## Follow-Up Services

After reading this report, you can:

- **Refine Concept:** Provide adjusted concept for re-validation
- **Create Prototype Plan:** Use `/roadmap-planner` for phased roadmap
- **Generate GDD:** Use `/gdd-generator` to formalize design
- **Explore Alternatives:** Use `/game-ideator` for alternative ideas
- **Deep-Dive Analysis:** Request system-specific technical analysis

---

**Report generated by Claude Code - Concept Validator Skill**
**For questions or clarifications, ask for elaboration on any section**

---

Validation Principles

Be Honest, Not Discouraging

• ✅ Point out risks clearly
• ✅ Suggest concrete solutions
• ✅ Acknowledge what's good
• ❌ Don't crush dreams without alternatives
• ❌ Don't rubber-stamp bad ideas

Be Specific, Not Vague

• ✅ "Combat system needs state machine, collision detection, hit feedback - estimate 2 weeks"
• ❌ "Combat will be hard"

Be Realistic, Not Pessimistic

• ✅ Use industry data and similar games
• ✅ Account for learning curves
• ✅ Include buffer for unknowns
• ❌ Don't assume everything goes perfectly
• ❌ Don't assume worst-case for everything

Be Constructive, Not Critical

• ✅ "Cut feature X, focus on Y" with reasoning
• ✅ "Simplify Z to reduce scope without losing core"
• ❌ "This is too ambitious" without suggestions

---

Research Strategies

Finding Similar Games

Search patterns:

• "[Genre] + [key mechanic] + indie game"
• "[Core loop description] + game"
• "Games like [inspiration] but smaller scope"

Sources:

• Itch.io (indie games with dev blogs)
• Game jams (Ludum Dare, GMTK)
• Postmortems (Gamasutra, dev blogs)
• "Making of" videos (GDC, YouTube)

Extracting Development Data

Look for:

• Dev time (search "development time", "took X months")
• Team size (credits, about pages)
• Tech stack (Unity/Unreal/Godot tags)
• Scope changes (postmortems mention cuts)
• Player counts (Steam stats)

Red flags in research:

• No postmortem data available → estimate conservatively
• Only AAA examples → scale down significantly
• Very old games → tech has changed

---

Complexity Estimation Guide

System Complexity Ratings

🟢 Low Complexity (1-3 days for experienced dev)

• Basic movement (WASD/arrow keys)
• Simple collision detection
• Basic UI (menus, buttons)
• Sprite animation
• Sound effect playback

🟡 Medium Complexity (1-2 weeks for experienced dev)

• State machines (player states, enemy AI)
• Pathfinding (A* for navigation)
• Inventory systems
• Save/load functionality
• Particle effects and juice
• Basic procedural generation (e.g., random level layouts)

🔴 High Complexity (3+ weeks for experienced dev)

• Multiplayer/networking
• Complex procedural generation (e.g., terrain, dungeons)
• Advanced AI (behavior trees, machine learning)
• Physics-based puzzles
• Dialogue systems with branching
• 3D with custom shaders

Content Production Rates

Pixel Art (solo artist):

• Simple sprite: 1-2 hours
• Character (4 directions, 3 animations): 8-16 hours
• Tileset: 8-16 hours
• UI set: 4-8 hours

3D Assets (solo artist):

• Simple prop: 2-4 hours
• Character: 20-40 hours
• Environment: 40-80 hours

Level Design:

• Tutorial level: 4-8 hours
• Standard level: 8-16 hours (including layout, testing, balance)

Audio:

• Sound effect: 30 mins - 2 hours
• Music track: 4-8 hours

Multiplier Factors

Experience level:

• Beginner: 2-3x estimates
• Intermediate: 1x estimates
• Expert: 0.7x estimates

Engine familiarity:

• New engine: 1.5x estimates
• Familiar engine: 1x estimates

Team coordination:

• Solo: 1x estimates
• 2-3 people: 1.2x estimates (communication overhead)
• 4+ people: 1.5x estimates (coordination overhead)

---

Common Concept Patterns

Pattern: "Like X but Y"

Example: "Like Vampire Survivors but with crafting"

Validation approach:

1. Research X (Vampire Survivors)
   • What made it successful?
   • How long to develop?
   • What's the minimum feature set?
2. Evaluate Y (crafting addition)
   • How complex is crafting system?
   • Does it complement or compete with core loop?
   • What's the integration cost?
3. Assess combined scope
   • Is it additive (2x effort) or synergistic?

Common pitfall: Underestimating integration complexity

---

Pattern: "Multiple Genres Combined"

Example: "Puzzle-platformer with tower defense elements"

Validation approach:

1. Identify each genre's core loop
2. Map where loops intersect
3. Assess if loops compete or complement
4. Estimate development for each separately, then add 50% for integration

Common pitfall: Each genre needs full implementation, can't cut corners

---

Pattern: "Procedural Everything"

Example: "Roguelike with procedural levels, enemies, weapons, and story"

Validation approach:

1. Prioritize what MUST be procedural
2. What can be handcrafted?
3. Prototype generator early (high risk)
4. Assess content creation vs generator development time

Common pitfall: Generator takes longer than making content manually

---

Pattern: "Massive Content Scope"

Example: "RPG with 50 quests, 20 enemy types, 100 items"

Validation approach:

1. Calculate production time per asset
2. Multiply by quantity
3. Compare to timeline
4. Suggest MVP content volume (usually 20-30% of vision)

Common pitfall: Underestimating iteration time (balance, bugs, polish)

---

Example Validation: "Mech Survivors"

User Request: "Validate this concept: A Vampire Survivors-like but with mechs that you customize between runs. 3D graphics, Godot, solo dev, 3 months."

Validation Output:

---

Game Concept Validation Report

Concept: Mech Survivors (Vampire Survivors-like with mech customization) Submitted by: User Date: 2025-12-21 Validation Status: 🟡 Feasible with Adjustments

---

Executive Summary

Overall Assessment: Achievable concept with strong core but needs scope refinement. 3D + customization significantly increases complexity compared to Vampire Survivors' 2D simplicity. Recommend starting with 2D or simplifying customization.

Feasibility Rating: 6/10 (as stated) → 8/10 (with adjustments)

Key Strengths:

• ✅ Proven core loop (Vampire Survivors formula)
• ✅ Clear differentiation (mechs + customization)
• ✅ Godot is excellent for this genre

Key Risks:

• 🚨 3D art + animation for solo dev in 3 months
• ⚠️ Customization system complexity
• ⚠️ Balance complexity with customizable builds

Recommended Path: Start with 2D top-down sprites (faster art pipeline) and simplified customization (3-4 weapon slots, 10-15 parts total). Build 3D version post-launch if successful.

---

[Rest of detailed report would follow the template above]

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Important Notes

• Tone: Supportive but honest - help users succeed, don't just say "yes"
• Data-driven: Use real examples, not gut feelings
• Actionable: Every critique should include solution
• Scoped: Focus on feasibility, not full design review
• Realistic: Account for Murphy's Law (things take longer than expected)

---

Example Invocations

User: "Validate this game concept: [description]" User: "Can I build a [game type] in [timeframe]?" User: "Is this idea feasible: [concept]" User: "Reality check on this game idea: [description]" User: "What are the risks of making [game concept]?"

---

Workflow Summary

1. Gather concept details (ask for missing context if needed)
2. Analyze technical requirements (systems, content, complexity)
3. Research similar games (3-5 examples with dev data)
4. Assess feasibility (technical, scope, timeline)
5. Identify risks (high/medium/low with mitigations)
6. Generate recommendations (proceed/adjust/reconsider with specifics)
7. Create validation report (following output format template)
8. Offer follow-up (prototype planning, GDD, alternatives)

This skill empowers users to make informed decisions about their game concepts, setting them up for realistic success.