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Concept prototype — validate the core idea is worth designing before writing GDDs. Run right after /brainstorm and /setup-engine. Routes to HTML, Engine, or Paper path based on game type. Produces a throwaway build and a PROCEED/PIVOT/KILL verdict.
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| name | prototype |
| description | Concept prototype — validate the core idea is worth designing before writing GDDs. Run right after /brainstorm and /setup-engine. Routes to HTML, Engine, or Paper path based on game type. Produces a throwaway build and a PROCEED/PIVOT/KILL verdict. |
| argument-hint | [concept-description] [--path html|engine|paper] [--review full|lean|solo] [--spike] |
| user-invocable | true |
| allowed-tools | Read, Glob, Grep, Write, Edit, Bash, Task, AskUserQuestion |
| model | sonnet |
| agent | prototyper |
| isolation | worktree |
This is the concept prototype — a fast, throwaway build that answers one question: "Is this core idea actually fun to interact with?"
Default use — run right after /brainstorm and /setup-engine, before writing
GDDs or architecture docs. Its verdict determines whether the concept is worth the
investment of full design documentation.
Mid-production? You can also run this at any stage to test a specific mechanic,
design change, or technical question. Pass --spike to activate spike mode: a
lightweight ~4-hour build with no GDD prerequisites and no phase gate implications.
Already have GDDs and architecture complete? To validate the full game loop
before committing to Production, run /vertical-slice instead.
Resolve the review mode (once, store for all gate spawns this run):
--review [full|lean|solo] was passed → use thatproduction/review-mode.txt → use that valueleanCheck for spike mode: If --spike was passed, skip to the Spike Mode section
at the bottom of this skill.
Otherwise, use AskUserQuestion to confirm intent before proceeding:
Prototype this concept — build a throwaway build to validate the core idea is fun before writing GDDs (1–3 days)Skip — concept already proven — I have enough evidence this works; log it and proceed directly to designMid-production spike — I'm already in Production and want to test a specific mechanic or technical question quickly (~4 hours, no phase gate implications)If "Skip — concept already proven":
Ask (plain text, not a widget): "What evidence do you have that the concept works?"
Record the one-line answer, then stop. Note: "Concept prototype skipped — evidence:
[answer]." Suggest next step: /map-systems or /design-system [mechanic].
If "Mid-production spike": skip to the Spike Mode section below.
If "Prototype this concept": continue with Phase 1 below.
A note on prototype strategy: The research on successful indie development is consistent — building 2-3 concept variants and letting the best one win is far more likely to succeed than iterating one concept until it works. This is your first prototype, not necessarily your only one. If this prototype produces a PIVOT verdict, consider whether to refine this concept OR start fresh with a different angle on the same game idea and prototype that instead.
Game jam as a prototype vehicle: If you're planning a concept prototype anyway, consider timing it to a game jam (Ludum Dare, GMTK Game Jam, Global Game Jam). Jams provide a forced timebox (48-72 hours), instant distribution to thousands of players who rate and review early builds, and a deadline that prevents scope creep by design. Many shipped games (Celeste, VVVVVV) began as jam prototypes. Not required — but worth considering if the timing is right.
Read the concept description from the argument. Before building anything, define the falsifiable hypothesis this prototype must answer:
"If the player [does X], they will feel [Y] — we will know this is true if [measurable signal Z]."
Good: "If the player swings on grapple hooks, traversal will feel fluid — we'll know if players chain 3+ swings without stopping within 2 minutes of picking it up."
Bad: "Does this feel fun?" ← not testable, not falsifiable.
If the concept is too vague to form a hypothesis, stop here. Ask the user to narrow the question before proceeding. A prototype without a clear question wastes time.
Also ask: "What is the riskiest assumption in this concept?" That is the first thing the prototype should test — not the easiest part, the riskiest.
Read design/gdd/game-concept.md if it exists. Extract:
Read CLAUDE.md and .claude/docs/technical-preferences.md for the engine and
language in use.
Select the prototype path. If --path [html|engine|paper] was passed, use that.
Otherwise, use this quick-reference first, then read the full path details below:
| Genre | Recommended path | Key reason |
|---|---|---|
| Platformer / action / fighter | Engine | Feel IS the hypothesis; browser latency produces false results |
| Racing / sports | Engine | Same — timing and physics feedback are the point |
| Top-down shooter / twin-stick | Engine | Aim feel is timing-sensitive |
| Puzzle (logic) | HTML or Paper | Timing is not the point; logic and clarity are |
| Card game | Paper first | Fastest iteration by hand before touching code |
| Narrative / visual novel | Paper (Twine / Ink / Yarn Spinner) | Story is the mechanic — test it without code overhead |
| Strategy / 4X / city builder | Paper (spreadsheet sim) | Validate economy and progression rules before building |
| Roguelike (systems-heavy) | Paper → Engine | Validate that the ruleset is interesting before building |
| Idle / clicker / incremental | HTML | Turn-based logic, no feel sensitivity required |
| Rhythm game | Paper first (design levels in audio) | Design levels before the engine exists |
| RPG / open world | Paper → Engine | Systems complexity: validate rules, then validate feel |
| Horror / atmospheric | Engine | Atmosphere requires real rendering |
Rule of thumb: "Does this feel right?" → Engine. "Are these rules interesting?" → Paper. "Is this logic correct?" → HTML or Paper.
Best for: Puzzle games, card games, turn-based strategy, word games, idle games, top-down logic games. Anything where timing precision doesn't matter.
Reliability: ~85–90% one-shot. The agent writes a single self-contained HTML file the user opens in a browser — no install required.
Limitation — browser latency lies about game feel. Browsers introduce 50–133ms of rendering variance. This makes HTML prototypes fundamentally unreliable for action games, platformers, fighting games, or anything where input timing, jump arcs, or collision feel are what you're testing. If feel is the hypothesis, use the Engine path instead.
Alternative tools for this path: PICO-8 (extreme constraints, great for retro arcade concepts, web-export in one command), Phaser.js (more capable browser game framework, still no install needed), or Twine (narrative/choice-based games). These are faster than raw HTML for their respective genres — suggest them if appropriate.
Output: A single prototype.html (or PICO-8/Phaser equivalent) the user opens in any browser.
Distribution — the HTML path's biggest advantage: Unlike Engine prototypes, this build can reach real players globally in minutes. Use this actively:
Best for: Action games, platformers, physics-heavy games, anything where moment-to-moment feel IS the hypothesis. Use this when HTML latency would lie about the result.
Reliability: ~50–60% one-shot. Expect 2–4 rounds of iteration — this is normal, not a failure.
Limitation — requires engine installed and running. This path is a multi-turn collaborative loop:
Sunk cost rule: If the user has been iterating for more than 2 hours without reaching a playable state, stop. The scope is too large or the question is wrong. Reframe the hypothesis and simplify aggressively, or switch to Paper path.
Output: A minimal runnable engine project in prototypes/[name]-concept/.
Lighter alternative — Love2D (Lua): If the project engine (Godot, Unity, Unreal) feels too heavy to stand up for a throwaway build, consider Love2D — a minimal 2D framework that installs in minutes, requires no project scaffolding, and renders natively with no browser latency. Used by many indie devs for rapid 2D action and platformer prototypes (Balatro prototyped in Love2D; Nuclear Throne's early builds used it). It sits between HTML overhead and full engine overhead: heavier than opening a browser, lighter than setting up a full engine project. Best for 2D action/platformer feel validation when the project engine is 3D-first or takes significant time to configure.
Best for: Strategy games, card games, board game-style mechanics, economy systems, progression loops, any game where the logic can be simulated by hand. Works for any genre when you need to validate rules, not feel.
Reliability: 100%. No code, no engine, no install.
Limitation — cannot validate moment-to-moment feel. Paper prototypes prove that the rules are internally consistent and the decisions are interesting. They cannot tell you whether jumping feels right or whether explosions feel satisfying.
Paper playtest observation protocol (run this with 5+ people):
Output: A printable rules document + a completed play log showing one simulated session.
Narrative tools for this path: For dialogue-heavy and story-driven games, skip the generic rules doc — use a dedicated narrative scripting tool instead:
All three let you write and playtest branching dialogue in minutes. Key metric for narrative prototypes: time to first emotional beat — how many exchanges before the player feels something? If it takes more than 3-4 exchanges, the opening is too slow.
Assess which path best fits the hypothesis, then use AskUserQuestion with your
recommendation pre-stated:
HTML — browser prototype — puzzle, card, turn-based, strategy, idle. Opens by double-clicking, no install. 85–90% reliable. Not suitable for action games — browser latency lies about feel.Engine — native prototype — action, platformer, physics, or anything where feel IS the hypothesis. 50–60% one-shot; 2–4 iteration rounds are normal. Requires engine installed.Paper — rules document + play log — strategy, economy, logic, board-game-style mechanics. 100% reliable. Cannot validate feel.Define in 3–5 bullet points the minimum viable prototype:
Scope constraint: A concept prototype tests ONE mechanic — not the whole game. If scope covers more than one mechanic, cut it down. When in doubt, cut more.
Present this plan to the user before building. Get confirmation before proceeding.
Once confirmed, write a session checkpoint to production/session-state/active.md
(create production/session-state/ if it does not exist). Include: concept name,
hypothesis, path chosen, scope bullet points, and current phase ("Phase 5 —
Implement"). This lets the next session resume without starting over if the session
ends mid-build — especially important for multi-day Engine path work.
Ask: "May I create the prototype directory at prototypes/[concept-name]-concept/
and begin implementation?"
If yes, create the directory. Every file must begin with:
// PROTOTYPE - NOT FOR PRODUCTION
// Question: [Core question being tested]
// Date: [Current date]
Standards are intentionally relaxed:
Do not add polish. No menus, no game over screens, no music, no tutorial text unless the tutorial IS the mechanic being tested. Every addition beyond the hypothesis is waste.
Playtesting tip: If you have access to anyone who hasn't seen the game — friends, family, strangers online — watching them play without explanation gives far better signal than testing it yourself. Watch silently; don't guide them. Confusion is data. Ask one question after: "What was confusing?" Not "Did you like it?"
No external testers available? Use rotation: if you built system A, you're a naive tester for system B. In a two-person team this works well. Solo developer? Step away for 2-3 days before playing fresh — you won't have perfect first-impression signal, but you'll surface the worst blockers. Another option: play your own prototype as a speedrun (force yourself through it in 5 minutes without stopping to fix things) — the friction you feel is what strangers will hit.
Want more granular UX data? Ask the tester to think aloud as they play — narrate their thoughts in real time: "I'm pressing space... nothing happened... is that the jump key?" This surfaces confusion the moment it happens rather than waiting for a post-play debrief. Best for UI/UX and onboarding clarity. Silent observation is still better for testing raw feel; think-aloud changes how people play slightly but gives much richer data about why they're confused.
HTML prototype? itch.io, Reddit (r/playmygame), and Discord (GMTK, Brackeys) let you reach strangers today at zero cost — see the distribution options in the HTML path section above.
Testing AI, NPC, or complex system behavior before writing the code? Use the Wizard of Oz technique: one person plays normally while a second person secretly controls the NPC, enemy, or system behavior in real time — making the decisions a human would make, not an algorithm. The player believes it's automated. This lets you validate whether your AI design feels right before writing a single line of pathfinding or decision tree code. When you observe what responses the human controller naturally produces, you learn exactly what the AI needs to do.
After writing the initial code:
"The prototype files are written. Run the project in your engine now. If there are errors, paste them here and I'll fix them. If it runs, describe what you see and whether it feels like it's answering the question."
Iterate until the prototype is playable. Each loop:
Write a single prototype.html to prototypes/[concept-name]-concept/. Include
all styles, logic, and assets inline. The file must be openable by double-clicking
with no server required.
Write prototypes/[concept-name]-concept/rules.md (the game rules) and
prototypes/[concept-name]-concept/play-log.md (a simulated session walking
through one complete play cycle step by step with dice rolls, decisions, and
outcomes narrated).
The prototype is built. Now hand it to the user and capture what they actually experienced. Do NOT skip to report generation — the report is only as good as the observations you collect here.
For HTML path: Say exactly this:
"The prototype is ready. Open
prototypes/[name]-concept/prototype.htmlin your browser and play it. Take as long as you need. Don't rush through it — try to approach it the way a new player would. Come back here when you're done."
For Engine path: The multi-turn iteration loop already captured errors and behavior. Now ask for the overall assessment:
"Now that it's running — play through it a few times as if you're the player, not the developer. Come back when you have a feel for it."
For Paper path: Say exactly this:
"Read through
prototypes/[name]-concept/rules.mdand walk through theplay-log.mdas if you're playing it for the first time. If you have someone nearby, try running the rules with them. Come back when you've seen at least one full play cycle."
Once the user returns, ask these questions one at a time — wait for each answer before asking the next:
Hypothesis check:
"The hypothesis was: [restate the hypothesis from Phase 1]. Did it hold up — CONFIRMED, PARTIALLY CONFIRMED, or REFUTED? Tell me what you saw."
Best moment:
"What was the moment — if any — where it felt like it was working? Be specific."
Worst moment:
"What was the most frustrating, confusing, or broken moment? Be specific — not 'it felt slow' but 'the jump took about half a second to respond and it felt like I was fighting the controls'."
Surprise:
"Did anything happen that you didn't expect — good or bad?"
Verdict:
"PROCEED, PIVOT, or KILL — and one sentence why."
Collect all answers before moving to report generation. If any answer is vague ("it felt fine", "pretty good"), ask a follow-up: "Can you be more specific? What exactly felt fine about it?" Precise observations make the report useful. Vague ones make it useless.
Read .claude/docs/templates/prototype-report.md to get the report structure.
Fill in every section based on what was observed during this session. Replace all
placeholder text with real observations — no generic filler.
Ask: "May I write this report to prototypes/[concept-name]-concept/REPORT.md?"
If yes, write the file. Then update prototypes/index.md (create if it does not
exist) — append one row to the concept prototype table: concept name, date, path
used, verdict (PROCEED/PIVOT/KILL), and a link to the REPORT.md. If a PIVOT chain
exists (prior PIVOT-NOTE.md in a related concept folder), note the chain. This file
is the project's complete history of what was tried and what was learned.
Review mode check:
solo → skip. Note: "CD-PLAYTEST skipped — Solo mode."lean → skip. Note: "CD-PLAYTEST skipped — Lean mode."full → spawn creative-director via Task using gate CD-PLAYTEST if
design/gdd/game-concept.md exists with game pillars defined. If pillars are
not yet defined, note: "CD-PLAYTEST skipped — game pillars not yet defined at
concept prototype stage."Pass: the full REPORT.md content, the original hypothesis, and game pillars /
core fantasy from design/gdd/game-concept.md.
The creative director evaluates the result against the game's creative vision and confirms, modifies, or overrides the recommendation. Their verdict is final. Update REPORT.md if the verdict differs.
Output a summary: the hypothesis, the result, and the final recommendation.
Link to prototypes/[concept-name]-concept/REPORT.md.
If PROCEED: Your concept prototype validated the core idea. Now design it properly, informed by what you just learned.
Recommended path (in order):
/design-review design/gdd/game-concept.md — validate the concept doc against what the prototype revealed/gate-check — confirm readiness to advance to Systems Design/art-bible — define visual identity (optional but worth doing before GDDs)/map-systems — decompose the concept into all game systems/design-system [mechanic] — GDD for each MVP system; use prototype learnings
in the Tuning Knobs and Formulas sections/review-all-gdds — cross-system consistency checkNote: If you used the HTML path and feel is still uncertain, consider running a quick engine path prototype targeting feel before writing GDDs.
If PIVOT:
Before routing to the next prototype, capture the carry-forward note. Ask these two questions (plain text, one at a time):
Ask: "May I write this to prototypes/[concept-name]-concept/PIVOT-NOTE.md?"
If yes, write the file with: original hypothesis, what to keep, what to change, and
the revised hypothesis for the next prototype. When /prototype is next run, check
prototypes/ for any PIVOT-NOTE.md files — if found, read them and use the
revised hypothesis as the starting point rather than forming one from scratch.
/prototype [revised-concept] to test the adjusted direction/brainstorm [hint] if the concept needs more fundamental rethinkingIf KILL:
Before moving on, run this check to confirm the verdict is sound and not temporary frustration:
If 2+ boxes apply → KILL verdict is sound. If 0–1 apply → consider one more focused PIVOT before killing.
Document the kill in prototypes/GRAVEYARD.md (create if it doesn't exist).
Ask: "May I append this concept to prototypes/GRAVEYARD.md?" If yes, add one entry:
## [Concept Name] — YYYY-MM-DD
- **Kill reason:** [specific blocker — not "it was boring" but "players never understood the core action"]
- **What worked:** [2-3 things worth carrying forward to future concepts]
- **What failed:** [the specific mechanic, design decision, or scope issue]
- **Next time:** [one explicit action to try differently on a similar concept]
This file exists so the same mistake doesn't get made twice on the next concept.
/brainstorm open or /brainstorm [new-hint] to explore a different conceptTriggered by: --spike flag OR "Mid-production spike" entry choice in Phase 1.
Purpose: Test a specific technical or design question mid-production, without the overhead of a full concept prototype workflow. No GDD prerequisites. No phase gate implications. Hard cap: ~4 hours.
When to use:
Spike Mode workflow (replaces Phases 1–9):
Define the spike question (plain text, not a widget): "What specific question does this spike answer? Give me one sentence: 'Can we [do X] using [approach Y]?'"
Choose path — same AskUserQuestion widget as Phase 3 (HTML / Engine / Paper).
Scope — maximum 2-3 bullet points. One mechanic, one technical question, nothing else.
Build — same relaxed standards as concept prototype. Hard cap: 4 hours. If not demonstrable in 4 hours, the question is too large. Split it.
Observe and decide — no formal playtest debrief. Ask: "Did the spike answer the question? YES or NO, and why in one sentence."
Write a spike note (not a full report) to prototypes/[concept-name]-spike-[date]/SPIKE-NOTE.md:
Update production/session-state/active.md to clear the spike and return to the current sprint state.
No CD gate. No phase gate. No PROCEED/PIVOT/KILL. Spike results inform decisions; they don't make them. The developer decides whether to add the mechanic/approach to the sprint backlog based on what the spike revealed.
Performance spike (special case): If the game involves demanding rendering — large open worlds, hundreds of simultaneous physics bodies, heavy particle systems, complex shaders — run a performance spike before writing gameplay code to confirm the target hardware can sustain the required framerate. This is distinct from other spikes in two ways: