Game Sketching

As Agustin, M. et al (2007) put it, "the essence of a sketch is an abstract representation that gives an overview of a piece of work without dwelling on the details of the implementation." Game sketching is a method of exploring and evaluating concepts of games whilst spending minimal resources on implementation. This differs from prototyping, which aims to produce a limited implementation of a game before evaluation.

The value of game sketching
Since so little resources are spent on implementing sketches, there is an increased tendency to spark conversation and discussion about the sketch. This increased discussion around the concept can save time and money later when the prototype or even final implementation would have to be changed to include new ideas.

Game sketching as part of the game development lifecycle
Agustin, M. et al (2007) recommend that game sketching takes very early in the development process, soon after the games concept is realised. Game sketching should take place before the games design document is written, but after the games concept and business parameters. It can take place alongside the development of art concepts.

Limitations
Game sketching should not be seen as a part of the production cycle, but rather as part of pre-production. It is about ideation and inspiring communication rather than producing useful content for the final implementation; no content created for the game sketch should be used in the end-product. This is the limitation of game sketching, and if it is ignored then the creativity and usefulness of the process is compromised. Agustin, M. et al (2007) give an example of this where one group of students, using the game sketching software, try to create something of too high a fidelity but become frustrated by the limitations and their end-product is nothing like the game sketch.

References
Agustin, M.; Chuang, G.; Delgado, A.; Ortega, A.; Seaver, J.; Buchanan, J. W.: Game Sketching. Perth, Western Australia, 2007.