User Testing: In Theory and Practice

Dairy Dash User Testing: Slide Slides/Audio (80 MB)

Join Tatyana Garat, Marketing Director of Absolutist Ltd and lead game designer of Dairy Dash™, and Aaron Norstad, Senior Producer for PlayFirst, Inc., as they share the kind of key user insights and testing protocols necessary for building a hit game. Walking through the game development of Dairy Dash– a spin-off of PlayFirst’s immensely popular Diner Dash® series—Tatyana and Aaron will explain how different phases of research helped shape the game into a hit. Specific areas of testing to be discussed include informal one-on-one testing, usability, company-wide play dates, and formal ‘first peek’ programs.

Delivered at Casual Connect Kyiv, October 2008

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Aaron NORSTAD (email)

Aaron Norstad is a Senior Producer at PlayFirst, Inc., where he runs the external production studio and is responsible for the development of all 3rd party content. Managing partnerships with studios around the globe, Aaron has launched hit brands such as Chocolatier®, The Nightshift Code™, and Parking Dash™. Prior to joining PlayFirst, Aaron produced award-winning educational games for LeapFrog Enterprises, working on a range of top-selling innovative platforms while creating original and licensed IPs, including Mind Wars, Brain Teasers, Harry Potter, Batman Begins, Schoolhouse Rock, and Finding Nemo. During the first rev of interactive TV, Aaron helped build the iTV studio Two Way TV US in L.A., gaining an early entry into casual gaming.

Tatyana GARAT (email)

Tatyana started her gaming career in Absolutist where she join their marketing team. Quickly Tatyana was promoted to Marketing Manager and soon after the now appointed title of Marketing Director. Tatyana is also involved in game development on the creative and design side. Tatyana was most recently the lead designer on Dairy Dash, published by PlayFirst.

HOME \| LECTURES & ARTICLES \| REFLECTION & POSTMORTEM \| User Testing: In Theory and Practice Slides/Audio (80 MB) Join Tatyana Garat, Marketing Director of Absolutist Ltd and lead game designer of Dairy Dash™, and Aaron Norstad, Senior Producer for PlayFirst, Inc., as they share the kind of key user insights and testing protocols necessary for building a hit game. Walking through the game development of Dairy Dash– a spin-off of PlayFirst’s immensely popular Diner Dash® series—Tatyana and Aaron will explain how different phases of research helped shape the game into a hit. Specific areas of testing to be discussed include informal one-on-one testing, usability, company-wide play dates, and formal ‘first peek’ programs. Delivered at Casual Connect Kyiv, October 2008 DOWNLOAD Aaron NORSTAD (email) Aaron Norstad is a Senior Producer at PlayFirst, Inc., where he runs the external production studio and is responsible for the development of all 3rd party content. Managing partnerships with studios around the globe, Aaron has launched hit brands such as Chocolatier®, The Nightshift Code™, and Parking Dash™. Prior to joining PlayFirst, Aaron produced award-winning educational games for LeapFrog Enterprises, working on a range of top-selling innovative platforms while creating original and licensed IPs, including Mind Wars, Brain Teasers, Harry Potter, Batman Begins, Schoolhouse Rock, and Finding Nemo. During the first rev of interactive TV, Aaron helped build the iTV studio Two Way TV US in L.A., gaining an early entry into casual gaming. Tatyana GARAT (email) Tatyana started her gaming career in Absolutist where she join their marketing team. Quickly Tatyana was promoted to Marketing Manager and soon after the now appointed title of Marketing Director. Tatyana is also involved in game development on the creative and design side. Tatyana was most recently the lead designer on Dairy Dash, published by PlayFirst.