On March 14, 2025, the sixth GameDev & XR Meetup Thuringia took place – this time with a particularly important topic: Playtesting! The community gathered once again to test games together, provide valuable feedback, and discuss the importance of playtesting in game development.
Introduction to Playtesting
The evening kicked off with Joel, who gave a brief but insightful introduction to playtesting. He emphasized how essential this phase is for developing high-quality games and that it’s never too early to start testing.
To better illustrate the topic, a Mentimeter survey was conducted to see how participants integrate playtesting into their development processes. The results revealed interesting insights: while almost all attendees rated playtesting as extremely important for game quality (average: 8.9), many found it challenging to find reliable testers (7.1).
Hands-on: Playtesting Session
After the introduction, it was time for testing! Numerous exciting projects were presented – from digital indie games to analog prototypes. Participants had the opportunity to bring their own games and receive direct feedback from the community.
It was inspiring to see developers and enthusiasts engage in discussions: critical questions, valuable insights, and creative ideas filled the room. The variety of projects was particularly exciting – ranging from fun card games to hardcore precision platformers and innovative roguelikes.
An Evening Full of Insights & Networking
Besides playtesting, networking was also a key focus. The open atmosphere made it easy to connect with new people, exchange experiences, and discuss current developments in the game development scene.
A special highlight: the Meet&Play with GG Tactics! After the playtesting session, attendees had the chance to relax, connect, and play games together in a casual setting.
Conclusion & Outlook
The sixth GameDev & XR Meetup Thuringia was a great success! The combination of expert insights, interactive playtesting, and relaxed networking once again demonstrated the immense potential of the gaming scene in Thuringia.
We want to thank GG Tactics and everyone who participated, shared their games, provided feedback, and enriched the event with their enthusiasm!
The next meetup is already in the works – stay tuned for the next chapter of our growing community! 🚀 At an upcoming collaborative meetup with the Founders’ Roundtable of the Ernst Abbe University, perceptec GmbH will present their startup journey, developing a solution for vision tests in VR.
