The developers behind Star Wars Galactic Racer tested the game's roguelite progression system by first creating a board game prototype. Fuse Games' creative director Kieran Crimmins explained that the team needed to playtest the system to understand its feel, a process that can be accelerated by using the right prototyping tool for the job.
"You can't know if you can feel the system until you can play the system," Crimmins told Eurogamer. CEO Matt Webster added that while modern game engines are capable, a physical prototype allows for a faster iteration on core ideas, decoupling the concept from specific engine limitations and focusing on moment-to-moment gameplay.
The board game specifically simulated the racer's progression, which involves earning rewards after each event. These typically include tuning points to upgrade one of three random stats, or a new part that affects a speeder's abilities or provides bonuses. After a series of races, players can spend accumulated credits on further upgrades, parts, or new abilities.
This system, unusual for a racing game, incorporates roguelite elements such as unlocking new items that enter a larger pool for future runs and permanent upgrades that carry over between playthroughs. Crimmins likened the process to using Post-it notes, scribbles, and dice to quickly validate the intended player emotions and design intentions.
"There's a prototyping tool for every kind of system that you want to prototype," Crimmins stated, "and the one that you pick should be the one that gets you there the quickest, and gets you to validate the emotion the quickest."