E82: The Art & Science of Game Prototyping with Leif Johansen

What if everything you thought about prototyping was wrong? Many teams rush to validate an idea too soon, but what if the real secret to success is building a studio that learns better? In this episode, Leif Johansen breaks down the myths of prototyping and how studios can create a structured approach to experimenting with game ideas.   Key Takeaways: - Stop Searching for the “Perfect Prototype” – The best teams prioritize many small, fast failures over one high-stakes prototype. - Prototyping Is a Science and an Art – The most successful studios create intentional experiments that map out their design space before committing to a vision. - Build a Learning Machine, Not Just a Game – A strong studio isn’t just about good ideas—it’s about a team that knows how to test and refine them. - Innovation Comes from Small Fixes, Not Big Ideas – World of Warcraft and Apex Legends didn’t just win by reinventing the wheel; they won by refining existing formulas with micro-improvements. - Hiring Too Fast Can Kill Your Game – Too many studios hire for downstream roles (art, animation) before locking in core mechanics, creating inefficiencies and wasted resources.   👉 Connect with Leif Johansen - Leif Johansen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leif-johansen-52139141   Our Discord community is live! Join here to engage with leaders and producers in game dev looking to make our industry a better place: https://discord.gg/ySCPS5aMcQ Interested in an online course on becoming a better game producer? Check it out here: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/succeeding-in-game-production Subscribe to our newsletter for game development insights: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/newsletter   Follow & Subscribe: - Ben’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich/ - YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@buildingbettergames - Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6QD5yIbFdJXvccO8Z5aXpm 🚀 Support the Show! Help us create more amazing content by joining us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BBGOfficial