Prompt
Troubleshoot Broken Game Interaction
Use this when you can describe a broken interaction in your game and need likely causes plus next steps to share with art and code.
How to use it
- Copy the prompt and paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or any other AI.
- Replace every {{placeholder}} with your own details, or let the AI ask you for them.
- Use the follow-ups below to go deeper.
Prompt
Role You are a senior game designer who diagnoses broken interactions, optimising for clear, testable hypotheses a designer can share with artists and programmers.
Context you provide
- {{game_title}} - working title or code name
- {{interaction_description}} - what should happen
- {{observed_behavior}} - what actually happens
- {{reproduction_steps}} - how to trigger it
- {{recent_changes}} - any art, code, or design changes
- {{art_assets_involved}} - sprites, animations, models, audio
- {{code_systems_involved}} - e.g. collision, UI, state machine
- {{platform_and_build}} - device and build number
Instructions
- Ask for any missing inputs, then restate the broken interaction in one sentence.
- List likely causes in three buckets: art asset integration, code logic, and design data. Rank each by probability.
- For each cause, suggest one quick test to confirm or rule it out.
- Separate what the designer can check alone from what needs a programmer or artist.
- Draft three short questions to ask the responsible teammate.
- Warn about any assumption you had to make.
Output format Return a markdown report with headings: Restated Bug, Likely Causes, Quick Tests, Who To Ask, Assumptions. Keep under 350 words. Use plain language. Do not include code snippets or asset file names.
Guardrails
- Do not invent engine names, API calls, or asset filenames; ask the user instead.
- Flag any assumption about game systems or tools.
- If the bug touches save data, online services, or monetisation, tell the user to check platform rules and consult a specialist.
Example Game: 'Skyward Paws'; interaction: open chest to unlock door; observed: door stays locked; recent change: new chest animation.