Hold your mechanic in your hands before you commit to it
A single mechanic, built into a real installable prototype — so you can feel how your game actually plays, not just imagine it.
What the Prototype Sprint delivers
A build you can install
Not a video, not a mockup. An actual build you can put on a device, tap around in, and share with someone you trust to give honest feedback.
Real touch controls
Touch feel is everything on mobile. The prototype includes basic touch input built for a phone screen — so the mechanic responds the way it needs to.
Decisions grounded in play
Once you've played your own mechanic, the questions that were fuzzy tend to become clear. This prototype gives you that grounding before committing to a full build.
Designing from the outside isn't quite enough
There's a particular gap that opens up between having a mechanic described in a document and actually playing it on a phone. You can read the loop, imagine the rhythm, picture how it might feel — and still be surprised when you tap through it for real.
That gap is where a lot of development time gets lost. Teams build systems around a mechanic that turns out to need adjusting once anyone plays it. They tune pacing for a feel they're imagining rather than one they've tested. The changes that follow take longer than they should.
Playing your own prototype isn't a luxury. For indie teams and solo developers especially, it's one of the most efficient things you can do before writing a line of production code.
One mechanic, built to be played
The Prototype Sprint focuses on a single, specific mechanic — the one that sits at the heart of your game idea. We build the core loop around it, wire up basic touch controls tuned for a phone screen, and package everything into a lightweight build you can install and try on your own device.
The goal isn't polish. It's signal. By the end of the sprint you should know whether the mechanic feels right to play — and have enough grounding to make confident decisions about what comes next.
What gets built
- Core gameplay loop for one mechanic
- Touch input controls built for mobile
- Installable build file (iOS or Android)
- Brief notes on what we observed while building
- Installation walkthrough so you can get it running quickly
The sprint from your side
Describe the mechanic
Tell us what the player does, how it responds, and what makes it interesting to you. Notes, sketches, and voice memos are all fine.
Short alignment call
We check that we understand exactly what to build and agree on the scope. This keeps the sprint focused and avoids surprises mid-way.
We build it
The sprint takes one to two weeks. We'll check in once midway if there are questions. Otherwise we focus on building.
You receive the build
We send the installable file with a simple setup guide. Play it, share it with a friend, and see how the mechanic actually behaves.
If you have a specific device preference (iOS or Android) or a constraint we should know about, just mention it when you reach out. We'll factor it in from the start.
Transparent pricing for a focused scope
Everything included
- Scoping call to align on mechanic and build goals
- Core loop implementation for one mechanic
- Touch input and mobile screen handling
- Installable build file for your chosen platform
- Installation guide and brief build notes
- One revision round after delivery
A full production build for a mobile game typically runs into tens of thousands of dollars. Testing a mechanic for $690 — before that investment begins — tends to pay for itself many times over if it catches something that needs changing.
Why prototyping early makes a measurable difference
The pattern is consistent across indie development: teams that play a prototype of their core mechanic before committing to a full build make significantly different decisions than those that skip this step. The prototype surfaces what documents can't — the actual rhythm and feel of the interaction.
Some mechanics that read well on paper need a timing adjustment once played. Others turn out to be exactly as satisfying as hoped. Either result is worth having early. One leads to a quick change; the other builds confidence in the direction you're heading.
What you can count on
The prototype and all its source assets belong to you at delivery. You can share it, build on it, or simply use it as a reference when discussing the project with others.
After delivery, if something in the mechanic behaviour needs adjusting based on what you discover while playing, one revision round is included in the price.
The prototype is a standalone deliverable. You're not committing to a longer engagement by ordering the sprint. Take it wherever makes sense for your project.
How to kick off the sprint
Reach out via the contact form
Describe the mechanic you want built. A paragraph is enough. We'll follow up with a few questions if needed.
We align on scope together
A short call or email exchange to agree on exactly what gets built. No ambiguity going in means no surprises coming out.
Play your prototype
Within one to two weeks, a build lands in your inbox. Install it, play it, and see how your mechanic actually feels on a real device.
Questions before getting started? Write to us at info@summernightskylinehub.com. We'll respond within two working days.
Your mechanic deserves to be played, not just described
A Prototype Sprint gives you something concrete to hold onto — a real build that answers the questions a document never quite can. $690, one mechanic, one playable result.
Start the conversationAt a different stage?
We have services for earlier and later points in the development journey too.
Mobile Idea Review
Not sure if the concept holds up yet? Grounded written feedback on your early idea, with honest next-step notes. No build required.
Store-Ready Tune-Up
Game built and ready to launch? A careful review of your store assets, copy, and submission steps — so the launch goes smoothly.