vertical-slice
Installation
SKILL.md
Purpose
The vertical slice answers a different question from the concept prototype: "Can we build this full game loop at production quality, on schedule?"
Default use — run late in Pre-Production, after GDDs, architecture, and UX specs are complete. It is a near-production-quality build demonstrating one complete [start → challenge → resolution] cycle.
Post-pivot? If a PIVOT verdict from an earlier vertical slice sent you back to revise GDDs and architecture, run this again after revisions to re-validate. It can be run as many times as needed until a PROCEED or KILL verdict is reached.
It validates:
- The pipeline (can the team actually produce this quality of content?)
- Execution feasibility (are the architecture decisions correct for this game?)
- Fun survival (does the fun from the concept prototype survive full design?)
- Velocity (how long did this take? That's your real production rate estimate.)