Meet us at PAX Australia · 9–11 October 2026 · Melbourne
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The Mad Fun Lab · Playtester pool

Help us break games before we put them in a box.

We recruit ordinary Australian households, send them unreleased prototypes and ask them to learn without the designer in the room. Their first-time reactions show us what works, what drags and what needs to change.

Apply to the pool

This is blind testing, not a promotional giveaway. Testers film the session, return the prototype within 72 hours and give us the evidence we need to improve the game.

How it works

1. Join the pool

Tell us about you and your crew. Applying doesn't guarantee selection — we pick testers that fit each game.

2. Get a prototype

If you're picked, we ship you an unreleased game plus prepaid return postage. Keep it hush-hush.

3. Play & film it

Play with your group — everyone's first time — and record the session on video.

4. Send it all back

Within 72 hours, send us the video and post everything back using the prepaid postage.

The requirements

This is the serious bit. Play testing only works if every tester can do all of the following — please read them before applying.

You live in Australia

We ship prototypes and prepaid return postage within Australia only, so the pool is open to Australian residents.

You're 18 or older

The person signing up must be 18+. Younger players can join in — they're covered by a parent or legal guardian who gives permission and accepts the confidentiality terms.

A reliable crew

You can reliably gather at least 2 players — and tell us the usual size and age range of your group.

First-time players only

Every player at the table must be playing the game for the very first time. Fresh eyes only.

Video, within 72 hours

You can record your play sessions on video, you tell everyone at the table they'll be filmed, everyone consents (with a parent or guardian consenting for anyone under 18), and you send the footage back within 72 hours.

Confidentiality

You sign our plain-English non-disclosure agreement when you apply, on behalf of everyone at your table. Under-18s are covered by their parent or guardian.

Everything comes back

Prototypes are precious. You return everything we sent using the prepaid postage provided.

It's a pool, not a promise

Applying adds you to our tester pool. Selection for any given test is not guaranteed.

Apply to join the pool

Two minutes, honest answers. We'll only email you when a test fits.

About you

This is where we'd post a prototype if you're picked.

The tester pool is currently open to Australian residents only.

Your crew
Non-disclosure agreement

Please read the agreement below in full. By ticking the box and submitting this application, you are signing it.

Mad Fun Games play tester non-disclosure agreement

1. Who this agreement is between

This agreement is between Mad Fun Games (Unit 12, 14 Starkey Street, Forestville, NSW 2087, Australia) and you, the person applying to the play tester pool. You must be 18 or older to sign it. It is a legally binding contract governed by the laws of New South Wales, Australia.

2. What is confidential

Everything we send you or tell you about an unreleased game: the cards, rules, artwork, names, mechanics, prototypes, packaging, pricing, release plans, and anything you learn while testing — including your own notes, photos and video of the session. Information that is already public, or that you can show you already knew before we shared it, is not confidential.

3. What you agree to do

Keep all confidential information secret. Do not photograph, film for public use, post, stream, publish, sell, share or discuss the prototype or anything about it with anyone outside your play group — including on social media, forums, group chats, podcasts or with other game publishers. Use the materials only to play test the game for us.

4. You are responsible for your play group

You are responsible for making sure that nobody in your play group photographs, posts, shares, streams or publicly discusses the prototype. Every player at your table is bound by these terms through you: by signing, you accept them on behalf of your whole group, including any player under 18, whose parent or legal guardian must give permission for them to take part and accept these confidentiality terms.

5. Filming and consent

You will tell everyone at the table before you start that the session is being filmed, and you confirm everyone consents (with a parent or legal guardian consenting for anyone under 18). You grant Mad Fun Games permission to use the footage internally to develop the game, and publicly only with the further written consent of the people appearing in it. You must not publish the footage yourself.

6. Our materials stay ours

All prototypes, cards, components and materials remain the property of Mad Fun Games. You will return everything we send using the prepaid postage we provide, within the timeframe we ask. All intellectual property in the games, and in any feedback or ideas you give us about them, belongs to Mad Fun Games, and you assign any rights you may have in that feedback to us.

7. No payment, no guarantee

Play testing is voluntary and unpaid. Applying adds you to a pool; it does not guarantee you will be selected for any test. Nothing here creates employment, partnership or agency between us.

8. How long it lasts, and what happens if it's broken

Your confidentiality obligations start when you apply and continue until we publicly release the game concerned, or five years from the date you sign, whichever comes first. If you break this agreement, Mad Fun Games may seek an injunction and recover any loss suffered, and you may be asked to return all materials immediately. You can end your participation at any time by telling us and returning the materials — your confidentiality obligations survive.

9. Privacy

We handle your personal information in line with our privacy policy and the Australian Privacy Principles. We use your details to run the tester programme and contact you about tests.

The commitments