---
title: "Tags"
url: https://u-play.co/tags/
description: "The eight subjects the writing at U Play is filed under, with the pieces under each."
---

# Tags

8 subjects across 9 pieces

Eight subjects run through the writing here. Each piece carries two of them, shown under its title. The full chronological list lives on the [archive page](https://u-play.co/archive/).

## criticism

Writing about games: description, method and the shape of a piece.

- 2 July 2026[The rules you don't write down](https://u-play.co/the-rules-you-dont-write-down/)
- 6 May 2026[Writing about play](https://u-play.co/writing-about-play/)

## design

How games are put together, and what the parts do to each other.

- 12 August 2026[Reading a game by its verbs](https://u-play.co/reading-a-games-verbs/)
- 5 August 2026[Why small games end well](https://u-play.co/why-small-games-end-well/)
- 18 June 2026[Notes on difficulty](https://u-play.co/notes-on-difficulty/)
- 4 June 2026[Making a game in a weekend](https://u-play.co/making-a-game-in-a-weekend/)
- 21 May 2026[What toys teach designers](https://u-play.co/what-toys-teach-designers/)

## difficulty

Demand, resistance and the several different things the word covers.

- 18 June 2026[Notes on difficulty](https://u-play.co/notes-on-difficulty/)

## making

Getting something finished: scope, process and shipping.

- 28 July 2026[Paper prototypes first](https://u-play.co/paper-prototypes-first/)
- 16 July 2026[Playtesting with strangers](https://u-play.co/playtesting-with-strangers/)
- 4 June 2026[Making a game in a weekend](https://u-play.co/making-a-game-in-a-weekend/)

## play

Play as an activity, including the parts nobody publishes.

- 12 August 2026[Reading a game by its verbs](https://u-play.co/reading-a-games-verbs/)
- 5 August 2026[Why small games end well](https://u-play.co/why-small-games-end-well/)
- 2 July 2026[The rules you don't write down](https://u-play.co/the-rules-you-dont-write-down/)
- 6 May 2026[Writing about play](https://u-play.co/writing-about-play/)

## playtesting

Watching other people play, and reading what happens.

- 16 July 2026[Playtesting with strangers](https://u-play.co/playtesting-with-strangers/)

## prototyping

Cheap early versions and what they can and cannot answer.

- 28 July 2026[Paper prototypes first](https://u-play.co/paper-prototypes-first/)

## toys

Open-ended objects and what they demonstrate about attention.

- 21 May 2026[What toys teach designers](https://u-play.co/what-toys-teach-designers/)