Read an interesting article. Here you go:
http://gamasutra.com/blogs/JosephMirabe ... e_Game.php
But here goes the question. How long does it take you (on average) to code a functional prototype?
Time to code a prototype usually accounts for its complexity, eagerness to get it done and choice of tools ...
I think it always depend on the tool you are using. Traditional coding approach could take me several days (not consecutive, of course!) to build a prototype, while leveraging Construct 2 would let me get the same result in just several hours, quicker when compare to former method.
Took me 1 year. Part time. But at this point this is maybe more than a prototype.
Develop games in your browser. Powerful, performant & highly capable.
Thanks to Construct 2, I usually get a first working prototype of my game ideas in just a few days or a couple of weeks at most.
Polishing a game, regardless of the tools being used, can take a lifetime, though
Prototypes usually take me .05 to 2 hours. That amount of types get's the basic gameplay running with simple blocks or even animations that are grabbed from the net. I can also usually get the full functionality of game up in less than a week. But as for polish as roberto says, can take a LONG time.
There are however a few exceptions to prototyping.