Game Design
The whole experience - how all systems work together
Ux Categories Overview
User Experience Categories Overview
Section titled “User Experience Categories Overview”Understanding UX Categories
Section titled “Understanding UX Categories”In this module, we’ll discover how to examine the user experience for different categories of a game.
Restaurant Analogy
Section titled “Restaurant Analogy”If you think of a restaurant, each meal they prepare will have individual ingredients that make up a delicious dish in the end, but also having an amazing atmosphere of a restaurant and how good the service might be.
The same is true for game design. Different systems throughout your game make up a great user experience.
Main UX Categories
Section titled “Main UX Categories”While this is not a complete list, it is a good selection of a few main categories for the user experience:
Level Design
Player flow and navigation through environments
Combat Design
How fighting and abilities feel and function
Objective Design
Quests, missions, and player goals
Crafting Design
Resource gathering and creation systems
UX vs Game Design Relationship
Section titled “UX vs Game Design Relationship”User experience is closely related to full-on game design, but it is more catered towards the player’s perspective.
Example: Level Design
Section titled “Example: Level Design”Level design involves game designers creating a proper flow for the player to walk through. During this process, the designer will have a clear intention on what the player will be doing along their journey through the level.
User experience is the method of watching that player move through the level, testing to see if they are able to complete the task that you set out for them.
Measuring Design Intentions
Section titled “Measuring Design Intentions”User experience is how we measure our intentions as a designer - to see if our ideas are working or not working.
We examine user experience through a series of questions to solve during playtesting:
Methods of Analysis
Section titled “Methods of Analysis”- Direct feedback from players
- Observing player actions during gameplay
- Self-testing as you develop your game design
The answer to these questions isn’t always through direct feedback, but also observing your players’ actions during gameplay. These are things to think about as you test your game design yourself.
Testing and Iteration Philosophy
Section titled “Testing and Iteration Philosophy”Understanding how players interact with different game systems allows designers to:
- Identify what’s working and what isn’t
- Iterate on designs based on real player behavior
- Validate design intentions through observation
- Improve systems before they become problematic
Each category of user experience has its own unique considerations and questions that need to be answered through careful testing and observation.
The goal is to ensure that all systems work harmoniously together to create a cohesive, enjoyable player experience that matches the designer’s vision while remaining accessible and engaging for the target audience.