Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 7. Interface Design for Mobile
Games
In the previous chapter, we described the I/O capabilities of today's smartphones. In
this chapter we will analyze the process of creating user interfaces for mobile games
which take advantage of such capabilities.
With so many different screen sizes, so little space to work with, and no real standard
in the videogame industry, interface design is one of the toughest parts of creating a
successful game. We will provide you with what you need to know to address the task
properly and come up with optimal solutions for your mobile games. In this chapter,
we will cover the following topics:
• Approach to user interface design
• Diegesis theory and videogames
• User interface design
• Icons design
• Best practices of UI design
• "Must-have" game options
The role of the user interface
The user interface is the element that most affects the gameplay of a title, as it defines
how the player interacts with the game and accomplishes the task he is presented
with.
A well-designed user interface can make a game with simple mechanics feel fresh
and interesting, while fully supporting the expectations of the player. It is always a nice
surprise for a player when he realizes he can perform some specific action exactly
how he imagined it through the game interface: if you can make many players happy
like that, your game will climb up the sales charts!
At the same time, the contrary is true as well. No matter the number of innovative
game features and mechanics, the quality of graphics and sound, the license you are
exploiting, or the story you develop throughout a game, if the interface is patchy, in-
tricate, not intuitive and unappealing, your game isn't likely to sell well.
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