Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
The player-centric approach taught in this topic applies to user interface design,
as it does to all aspects of designing a game. Therefore, the discussion is tightly
focused on what the player needs to play the game well and how to create as
smooth and enjoyable an experience as possible.
About Innovation
Although innovation is a good thing in almost all aspects of game design—theme,
game worlds, storytelling, art, sound, and of course gameplay—do
not
innovate
unnecessarily when designing a new interface. This is especially true of button
assignments on controllers and keyboards. Over the years, most genres have
evolved a practical set of feedback elements and control mechanisms suited to their
gameplay. Learn the standard techniques by playing other games in your chosen
genre and adopt whichever of them is appropriate for your game. Pay special atten-
tion to games that are widely admired as the best of their kind. Their UI probably
helped them secure that reputation.
DESIGN RULE
Do
Not
Innovate Unnecessarily in UI Design
If a standard exists, use it
—
or as much of it as works with your game. If you force the
player to learn an unfamiliar UI when a perfectly good one already exists, you will frus-
trate him and he will dislike the game no matter what other good qualities it has.
If you do choose to offer a new user interface for a familiar problem, build a tutorial
level and playtest it thoroughly with both novice and experienced players. If test-
ing shows that your new system is not a
substantial
improvement over the traditional
approach, go back to what works. Also be sure to allow the player to customize the
interface in case he doesn't like it. The section “Allowing for Customization”
addresses this further near the end of this chapter.
Some General Principles
The following general principles for user interface design apply to all games regard-
less of genre:
■
Be consistent.
This applies to both aesthetic and functional issues; your game
should be stylistically as well as operationally consistent. If you offer the same
action in several different gameplay modes, assign that action to the same controller
button or menu item in each mode. The names for things that appear in indica-
tors, menus, and the main view should be identical in each location. Your use of
color, capitalization, typeface, and layout should be consistent throughout related
areas of the game.
