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Interface. creating the connection. Guidelines for a Great Interface. Be consistent Enable shortcuts Provide feedback Offer defined tasks Permit easy reversal of actions Allow for player control Keep it simple Make it customizable Include a context-sensitive pointer
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Interface creating the connection
Guidelines for a Great Interface • Be consistent • Enable shortcuts • Provide feedback • Offer defined tasks • Permit easy reversal of actions • Allow for player control • Keep it simple • Make it customizable • Include a context-sensitive pointer • Implement different modes • Use established conventions
UsabilityDysfunctional Interfaces • Cryptic • Complex • Simplistic • Inconsistent • Inefficient • Cluttered
Interface TypesManual (Physical) • Hardware based controllers Bass Fishing Samba di Amigo Dance Dance Revolution
More Physical Interfaces • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_UQUukbpMQ • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8cASgpFQgM&feature=related • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iYBmAVuBns • This is difficult to pull off well: • http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/02/ride-developer-robomodo-increases-staff/ • More to watch on your own • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNbeRx0Pl7w • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSpW7gaJk2c&NR=1
Interface types • Active and Passive • Active = manipulated by player • Passive = just informational • Identify the active and passive interfaces in this picture
Interface TypesVisualActive • Meant to be manipulated by player Puzzle Pirates (radial/pie menu) http://www.puzzlepirates.com I Was an Atomic Mutant (main menu)
Visual Active Interfaces: think outside the console • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvhkHBfKY0Y • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ks1u0A8xdU&feature=PlayList&p=CC7D731A82D4A90E&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=15 • More to watch on your own • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzs3_F09BFw&feature=PlayList&p=8BED69B391A85204&index=0
Intuitive • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvmL1YWtGHo&feature=PlayList&p=11697B60FD5F3E89&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=98 • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNjB3-qGzHU&feature=PlayList&p=11697B60FD5F3E89&index=99&playnext=2&playnext_from=PL • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRaN0ID_B0k&feature=related
Interface TypesVisualPassive • Player cannot interact with a passive interface. True Crime: Streets of LA (HUD = heads-up display)
Interface TypesVisualStyles Whole Screen (Myst III: Exile) Split-Screen (Adventures of Fatman) Invisible (Black & White: Creature Isle)
Visual Interface ComponentsScore Super Collapse Cyclone
More on scoring • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeEGOyHKMSw • More to watch on your own • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQSuacuj9Pk (strategy is tied to scoring) • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0tWXzZMh9w&feature=related
Visual Interface ComponentsLives & Power Tour de France (Power) Super Mario Sunshine (Lives)
Visual Interface ComponentsMap Age of Mythology: The Titans Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings
Visual Interface ComponentsCharacter Character creation & management and character inventory interfaces from The Temple of Elemental Evil
Create Character • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHrwNqxOelk&feature=related • This game was designed with the goal of the ability to create completely unique avatars • If the player spends the time to choose from the thousands and thousands of choices – the possibility of meeting another player with an identical avatar is almost impossible.
Visual Interface ComponentsStart Screen Crazy Bunker
More start screens • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv-jQuZmQYE • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8IZwheWTo8 • More to watch on your own • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4Zzua3YZ2g (watch 2 minutes 20 seconds)
Saving the Game • Quick-save • Auto-save • Save to slot (or file) • “Save-game” debate • Which is better – immersion or balance control? • There is a question of balance.
Advice from Harry "Het3" Teasley • http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.16/guest/ • Don’t mistake "navigating the interface" for "playing the game.“ • Obvious decisions are not typically fun decisions to make. Don’t repeatedly force the player to explicitly make obvious decisions.