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User Interface Design. For Games. What are Interfaces?. Interface Method for entity to interact with another entity What types of interfaces? Graphical Buttons, sliders, widgets, check-boxes, etc. Physical Joystick, mouse, keyboard, custom hardware, special device, etc. Auditory/Verbal
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User Interface Design For Games
What are Interfaces? • Interface • Method for entity to interact with another entity • What types of interfaces? • Graphical • Buttons, sliders, widgets, check-boxes, etc. • Physical • Joystick, mouse, keyboard, custom hardware, special device, etc. • Auditory/Verbal • Speaker, microphone, sound effects, etc.
Key Interface Components? • Control • Control the game (movement, menus, etc.) • Interaction with in-game elements (doors, NPCs, triggers, etc.) • Status • Current player condition (health, ammo, etc.) • Player relative location (mini-map, compass, radar, etc.) • Information/help • Maps (level, world, etc.) • Background stories, context
Why Study UI Design? • UI Design can make or break your user experience • Game companies are looking for UI designers • Blend of art, programming, psychology, and intuition • Bad UI design can at best, distract the user • Errors in choices • Confusion
Practice • Work in a group of 2-3 people • Pick 3 games that you are all familiar with • For each game • Identify a great user interface features/screen/etc. • Identify a not-so-great user interface feature/screen/etc. • Find screenshots to illustrate
Homework • For Wednesday • Go to Blackboard • Make sure you can see this course • Go to Piazza • Make sure you have activated your account • Go to bitBucket • Create an account • Go to Sophia • Join the group with code: a848de