Presented at the CUNY Games Festival in January 2014. Video games are different from other types of software in that people are more accepting of frustrating user interfaces. However, those frustrations can distract players and detract from the fun of the game. How can we learn from user experience (UX) design in order to improve the usability of video games, and how can even the smallest games benefit from UX design practices?

1. Fun & Usable
Making Better, More Intuitive Games
Catt Small @cattsmall
#UXinGames

2. O hai!
I am Catt Small and I like video games

3. I’m a UX designer
#UXinGames

4. I’m a teacher
#UXinGames

5. I’m a game maker
#UXinGames
#UXinGames

6. UX?!

7. People & machines
Jurassic Park
#UXinGames

8. Good UX helps people to
Get things done
Efficiently and painlessly
Jurassic Park
#UXinGames

9. Removes friction
Jurassic Park
Tii Shirt
#UXinGames

10. Good UX Design increases satisfaction
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11. Good UX Design gets your game noticed
Jurassic Park
Dots Game, © Betaworks
SpellTower © Zach Gage
#UXinGames

12. Good UX Design has ROI
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13. Common frustrations in games
Jurassic Park
#UXinGames

14. Poor onboarding
What key is the “Evert button”?
Eversion, © Zaratustra Productions
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15. Inconsistent interactions
Why don’t I die? Why don’t I hurt enemies?
Spelunky, © Mossmouth, LLC
#UXinGames

16. Mazes of menus
How am I supposed to find anything?
Dota 2, © Valve
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17. Correcting bad UX
BUILD
DESIGN
TEST
#UXinGames

18. Discovery interviews

19. Interviews help you
Find an audience
For your game
Jurassic Park
#UXinGames

20. The design document

21. Design documents help you
Define the vision
For your game
Jurassic Park
#UXinGames

22. What is my game about?
What is my game’s core mechanic?
How should my game feel?
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23. UX Design & You
Prototyping

24. Prototyping helps you
Test hypotheses
Without wasting time
Jurassic Park
#UXinGames

25. Sketching/Paper prototyping
Printable sketching paper, H/T konigi.com
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26. Pseudo-code programs
Jurassic Park
GameMaker Studio, © Yoyo Games
Construct 2, © Scirra
#UXinGames

27. UX Design & You
Usability testing

28. Usability testing helps to
Identify problems
With UX in your game
Jurassic Park
#UXinGames

29. Bring your game with you
EVERYWHERE
Jurassic Park
#UXinGames

30. FIVE
PEOPLE
Are all you need
Jurassic Park
#UXinGames

31. DOCUMENT ALL
THE THINGS!
You won’t regret it.
Jurassic Park
#UXinGames

32. Rinse & repeat
DESIGN
BUILD
TEST
Until you feel satisfied with your game

33. Observe good design
Get inspired by others.
#UXinGames

34. Criticism is necessary
Humility is important.
#UXinGames

35. UX is your friend!
Persevere and you’ll succeed.
#UXinGames

36. Thank you!
Questions?
Tweet me @cattsmall.
#UXinGames