1. Team Scalawags
GameOn | Web Interface
Initial Iteration Usability Findings | MidFi Prototype
20 Feb 2012
Classification Participant Modality Finding Recommendation
Critical issue Adam Web “Current location” is problematic – Clarify how location is derived, e.g. via yoked
unclear to the desktop/web browser user phone? Via address input?
how this information is derived
Good idea/ Adam Web User has reservations about logging in Restore “create an account from scratch”
serious issue with Facebook; would prefer to create affordance; may not be necessary to build
account from scratch out full flow for prototyping purposes;
simply represent the option
Serious issue Adam Web “Search for GameOn Events” – unsure Modify language to clarify affordance – user
“what that means”; sounds “company proposed “search for activities” – suggests
specific” “activities” is more multi-purpose than
“games”
Serious issue Adam Web “I’m not sure I really understand why you Recommended search by chunked time
have a radio button for hours and intervals; “broader time boundaries” –
minutes”(to search for time) quarter hour marks; use a dropdown to do
this, not radio button affordance
User wondered: “When? Does that mean
how far away you are?” Clarify that “time” indicates “start time” for
activity – not travel time to activity
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2. Classification Participant Modality Finding Recommendation
Also recommended “embedding error time”
if I know that I’m chronically late (although
I’d argue that if you know you’re chronically
late you’ll probably pad that time outside
the interface)
Serious issue Adam Web “’activity level’ sounds like energy Update label to “skill level”; this will also
expenditure”; Recommended “skill level” conform to the mobile experience
as preferred label
Serious issue Adam Web Search results: Could not determine Replace group icons with traditional google
which results on the left mapped to map marker icons; ensure map markers are
which map locations numbered and correspond with numbered
results along the left hand side; implement
similar result in mobile interface (per similar
finding in mobile testing)
Serious issue Adam Web Detail page: could not immediately Demote Elizabeth (the organizer) to mix with
determine why Elizabeth was called out the other players; call out event details apart
over other players; caused some from players and make more prominent
confusion; led to the assumption that
event details were associated with the
individual player, Elizabeth
Bug Adam Web Attempted to click icons to access Make map icons clickable
event/activity details; icons were not
clickable
Bug Adam Web When searching: “I clicked find – it’s Prototype doesn’t reflect that search inputs
found things – but this is basically the have changed outputs -- update
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3. Classification Participant Modality Finding Recommendation
same information that I put in before”
Minor issue Adam Web Unclear what “start a new game” means; Modify language to clarify affordance
was able to parse that it means initiate a
game after some struggle
Minor issue Adam Web Details page: Clarify age and players needed within the
User was able to easily ascertain the time interface; conform with mobile experience
and skill level of the event; demonstrated
confusion regarding the number of
participants and the age range of those
people playing; “If I have a minimum
number needed – want to indicate how
many people we need and how many
more are needed.”
Minor issue Adam Web “age range – that’s important? Probably Leave age filter but set “all ages” as the
not – hotness level is probably more beneficent default
important”
Both of our testers treated age with
indifference but remarked that this was
because of their own age; suggested that
singles might be more interested in this
attributes; they were more interested in
skill level
Good idea Adam Web User expects web interface to support
planning as the primary task: let me find
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4. Classification Participant Modality Finding Recommendation
a game nearby or somewhere far away
that I plan to travel to; let me save those
games and return to them later either
through the web browser or mobile
phone
“use the web based app for planning and
the mobile app for recalling plans, getting
the details, ad hoc planning”
Good idea Adam Web Re Search: “What might be interesting is Prototype refinement sliders in web
– data on the left hand side from initial interface to allow user to easily expand and
pass through information – have sliders contract results per available attributes (e.g.
on the left to allow search results to be location, time, age, activities)
refine the results – In terms of time – also
allow for refinements in search results – I
can play with some sliders to see what’s
available”
Good idea Adam Web Suggests that “my games” should be the
initial screen in the yoked mobile
experience
Good idea Adam Web When asked “what should happen next?” Prototype it?
user expects:
Confirmation email with details
regarding the event/activity and link
to map location
Expects My Games to be updated
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5. Classification Participant Modality Finding Recommendation
with event details so that he can
return to it as a dashboard of
activities (on web or mobile device)
Good idea Adam Web Scanned images and remarked: “nobody Enforce the use of avatars on sign up; when
looks like an ax murderer” social sign-in is used lift user avatar and
install by default; if account created by
Both of our testers invested time in scratch encourage an image upload or allow
inspecting user avatars to determine them to take a picture in stream and post
whether any players “looked sketchy”;
this appears to be an important factor for Depict ratings system on personal profile
deciding whether or not to opt in to the page; pursue affordance for rating players
activity; our mobile tester requested a post game
ratings system to assist player evaluation
Good idea Adam Web When asked: “what if you can’t play a Prototype it?
game you’ve already joined?”
Expects to be able to go to My Games
and “ditch the game”
Expects system to fire an update
(email or TXT) to event organizer to
let them know
Expects system to update event
details so that activity requires one
additional player
Good idea Adam Web When asked: “What if the system Prototype it?
recommended events to you? Would you
trust those recommendations?”
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6. Classification Participant Modality Finding Recommendation
Yes, interested, but expects
recommendations to be kept discrete
from self-selected activities
Expects system to explain why event
was recommended (cf Amazon
recommendations)
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7. Second Iteration Usability Findings | MidFi Prototype
26 Feb 2012
Classification Participant Modality Finding Recommendation
Serious issue Ross Web The login page has fields for entering Provide a "Log in" button under user name and
user name and password, but lacks password fields on the home page.
the button to press after entering
the above.
Serious issue Andrea, Web User clicked on facebook link but Have a pop up login for social media.
Denisha never entered credentials. User was
expecting a pop up login for
facebook upon clicking icon.
Serious issue Ross Web The current sign-in process is not Since our happy path assumes that a user
streamlined. If it is assumed that the already has a GameOn account, streamline the
user already has an account, no need sign-in process where a user can choose the
to import information from Facebook account to use for sign-in, but does
Facebook. If it is assumed that the not need to import information from Facebook.
user does not currently have an
account, they should have more
control over the sign-in process and
a profile creation page must be a
part of that.
Serious issue Andrea Web Clicking on home page link in top If a user had registered for games, take them to
navigation cleared out the test the appropriate home page screen.
Medium issue Ross Web Thinks that most people would want Include an allowance of up to 7 days in the
an option to plan their events more "Starting in" section of the search.
in advance. Up to 7 days would be
good.
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8. Classification Participant Modality Finding Recommendation
Medium issue Ross Web On Game Details page, "min. players Change the wording. For example:
needed/still need" wording was not Players registered: 10
easy to understand without effort. Additional players min: 2
Additional players max: 10
Medium issue Ross Web User thought that age is important Consider using age ranges so the user does not
because he would want to play with have to disclose an exact age.
people who are similar to him. But
raised a concern for when some
people may not be comfortable
disclosing their age.
Minor issue Ross Web User is confused by the "games" vs Develop consistent language throughout the
"activities" terminology. When web site for games and activities. Should it be
explained that GameOn is for search "games and activities"? May be too wordy.
for games and more (for example, a
running buddy), thought that
"games" should be switched
everywhere for "activities". Then
said "But where is the game in
GameOn"?
Minor issue Ross Web In "Games Found", "time" wording is Change "Time" to "Start time" or "Starts at".
confusing.
Minor issue Ross Web In "Games Found", user was not Change "Skill" to "Average skill level" (but may
immediately clear if "Skill" refers to be too wordy?).
the organizer or the game itself.
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9. Classification Participant Modality Finding Recommendation
Minor issue Ross Web A user was not sure at a first glance Use of color conventions in the hi-fi prototype
how to get game details from Games may be all that is needed.
Found screen. In the end, the user
clicked on the game title which is the
intended action.
Minor issue Ross, Web When game details are accessed If a user already joined a specific game, that
Andrea from "my games" on the home page, game's page should contain a sign reflecting
"join game", save game" and "back this fact. In addition, "join game", "save game"
to search results" options do not and "back to search results" should be
reflect the fact that a user already removed. Consider adding a link "back to
joined the game. home".
Minor issue Ross Web On Game Details page, user does not This issue is beyond the scope of our
know what a star or a blue glow prototyping. Ideally, different icons on user
mean around pictures. Assumes a pictures would have specific meaning through
star means he likes this player and features such as user rating, favorite users and
wants to play with him again. similar.
Minor issue Ross Web User expected "My Games" in top Develop consistent terminology for "My
navigation to mean history of games Games", "Game History" etc. For example, in
he played in as well as games he homepage box use "Current Games", "Saved
registered for. However, "My Games", link to history. In navigation header,
Games" header on home page box is use "My Games" to encompass all of the above.
for games a user is currently
registered for - inconsistency.
Minor issue Andrea Web User was not sure if My Games and Define the difference of Saved games and My
Saved Game were the same or Games. They do seem similar in function based
different. on their titles.
Minor issue Andrea, Web User clicked join game and did not Add a “game details” button next to “Join
Denisha select details link. Game”
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10. Classification Participant Modality Finding Recommendation
Minor issue Ross Web In top navigation, "Organize Game" If enough similar feedback from other users is
should come before "My Games". received, switch around these two navigation
Thinks he would use Organize items in the top navigation panel.
feature more often.
Minor Issue David Web Not clear what start new game Change to start new search
means
Minor Issue David Web Not sure what activity means Change to search for Games to play
Bug Andrea, Web Data disappeared upon entering in
Denisha data in data fields.
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