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OBJECTIVES

After this lesson, students will be able to:

• Identify the Eight Golden Rules of Human-Computer Interface Design

• Identify the need for functional consistency, shortcuts, feedback, closure, error prevention, easy reversal of actions, feeling in control, and avoiding memory overload.

WORDS TO KNOW

• Shell Menus• Checkpoint• Cheat Codes• Timeout• Ergonomics

APPLYING THE HCI TO GAME DESIGN

The 8 Golden Rules of HCI• Strive for consistency

• Enable frequent users to use shortcuts

• Offer informative feedback

• Design dialogue to yield closer

• Offer simple error handling

• Permit easy reversal of actions

• Support internal locus of control

• Reduce short-term memory load

APPLYING THE HCI TO GAME DESIGN

Consistency• Similar situation should have consistent

sequences of actions.

• Identical terminology should be used in prompts, menus, and help screens.

• Consistent commands should be used throughout the game.

APPLYING THE HCI TO GAME DESIGN

Consistency – Readable Text• Font – Sans Serif offers best readability

• Size – Children and older adults need larger text

• Color – Contrast between text and background or game frame.

APPLYING THE HCI TO GAME DESIGN

Consistency – Readable Text• Sans Serif vs. Serif

SerifSan Serif

APPLYING THE HCI TO GAME DESIGN

Consistency – Readable Text• Contrast

High Contrast

Low Contrast

APPLYING THE HCI TO GAME DESIGN

Consistency – Readable Text

All sorts of wrong going

on here!

APPLYING THE HCI TO GAME DESIGN

Consistency – Layout• Functional - Parts of the HUD should

remain in place unless the game story dictates a change.

• Navigable - Layout should also help with player navigation through arrows or other guidance systems. If you player is going the wrong way, the layout should warn them.

APPLYING THE HCI TO GAME DESIGN

Consistency

Inputs• Button pressed actions should remain the

same for the whole game.

Outputs• Outputs, menus, colors, fonts, navigation,

button locations, and overall game layout should be similar throughout the game.

APPLYING THE HCI TO GAME DESIGN

Consistency

Outputs• Shell Menu – A non-menu item

displayed outside of gameplay, such as the title frame, credits, and cut scenes. Loading and saving the game is commonly done with a shell menu.

APPLYING THE HCI TO GAME DESIGN

Consistency

Outputs• Note on Shell Menus – The shell

menu should remain the same each time, even if an option is not available at the time of game play, it should be shown, but greyed out to let your player know they have not unlocked that yet.

APPLYING THE HCI TO GAME DESIGN

Shortcuts

Keeping the player from having to restart the game each time they loose.

• Checkpoint – A point on the gameplay timeline where the player will be returned if they run out of health or life.

• Placed after each difficult or time consuming task.

APPLYING THE HCI TO GAME DESIGN

Shortcuts • Cheat codes – Commands used during

game development so parts of the code can be tested without having to play the entire game.

• Not usually meant for the public but sometimes they are leaked out. This causes questions about “gamer ethics.”

APPLYING THE HCI TO GAME DESIGN

Feedback

Whenever a player inputs some sort of action, output information, or feedback, should be received.

• A “boing” sound for jumping• Cheering from a crowd for good action,

booing for bad action• Roll over button to explain the function

or purpose.

APPLYING THE HCI TO GAME DESIGN

Closure

A sense of conclusion to the game and its story. You should give your player a signal that they are going the right direction or warnings if they are not. You can usually do this through dialogue. Cut scenes can also provide closure.

APPLYING THE HCI TO GAME DESIGN

Errors

Design the game so a player cannot make a serious error, but if they do, the game should offer solutions for the player to handle the error.

APPLYING THE HCI TO GAME DESIGN

Errors - Output

Check for output prevention. Did your player get stuck and can’t “get out” of a situation?• Timeout – When the game resets

after a period of inactivity.

APPLYING THE HCI TO GAME DESIGN

Errors - Input• Input errors such as a users logging in

with an incorrect username or password need to be checked.

• Program a controller with buttons spaced far enough to avoid pressing two buttons at the same time.

APPLYING THE HCI TO GAME DESIGN

Errors - Input• Input devices should follow

ergonomic design principles• Ergonomic – The study of how the

body works and how humans interact with tools and environment.

APPLYING THE HCI TO GAME DESIGN

Errors – Input

6 principles of Interface Ergonomics• Design for comfort• Reduce force• Reduce Reach• Limit excessive and repetitive motion• Reduce fatigue• Stretch the player

APPLYING THE HCI TO GAME DESIGN

Undo Actions

Allow players to undo actions. This allows the player to explore gameplay knowing that nothing will be permanent to their gameplay.

• Try on different armor or weapons without having to restart the game.

• Save game at every checkpoint to eliminate the chance of a player forgetting. With this, if an error is made, they can undo by going back to that check point.

APPLYING THE HCI TO GAME DESIGN

Sense of Control

Players like to feel they are in control of the game. Design the game to make the player the initiator of actions rather than responding to game directions.

• Give you player freedom to explore and make choices

APPLYING THE HCI TO GAME DESIGN

Memory Overload

Remember there is a limit to what players can process and hold in short-term memory. Keep the interface simple. Allow sufficient time through gameplay to learn the button codes and sequences of actions.