Hello, my friend! š
Hope youāre doing well. Recently, I started playing games on my new Mac Mini. I know Mac gamers are often considered the underdogs: I used to play a lot, but as I found it really time-consuming, so I decided against buying another game console.
Any, games on the Mac platform have improved significantly lately, allowing me to enjoy titles like Tomb Raider, Metro, and others. Interestingly, some elements Iāve encountered in design seem to align with game design principles. Today, Iām sharing two posts relevant to this topic. Hope you enjoy them.
Here are a few things Iād like to share with you today š
Learning UX principles from the game Path of Exile 2
Mr. Clippy - The Take 2 of Human-AI Interaction
My Gaming Experience Today
Learning UX principles from the game Path of Exile 2
So hereās a surprise - I found myself amidst a sea of enthusiastic gamers at a game con. This unexpected journey into the world of gaming helped me discover how the UX principles I work with every day have found a home in an industry Iām not so familiar with š®
This weekend, a friend invited me to ExileCon, a gaming event for fans of Path of Exile. Although Iād never played the game or any similar games like Diablo, I thought, why not? Letās jump in and see what happens. To my surprise, I stumbled upon some intriguing applications of UX principles in the gaming world.
š§ Letās start with cognitive loadĀ - thatās the mental effort required by your users to process and understand the information in your product. Given that our cognitive capacity is a limited resource, we, as designers, need to make information clear and easy to understand.
This principle was executed brilliantly in Path of Exile. For instance, when designing the game items, the team ensured that all the shields faced the same direction. This meant that even with a quick glance, gamers could identify an item, reducing their cognitive load. Considering there are hundreds of different items in the game, ordering them in a way thatās easy to recognize and choose is a fantastic way to keep the cognitive load low.
Next, letās talk aboutĀ reducing friction. When youāre playing a game, unexpected obstacles or confusion can throw off your whole experience. Path of Exile made some smart moves to avoid this. In the upcoming game version, Path of Exile 2, the developers have come up with an inventive way of introducing new information without disturbing gameplay.
Letās say a gamer arrives in a new environment and needs information about that location. Instead of popping up a notice board or having the gamer return to an information center, the game allows you to summon an NPC (a non-player character, like a bounty hunter) who can read the scenario and provide you with the info you need. This ingenious solution helps gamers understand the story without pausing gameplay or disrupting the narrative flow š£ļø
These gaming moments may seem trivial to non-gamers like me, but to see the crowdās reaction to tiny details - cheering and clapping - was quite an experience. Whether it was the option to pet a puppy in the game, or the ability to create unique gemstones to customize character skill sets, every little enhancement was met with jubilation. To me, this was a powerful demonstration ofĀ knowing and listening to your customersĀ - the bedrock of good UX š
ExileCon was a great reminder that the principles of UX design apply far beyond apps and websites. Itās not just about arranging pixels on a screen, itās about understanding your users and creating an environment that responds to their needs. Whether youāre designing a software interface or a fantasy world, the principles remain the same š”
Mr. Clippy - The Take 2 of Human-AI Interaction
Do you remember Mr. Clippy?
If youāve got as many miles on the clock as me, youāll probably recall this little animated assistant from the glory days of Microsoft Office. Clippy was our trusty sidekick, always ready to introduce new features or guide us, step-by-step, through the complexities of our tasks.
Back then, as we were finding our way around new software interfaces and interaction patterns, having a digital assistant like Clippy on hand was super useful. But as we grew more tech-savvy, we didnāt need our ever-eager helper quite as much, and eventually, Clippy was retired.
Fast forward to the present, and it feels like weāve come full circle. The rise of AI and other cloud-based technologies have us exploring new interaction paradigms all over again. In a way, itās a bit like dĆ©jĆ vu. Wouldnāt it be kinda cool if we had a modern Clippy on hand? This time around, instead of guiding us through software, this AI assistant could support us in our day-to-day work, and in a language we understand.
When you think about it, the realm of human-machine interaction is going through an exciting phase right now. Weāre seeing shifts as significant as those we experienced between the 1960s and 1970s when the likes ofĀ Douglas Engelbartrevolutionized the field with his human-computer interaction theories and practical innovations like the mouse and graphic interface.
Today, weāre at the cusp of another transformative moment, with natural language processing taking center stage. Now we can interact with machines more intuitively, using speech. This shift towards speed and natural language use is setting the stage for a surge in raw data creation, and thatās where AI comes in - to help us make sense of it all.
Isnāt it mind-blowing to consider how these developments could herald a new era in human-computer interaction? Personally, Iāll keep my eyes peeled for the next Clippy-like breakthrough.
My Gaming Experience Today
I had a great time gaming today. Continued withĀ Rise of the Tomb Raider. The last time I saved, I was about to enter a BOSS battle against a witch named Babagaya. Today, I spent a focused hour and managed to defeat her. Felt really accomplished receiving the in-game items and rewards.
Wouldnāt it be great if gaming sessions were always like this? Having a specific task every day and calling it a day once itās completed. This not only prevents addiction but also serves as a great way to relax. Plus, the expensive games we buy wonāt lose their appeal after just a day or two of playing.
This approach isnāt just for game design, but can also be applied to UX/product design. Understand the userās flow first, then consider the pace of use, and think about ways to reward or elicit emotions at the right moments.
Video: Exploring UX Principles in Path of Exile 2
Get ready for an unexpected exploration of gaming through the lens of a designer. From cognitive load to reducing friction, discover how UX principles are revolutionizing Path of Exile! š£ļø
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Have a great one and see you soon!
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