Case Study: Game UIUX MSF

Introduction

The Mighty Survivor Force Game is an action-packed, hero-based survival shooter game designed for mobile platforms. The game immerses players in a world of epic battles against formidable enemies, challenging them to survive and conquer various terrains. This case study explores the comprehensive UI/UX design process for the game, focusing on how design decisions were made to enhance player engagement and usability.

Why a Case Study on Mighty Survivor Force?

This case study delves into the transition from designing for e-commerce and dashboards to the more dynamic world of game design. The Mighty Survivor Force project provided an opportunity to explore a different dimension of UI/UX design, requiring a balance between aesthetic appeal, functionality, and immersive user experience and chance to experiment UX Laws in game design.

Overview

The project aimed to design an intuitive and visually engaging interface that could cater to both casual and hardcore gamers. The goal was to create a seamless user experience that would guide players through character selection, gameplay, and upgrades, ensuring they remained engaged and invested in the game.

Problem Statements

• Transitioning from E-commerce to Game Design: Transitioning from my previous work in e-commerce and dashboard design, the primary challenge was adapting to the dynamic and visually rich environment required for a survival shooter game.
• Applying UX Laws to Enhance Gameplay: To ensure an intuitive and engaging user experience, I needed to carefully apply UX laws, such as Fitts’ Law and the Goal Gradient Effect, while designing the game’s interface and interactions.
• Optimizing UI for Different Skill Levels: The challenge was to create a user interface that was easy for beginners to understand while still offering enough depth for experienced players, ensuring the game was accessible and engaging for everyone.

Research Process

Primary Research

Primary research involved studying popular survival shooter games to understand their design patterns, player expectations, and common pain points. This included playing similar games, analyzing user feedback on app stores, and identifying key elements that contribute to a successful gaming experience.

Survior.io game research

Clash Royale game research

Ratings and Reviews

Secondary Research

Secondary research included reviewing articles, mobile game reviews, and industry reports to gather insights into the best practices for mobile game UI/UX design. This research helped in understanding the broader landscape of mobile gaming and identifying trends that could be incorporated into the design.

User Interview and Persona

Due to the fast-paced nature of the project, we couldn’t interview actual users. Instead, I created a user persona by interviewing my cousins who are interested in mobile games, gaining insights into their preferences and psychology to guide our design decisions.

User Persona of Shriyank Manandhar

User Persona of Aayan Manandhar

Siteflow

When I joined the project, the user flow had already been created by my design lead and senior developer. This siteflow mapped out the player journey from the moment they opened the game to their progression through different levels and features. It provided a clear visual representation that ensured a logical and intuitive flow, making it easier for players to navigate through the game’s interface.

User Flow Process

Wireframe and Prototyping

The entire team, including designers and developers, collaborated closely throughout the process. I led the research phase and created rough wireframes and layout designs, applying UX laws to ensure a user-friendly experience. Our concept artist then took these rough sketches and developed detailed wireframe sketches, providing a clearer understanding for everyone involved. We developed low-fidelity prototypes to visualize the interface, which were tested with users to gather feedback before refining them into high-fidelity designs.

Wireframes and Sketches

Solutions

Transitioning from E-commerce to Game Design

To address the challenge of transitioning from e-commerce to game design, I immersed myself in the unique demands of the gaming environment. I started by studying popular survival shooter games to understand their design principles and visual styles. I also familiarized myself with game-specific UI/UX elements, such as gameplay HUDs, character selection screens, and progression systems. I collaborated closely with the game developers and other designers to ensure that my designs aligned with the game’s dynamic and visually rich requirements. Through iterative design and constant feedback, I adapted my approach to prioritize immersive and interactive elements, making the game’s interface both engaging and functional. This allowed me to successfully bridge the gap between my previous design experience and the new, more complex demands of game design.

Learning how to design and iterate.

Applying UX Laws to Enhance Gameplay

To enhance the game’s user experience, I applied key UX laws thoughtfully throughout the design process. I used Fitts’ Law to ensure important buttons were large and easily accessible, reducing the time needed to interact with them. Hick’s Law guided me to simplify decision-making by limiting the number of choices on each screen, preventing user overwhelm. Jakob’s Law influenced the design by aligning the interface with familiar gaming conventions, making it intuitive for players. Finally, I leveraged the Goal Gradient Effect to create a sense of progression and motivation, encouraging players to continue engaging with the game.

Stategy: Easy to navigate.

Strategy: Reduce features and Simplify.

Strategy: Following similar patterns so users know what to do next.

Stategy: Engaging users to keep playing.

Designing for All Skill Levels

To meet the needs of both beginners and experienced players, I implemented a tiered UI design. For beginners, I simplified controls and provided guided tutorials to help them quickly grasp the game. For seasoned players, I included advanced features and customizable options that offered greater control and depth. This approach ensured the game was accessible, yet challenging, keeping all players engaged.

For beginners and extreme gamers

Conclusion

Working on the UI/UX design for Mighty Survivor Force was an incredibly rewarding experience. I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn how to design for games and to gain insights from my senior designers and design lead. I also had the chance to collaborate closely with developers and explore Unity Software, which was both challenging and fun. This project allowed me to grow as a designer while enjoying the process of learning and exploring new areas in game design.