UX Principles

These are the UX principles we'd like to apply to Tribe of the Accord in the context of the 'User' AKA Player of the game.

Controls and Feedback

  • Intuitive and simple controls.
  • Clear feedback on player actions (visual and audio).
  • Contextual action prompts (only when needed).
  • Smooth, non-sluggish and responsive player movement/attacks.
  • Vibration or haptic feedback to reinforce player actions (for controllers).
  • Use audio cues to differentiate between enemy types or attack patterns.
  • Provide visual or haptic feedback when low on health.

User Interface and HUD

  • Minimal and non-intrusive HUD.
  • Visual hierarchy to focus on key elements (e.g., enemies, objectives).
  • Avoid overcrowding the screen.
  • Provide clear and consistent visual distinction between interactive and non-interactive elements.
  • Ensure important information is always visible (e.g., health bars, focused weapon, items).
  • Use consistent iconography and symbols for items and actions.
  • Offer a quick-access inventory or action wheel for frequently used items.
  • Provide clear labels for game settings, with explanations of each option.
  • Ensure responsive menus with fast navigation.
  • Create scalable UI elements for different screen sizes or resolutions.
  • Create consistent UI shaped around a defined branding and theme.

Camera and Navigation

  • Camera follows player smoothly without disorienting movements.
  • Offer an in-game map with markers for important locations.
  • Implement dynamic lighting to guide players subtly without over-explaining.
  • Provide visual or audio cues for off-screen threats or important events.

Progression and Difficulty

  • Clear mission objectives and progress tracking (e.g., maps, quest logs).
  • Enable auto-saving to reduce frustration from lost progress.
  • Reward exploration with secrets, items, or lore.
  • Balanced difficulty progression (avoid spikes).
  • Gradual introduction of new mechanics and abilities.
  • Maintain a consistent difficulty curve, ensuring steady challenge without sudden spikes.
  • Provide clear goals and sub-goals to prevent confusion during quests.
  • Include a "New Game+" or replayability feature to enhance long-term engagement.
  • Provide clear distinctions between quest types (main vs. side quests).
  • Implement vibration or haptic feedback to reinforce player actions (for controllers).

Accessibility

  • Allow key rebinding and control customization.
  • Include accessibility options like colorblind mode and audio adjustments.
  • Independent volume controls for sound effects, music, and voice.
  • Include an option to pause or slow down the game for accessibility or more casual play.
  • Fonts should be legible with multi-lingual support for those who speak languages other than English - Example font

Audio and Visual Cues

  • Audio cues for important in-game events.
  • Provide visual indicators for invincibility frames or damage immunity during specific actions.
  • Use clear visual or audio alerts when a critical event occurs (e.g., boss battles).

Onboarding and Tutorials

  • Gradual introduction of new mechanics and abilities.
  • Avoid 'sign-post' tutorials and instead rely on environmental cues for teaching.
  • Provide optional hints or tips for challenging puzzles or tasks if the User stalls.

Game Flow and Immersion

  • Forgiving design with checkpoints and recovery options.
  • Clear fail states and quick recovery options.
  • Allow players to skip cutscenes or dialogues if they choose.
  • Implement clear loading indicators to manage player expectations.
  • Use consistent pacing to prevent too much downtime or overwhelming action.
  • Ensure fast and efficient loading times to maintain immersion.
  • Support multiple save slots to give players flexibility.

Story and Engagement

  • We need to strike a good balance ratio between storytelling (non-engagement) and action (engagement), with action being the focus.
  • Allow players to review story cutscenes, dialogue, or important info in a log or journal.
  • Provide a "New Game+" or replayability feature to enhance long-term engagement.

Performance and Optimization

  • Ensure consistent framerate and performance across platforms.
  • The User should not feel that the game is stuck/frozen at any point.