Journal 11: Reflection on game page interface design

    This week I will design a new layout of the game page.

    For Version 1, this game page interface does not contain interactive functions and the game can not play. Many testers claimed that the appearance of this interface is not satisfied. It also like not great. So I want to make it more beautiful.

    Version 1:

    Then, I changes the to Version 2 below. Firstly,  I enlarged the size of the puzzle.The reason is that it is hard to adjust the position for each piece of puzzle play the game with 9X9 difficulty in size.  Secondly, I reorganized the position of buttons and the time count. The Start button is at below of puzzle. I hope that it is clear for user to find this button and users should know how to start the game without confusion. My concept is use timeline as my main design element to indicate the button. Therefore I put buttons such as time counter, hint, difficult and rule are put together at the timeline.

    As for time counter, I use the countdown system. It means players must complete the puzzle within limited time. For example, they have to finish the game in 5 minutes.  If not, they will lose this game.

    Version 2

    However,  my group members think that these button are crowded visually if they are put together. Other problem is that using countdown timer would give player too many pressure, especially for higher difficulty. Most of people can not finish the puzzle in a certain period. It might decrease persistence of playability due to lost their interest or patient. We targeted user is students, and we wanted they keep working on history research and study.

    So I want to allow players can play this game repeatedly instead of play it once within a certain time. And white color background seems empty and like missing something. Thus, I change it to countup timer.
 
    I also plan to add some sign tags such as “Hurry up! The enemy is coming soon! ” and “We need backup.” We also want to add some music or sound effects like sound of shooting. I hope to use that to simulate the environment in war. Nevertheless, these game elements will interfere with the players and then influence game experience negatively. Usually, players do not want to jump a window on screen to interrupt the game. So I cancel this idea.

    Next, I redesigned this page again. 

    I try to add a background on this new game page.

 
 













    Version 3:

    The interactive function of the game has been  implemented in our final project. Basically, it contains puzzle game, time counter and difficulty. Time counter records how much  time player used to finish the puzzle. There are three difficulty offered, including 3 x3, 6 x 6 and 9 x 9. Based on the original design, I also add two new functions on it. The first one is rule. If player click rule button, it will jump a windom and demonstrate the instruction of the puzzle game. The second one is hint. If people press hint button, the origin photo of the puzzle will be shown. It can help players to finished the puzzle when they got no clue.

    Finally, I adjusted the layout of the game interface in order to make it more beautiful.