DEVELOPMENT AND ITERATIVE FEEDBACK

As the game progresses into full-scale development, UX professionals maintain a vital role. We ensure that user experience remains a central focus throughout the development process. By continuously gathering and integrating player feedback into the development pipeline, UX teams help in refining game features, interfaces, and interactions. This ongoing collaboration with developers and designers is crucial for adapting and evolving the game in line with user expectations.

In this phase, UX designers also pay increasing attention to the challenge layer of Accessible Design. Beyond ensuring players can access and control all aspects of the experience, we ensure players can adapt the game in a variety of ways such that challenges within the experience are not unreasonably hard or impossible to overcome.

Common Collaborators

This is a broad and highly collaborative phase where the product begins to take substantial form. Across multiple UX leadership positions (ArenaNet, Starform, Motiga), I’ve ensured that the UX team serves not only as the primary driver of the interaction design, but also as a lens through which to assess the realization of the UX vision in all aspects of the product.

Regardless of team size or budget, I’ve continually established the discipline of UX design as the conduit, custodian, and congenial host of collaborative problem solving across design, art, audio, engineering, and QA.

Methods and Artifacts

Implementing continuous feedback loops allows for constant collection and integration of user feedback. Regular playtesting ensures the game meets user expectations, and applying agile UX methodologies allows for flexible and responsive design changes.

• Moodboards guide the refinement and visual style of user interfaces, ensuring consistency with the game's thematic and emotional goals.

• Design Systems (IxD, UI) ensure a scalable set of layout and interaction definitions can be cascaded predictably across large projects.

• Playtest Videos and Behavior Analytics offer insights into user interactions and responses, guiding targeted design refinements.

• User Surveys capture direct player feedback, further informing adjustments to enhance user satisfaction.