Designed a Car Racing Web Game App for Android
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In this case study, I will share my design process, including the methods and rewards system I implemented to motivate and engage users, help them to have pleasure experience with the app. This strategic addition not only enhances user engagement but also lays a solid foundation for the app's success.
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Role:
UX/UI Designer
Client:
Idealweb4u
Category:
Game Design
Year:
2023
Project overview​​
IdealWeb4U is an innovative app development company specializing in game creation. As an early-stage startup, they are developing a variety of gaming apps, including horror, hunting, and car racing genres. Their goal is to attract a significant number of players and establish a strong presence in the gaming industry. ​
Role
Lead the design of a new car racing app from concept to final design, oversee the handover to developers, and mentor other UX/UI designer on the team.
More details on this project, can be provided during presentation.
Getting Inspired
According to the Pew Research Center, approximately 43% of American adults often or sometimes play video games (including console, PC, and mobile games). Video games are different from websites or apps: they don’t usually have a practical goal (such as to inform people or help them create an artifact), but instead they aim to entertain. As a UX designer, creating an optimal game experience, it’s essential to identify the target audience and understand their goals within the game. This insight will guide the necessary functionalities and inform the selection of appropriate UI components for the design.
The psychology of the player
There is a simple measure designed by Richard Bartle, the Bartle Test of Psychology, which breaks up the way people play games into four simple categories. These categories are the Achiever, the Explorer, the Socializer, and the Killer. Using Bartle’s Player Type, I categorized players into two main personas, ACHIEVER and SOCIALIZER.
👋 Socializer
Their main goals are about interacting with people and what they have to say. Even observing people play can be rewarding for them. To provide socializers what they want, our game will use social mechanisms that involve other players such as friending, gifting, chats, caring, guilds, competitions and so on.
👑 Achievers
Their main goals are to rise in status, score points, and complete tasks. To meet these needs, our game will primarily use extrinsic mechanics such as points, status symbols (badges, trophies, medals, crowns), progress bars, and fixed rewards.
Analysis
The gaming industry is very competitive, with game developers pushing the boundaries of innovation, creativity, and immersion every year, bringing users a whole bunch of awesome gaming experiences. To stand out among the competitors, I studied more than 10 popular games of 2024 to uncover the key elements that contribute to their enduring success. My goal was to identify these aspects so I could apply them to my own design and strive for a similar level of excellence.
Key finds
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Customization options
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Clean and modern interface
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Motivation and encouragement mechanisms
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Easy to navigate and play
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​Continuously adding new content to keep the game fresh and exciting
Identifying screen requirements for optimal user navigation
Before diving into the design, I created the user flow to ensure that my design would meet the needs and providing a better understanding of the path users take within the application.
User flow
The design that is playful, clean and easy to use
After planning, researching and analyzing, I began my design stage. I Followed Jakob Nielsen’s 10 heuristics for my user-interface design to make sure a great user experience game design. For the main menu design, I inspired by the shape of car steering wheel and decided to incorporate it into the menu navigation. This choice aimed to create a playful and thematic environment for the user.
Boosting user satisfaction
This gaming app was developed as an entertainment application to help users enjoy their time. I identified an opportunity to significantly enhance user engagement and retention by proposing the addition of an award system. This system was designed to incentivize users through rewards for using the app, achieving milestones, and completing tasks. By implementing this feature, we boosted user satisfaction and increased overall app usage metrics.​
Conclusion
Through this project, I not only expanded my skill set as a UX/UI designer but also gained a deeper understanding of user behavior and preferences in the gaming domain. Designing for entertainment purposes was both engaging and enjoyable, making the entire journey fun and rewarding. However, the true measure of success will come after the game's launch, when user feedback will provide valuable insights for further improvements.​