Game Design 2Lecture 4: UI Components
2013
Buttons etc.
Interaction Options
• Push Buttons
• Radio Buttons (toggle)
• Sliders
• Lists
• Text Fields
• Drop Down Menus
Radio Buttons
• Used to either
• toggle
• OR select from a group
Scroll Bars
• Used to show more data than fits in space
• Horizontal or vertical
• Often have arrows at each side to allow for more controlled scrolling
Sliders
• Adjust values with wide range.
• Numeric ranges.
• Music volume
• Often used for settings
• Analogue or Digital
Lists & Drop Downs
• Used to display ordered data
• Used to allow navigation
• Can be single or multiple select
• Either selection can move or list can move
Text Fields
• User input for naming or communication
• Intuitive with PC.
• OK with iOS or Android etc...
• Annoying with console
Expand / Contract
• Symbols used to open and close branches on a tree structure
• Familiar from Windows / Mac OS
Summary
• Each of these components has a specific place where they should be used.
• Try to use the correct UI component in your designs.
Mass Effect’s Interface
• Most of this content sourced from Krystian Majewski’s great posts at:http://j.mp/4Itnhdhttp://j.mp/6FXxR9http://j.mp/5s7At5
• Krystian Majewski’sgame Trauma is on Steam
Character & HUD
Items
Other Problems: Navigation
Navigation & Dialogue
Spelling out awful button choices doesn’t make them good
Dialogue
The point of this is not to ‘slag off ’ the Mass Effectdesign team - these are the kinds of problems that you find all over (most) games.
We want to set a higher expectation here.Everything you design MUST have a purpose.You MUST think about the user at all times.Have a good reason for your design decisions.
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