Props store user testing

Background and Goals

We are have designed the prop store which allows the users to buy props by using the gold coins collected. There are four props in total:

• Increase health
• Protection shield
• Restore hunger value
• Restore thirsty value The goal of user testing is to evaluate and optimize the props store design layout to improve the user gaming experience.

Process

To conduct our user testing we did the following:

• Invited at least 3 users to test the props store in the game.
• Give the player a few tasks to follow.
• Observe the player's action and mood while completing the task.
• Conduct an interview and collect feedback from users

The users were then asked to perform the following 4 tasks while voicing their progress and hindrances. Users would ask for assistance when necessary particularly when stuck and unable to advance in their task.

• Task 1: Play the game twice.
• Task 2: Go to props store
• Task 3: Buy one prop you like.
• Task 4: Play the game again.

Key Questions

1. What do you feel about the layout?
2. What do you think about the visual design?
3. What do you think about the props?
4. Do you have any suggestions on the improvements?

Result

User 1

Observation

The user was enjoying the shopping experience but was shocked by the sudden pop out after buying the props.

Feedback

• Q1: It is clear and clean.
• Q2: It's good for me, but I think if the background matches the style of the main menu that would be better.
• Q3: The props very useful, but I am confused about what's the food and water's function.
• Q4: The background style of the whole prop store should be matched with the game and the main menu, and I am not sure whether I have successfully bought the props because the screen suddenly went to the main menu after I bought the prop. Maybe it is a technical issue?? If I want to buy more than one prop, should I click the prop store button again to buy it? I think you guys can add the quantity adjustment button below each prop so the user can adjust it themselves.

User 2

Observation

The user enjoyed the experience, but hesitate for a while looking at the props.

Feedback

• Q1: The layout is good, but it took me a while to find the total gold coins score.
• Q2: I think the visual design is a bit not matchy with the game? But the props design are good.
• Q3: I think the props are interesting, and I especially like the shield :))
• Q4: Maybe you can add a description down below the props? I think that would be easier for the new players to understand the props' function.

User 3

Observation

The player was a bit stuck while purchasing, he was a bit confused about whether has he successfully buy the props or not.

Feedback

• Q1: I personally like the layout very much, it is clear and asthetic.
• Q2: I think the visual design of the props are good, but maybe improve a bit in the background and the score?
• Q3: The props are useful and I like it very much, but maybe you guys could add a bit more props.
• Q4: I am not sure whether it is a technical issue, after I bought the props, the screen directly pop out to the main menu, so I am not sure whether I have successfully bought the props or not. So maybe you guys can add a prompt box to inform the player or add a 'buy' button after the user has decided which props they buy.

Evaluation

Most of the participants like the layout of the props store, the improvement on the layout is that the total gold coins should be shown in a more obvious place. The visual design was suggested to improve on the background style, as our background is yellow and it is not quite matched with the main menu and the game design. So maybe next time we will draw a pixel style background. For the props, most of the participants thought the props are interesting and useful, and one of the participants suggested we can add a description down below to inform the player about the prop's functions.

The most severe problem is the procedure after buying the props, as our original setting was after the player buy the props, the screen will go back to the main menu immediately. However, this caused plenty of confusion and some of the participants thought it was a technical problem. Another problem is the system does not allow the player to buy more than one prop at once, they need to click the prop store button again to buy another round. To solve these problems, we decided to add a quantity adjustment slider below each prop and a "buy" button, so the player can choose how many props they want to buy and decide when to check out.