UI Design Test

Splash Damage

Goal

The screen to be designed for this test is the main menu home screen. This is the first interactive screen the player sees and acts as a hub for their impending session.

The screen has three high-level goals:

  1. Suggest activities for the player

  2. Get them up to speed on what happened while they were gone

  3. Highlight store items of interest

About the Game

For this test, assume that Splash Damage is creating a new free-to-play multiplayer title set in the same universe as Dirty Bomb.

  • Players play as one of a variety of Mercs with different gameplay abilities as they go on cooperative missions against computer-controlled opponents

  • Embodied by their signature ability, each Merc offers a different playing style, such as stealth, all-out action, or agility

  • Signature abilities are unique to each Merc and include deployable turrets, aerial bombardments, and healing stations

  • Before going on missions, players can equip their Merc with gameplay-affecting perks, different outfits, and customised weapons

  • During missions, players earn Credits which they can spend on recruiting more Mercs

  • Players can unlock more gear by earning and opening Supply Cases (earned either through gameplay or by purchasing from the shop)

  • The game is being developed for the PC and will be localised into several languages

Screen Requirements

Essential features

  • This screen needs to provide a navigational element that provides access to the game’s main hubs: Play, Customise, Community, Shop

  • The screen needs to provide a way for the player to quickly resume their most recent gameplay activity

  • Social connectivity is an essential part of this title’s fabric - it must be easy to form parties with friends for the current session

  • The screen must highlight at least one store item of interest to the player, such as a new arrival or an item on sale; this recommendation will be based on their stats and agent preferences

  • The player’s avatar, current level, as well as their balance of in-game currency must be represented

  • The layout should support 4:3 and widescreen resolutions

Nice to have features

  • It would be nice to represent the player’s most recently used agent on this screen in order to deepen their connection with it

  • It would be nice to foster relationships by providing updates on friends’ activities

  • It would be nice to incite competition between friends, perhaps based on gameplay milestones or recent performance - how can we use this to motivate players to play one more session?

  • It would be nice to communicate news on this screen, such as upcoming events or recent updates

  • It would be nice to give the player a snapshot of their recent performance, such as score per minute and accuracy, and how that compares to their overall average

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