Background and Goals

In Sprint 3, the team has redesigned the prop store interface and optimize the props store shopping function. Players are able to use gold coins they collected to buy different props. There are two props work:

• Heart: Increase health value, $5
• Food: Restore hunger value, $2

The goal of user testing is to evaluate shopping function and the new interface in order to improve user experience when playing.

Sprint 4

In sprint 4, we improved the props store from both the prop types and design aspects in order to enrich the player's gaming experience. The purpose of user testing again is to verify the effect of new designs and added new items.

Items that can be purchased in Sprint 4：

• Water: Restore the thirsty value, $2
• More items (firstAidKit, apple, magicPotion, bandage and syringe)

Process

To conduct our user testing we did the following:

• Invited 3 users to play the game and use the shopping function.
• We asked users to complete some small tasks.
• 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 interaction flow of the props store?
2. What do you think about the visual design?
3. What do you think about the props store?
4. Do you have any suggestions on the improvements?

(Since the result of sprint 3 shows that there is no problem with the interaction, we skip Q1 and ask Q2, 3, 4 in Sprint 4.)

Result(Sprint 3)

User 1

Observation

The user didn’t know how many coins he have, and felt a little confused when he couldn't buy props.

Feedback

• Q1: I feel that there is nothing wrong with the interaction。
• Q2: Pretty good. But where can I find how many gold coins I have?
• Q3: It is quite useful in the game.
• Q4: The text can be more clear and bigger.

User 2

Observation

The user successfully purchased the props he wanted to use. He would like to try different props to see the effects.

Feedback

• Q1: It's quite easy to use.
• Q2: Simple, but easy to understand. Just like other stores in games.
• Q3: It is an interesting idea. With props store, players will be more willing to collect gold coins, so they can also have more interesting game experience.
• Q4: I think you can have more props in the props store. It will be more interesting for this game.

User 3

Observation

The user quickly bought the props and felt happy to try all the props.

Feedback

• Q1: It's quite easy to use.
• Q2: I cannot see clearly, some text might be too small on the interface.
• Q3: Good. I would like to see more props with interesting functions. They might bring me some surprises.
• Q4: I would like to see the prop store after "game over". So I can remember to buy something for the next round of the game.

Evaluation

In general, users are quite satisfied with the design of the prop store. The overall style and background are very consistent with the characteristics of the prop store. However, some text is relatively small and not very prominent on the page, which is easy to cause users to ignore, such as total gold coins. Therefore, the team should consider appropriately adjusting the font size and color to make them brighter on the interface.

Users rarely encounter confusion in the process of purchasing items, so the purchase interaction is easy to use.

Users showed higher interests in the props. Interesting content seems to be more attractive to users, because more users suggest adding new props. This is similar to our idea. However, the new props have a lot to do with the bag system, buff/debuff, and need to communicate the progress with other teams. We need to combine other groups of progress, and provide users with more interesting content.

Result(Sprint 4)

User 1

Observation

The user successfully bought a prop and see the effect when playing the game.

Feedback

• Q2: Good. I love the store, it's qute.
• Q3: It's easy to use. I don't need to click on anything, and the item worked in the game.
• Q4: I would like to see clearly if the props are working.

User 2

Observation

The user didn't have enough coins so he couldn't buy props. So he started the game again to collect coins.

Feedback

• Q2: Everything is fine.
• Q3: I'm not sure why I need the store. Because I can't know what will happen in the next round.
• Q4: Maybe give me some hints, like you may need more food in the next round?

User 3

Observation

The user quickly bought all types of props and felt satisfied.

Feedback

• Q2: The interface is attractive and clear.
• Q3: Props store is quite interesting for the game. Or I will quickly get bored after playing for several times.
• Q4: Please add some expensive and interesting props so I can purchase them with these gold coins.

Evaluation

Overall, the optimization of props store achieves its purpose to a certain extent. Players are generally satisfied with the design of props store because it conforms to the style and theme of the game. In addition, props store increases the interest of the game and improves the game experience of players.

However, the content of props store failed to meet the expectations of players. It is useful in the game, but it doesn't bring much surprise. So we can improve it, make special props and bring novelty to users in the game.