Space Punks

In collaboration with Flying Wild Hog, I evaluated the player experience for "Space Punks," focusing on usability, pacing, difficulty, and enjoyment during its open beta. We developed surveys and conducted remote playtests using Parsec to observe real-time player interaction. Our findings and subsequent recommendations highlighted significant usability issues. The changes implemented improved the initial missions' usability, positively affecting player engagement and retention.

GamesLab collaborated with Flying Wild Hog to thoroughly evaluate the player experience (specifically usability, pacing, difficulty, and overall enjoyment) for "Space Punks," which was in open beta following significant updates.

In partnership with my research teammate, I crafted and implemented a research strategy that could shed light on usability concerns within the game's first three missions, designed to gradually onboard players.

1. Analyzed Stakeholder Needs: I collaborated with my research teammate to analyze and prioritize stakeholders' needs, aligning our research objectives with the game's development goals.
2. Developed Surveys and Instructions: We created surveys with clear and concise instructions for 15 participants, ensuring they were well-guided through the remote playtesting process.
3. Conducted Remote Playtests: We conducted the playtests using Parsec for real-time observation as participants engaged with the game's first three missions.
4. Administered Mission-Specific and Overall Surveys: Participants completed surveys tailored to each mission immediately after completion, followed by a comprehensive survey after all three missions were completed to gather specific and general feedback.

The playtests and surveys highlighted significant usability issues within the first three missions of Space Punks. Key issues pertained to game affordance, with interactive elements lacking clarity, a convoluted tutorialization process that failed to provide players with adequate guidance, and an onboarding experience that overwhelmed rather than engaged new players. These findings were critical in understanding the barriers to player engagement and comprehension at the game's outset.

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1. Enhanced Game Affordance: Implemented changes improved the clarity of interactive elements, making it easier for players to understand and engage with the game mechanics.
2. Refined Tutorialization Process: The tutorialization process was revised to offer timely and helpful guidance, ensuring players could smoothly navigate through the game's early stages.
3. Streamlined Onboarding Experience: Developers refined the onboarding process to make the introduction more captivating and less daunting for newcomers, facilitating a more pleasant entry point into the game world.
4. Improved Overall Player Experience: Collectively, these improvements significantly boosted the usability of the game's initial missions, contributing to a more positive overall player experience and setting a solid foundation for player retention.