Game UX Design: Why Traditional Usability Rules Don't Apply to Games
By
Caitlin Snethlage, Laia Tremosa
Summary
This article explores the unique challenge of game UX design, where traditional usability principles often conflict with the intentional chaos that makes games fun. Using Overcooked as a prime example, it explains that cognitive overload and friction can be deliberate game mechanics rather than design flaws. The piece introduces seven usability principles adapted specifically for games, developed by Celia Hodent, to help designers distinguish between intentional friction (which enhances gameplay) and accidental confusion (which harms the player experience).
Source
Interaction Design FoundationGame UX Design: Why Traditional Usability Rules Don't Apply to Gamesixdf.orgKey quotes
· 4 pulledThe game Overcooked is a nightmare of cognitive overload.
Every traditional usability standard would flag it as broken.
The cognitive overload is deliberate: the chaos is the game and the stress is the fun.
Distinguishing intentional friction from accidental confusion is one of the most valuable skills you can develop as a game UX designer.
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