GAME DESIGN
ROLE
GAME DESIGNER
DESCRIPTION
PROPOSED SOLUTION & ELEVATOR PITCH
YEAR
2016
GENRE
USER INTERFACE
GENRE
THE CHARM OF GOLDEN AGE TECH
Exploring User Interfaces and the Charm of Golden Age Tech - Part One
Positives: The analog stick cursor control, used for gear change and inventory management, adds a unique dimension of interaction. This user experience instills a sense of ownership and creates a nostalgic connection with the game items. This depth in experience keeps players coming back to the game.
Negatives: Games like Uncharted 4 use the D-pad for interface controls, a feature I find more efficient than the analog stick/cursor control in games like Destiny or No Man's Sky. In fast-paced games like shooters, the ability to quickly interact with the inventory is crucial, particularly during brief periods of gameplay.
Proposed Solution & Elevator Pitch: Reinventing the wheel without any additional benefit doesn't make sense. Hence, I propose a $5 user interface upgrade mission that addresses this issue without disrupting the existing game experience.
Part One of Two:
Golden age tech carries an allure that resonates with many players. Picture an antiquated, slightly faulty user interface that not only poses a challenge to locate but also to restore.
Rather than forcing a new user interface on all players, offer them the choice to engage with this challenging yet enticing golden-age tech. Include a setting to enable or disable this feature based on players' preference.
The only modification I suggest is the inclusion of the D-pad for quicker navigation through options, gear loading, and inventory selection. The original cursor with the analog stick control would still be functional, providing visual emphasis around the selected button.
Engineer Note - The 'X' button remains the selector. However, the d-pad activates a toggle that highlights the selected button. Alternatively, moving the analog stick hides the button highlight, transferring the cursor's control to the chosen button.
Description: The golden-age tech icons would bear signs of wear and tear - missing paint, possible chips or dings. Some icons might be cracked, with small, immovable pieces separated at the corners. An icon could spark due to minor shorts, or some could have a hazy overlay. Considering many of the items in games like Destiny possess a sense of old greatness, a matching user interface would be an ideal addition.
User Interface and Golden Age Tech: An Example
Story Insertion: Upon purchasing the mission, players will embark on the quest for the "old tech". They will converse with (name) in the Hall of Guardians at the Tower, leading them back to the familiar landscape of the Cosmodrome.
Finding the UI upgrade (name of upgrade) might seem straightforward - perhaps it's hidden in plain sight, within a tank or behind a locker or wall. But getting the tech is just the beginning. The real challenge lies in the restoration of this piece of golden-age tech.
Preview of Part Two:
There's a unique satisfaction derived from unearthing lost golden-age tech. However, the restoration process requires a dedication that extends beyond mere gameplay....
Exploring User Interfaces and the Charm of Golden Age Tech - Part Two
...a keen understanding of the intricacies of forgotten technology and an unwavering determination. The restoration process of this golden-age tech interface is a narrative journey in itself, paralleling the immersive storytelling that is a hallmark of the game.
Upon securing the antique tech, players will return to the Hall of Guardians. A new dialogue will reveal that restoring the user interface to its former glory is no small task. Just as each piece of in-game gear has a story, so does this interface, hinting at tales of legendary guardians from a bygone era.
This newly introduced mechanic, the restoration of the old tech, will entail multiple sub-missions. The player needs to find scattered parts of the interface across different planets and regions in the game, each holding a piece of the interface's unique story. In this journey, the player's skills will be challenged, and their knowledge of the game's lore deepened.
Every found part will provide a small upgrade to the interface, adding more depth and layers to the player's experience. As the parts come together, the player will witness the transformation of the interface, with its cracked and worn icons progressively showing less wear, sparks diminishing, and the initial haze clearing out. Yet, it retains its golden-age aesthetics, which brings a sense of nostalgia and connection to the game’s lore.
Additionally, these scavenger hunt-like missions offer opportunities for players to experience new narratives, combat challenges, puzzles, and to explore less-traveled regions of the game's expansive world. They may even stumble upon other hidden treasures along the way.
Just like the player's guardian, the old tech is battle-worn and has seen better days. However, through the player's effort, it is reborn and gets to see the glory of combat once more. This whole process is not just about getting a new user interface. It's about understanding the history of this world, and gaining a deeper appreciation of the design aesthetics of a time that is often referred to, but seldom seen.
This golden-age tech restoration mission thus combines the appeal of both nostalgia and utility, allowing players to form a stronger emotional bond with their gear. This upgrade doesn't merely serve as an interface change, but it's an immersive narrative experience that ultimately improves the player's connection with the world of the game.
In conclusion, this golden-age tech interface brings together the speed and efficiency of modern controls with the tactile and visual aesthetics of the game's golden-age lore. It promises to be an exciting addition to the player's experience, marrying the old with the new in an engaging and player-friendly manner.
The image above shows the final look of the user interface on the left side of a modified screenshot, post-restoration. The changes are subtle but hold a certain charm and depth that wasn't present before.