Dovetail Games
Unannounced Project
Role: Research Lead
I led and conducted multiple usability studies and focus groups for this product measuring overall reception to the art style, its alignment with gameplay concepts, and potential competitive implementation. I designed each methodology, recruited and facilitated participants, conducted the post-test focus group discussions, and authored the final reports.
Tools
Microsoft Forms
Alchemer
Steam
OBS
Google Sheets/Docs
Discord
Research Summary
In this this study, I wrote a finding that concerned a specific icon that was used to mark an interactable object in the game. This icon was causing confusion among participants as to what the object’s function was, which led to lower use than anticipated by the developers. I applied a rule of perception known as form follows function, which is the idea of knowing the function or purpose of something just by looking at it. If it is easy to determine the object’s function, there is less of a cognitive load on the player. With this in mind, I recommended that the developers change the icon for the interactable object to something that would be recognizable and give more affordance to the object’s intended function.
Unannounced Project
Role: Researcher
This study was a baseline playtest measuring overall reception of a game in early development. As part of the research team, I was responsible for helping facilitate participants, take notes during test sessions, and writing the final report.
Tools
Microsoft Forms
Alchemer
Steam
OBS
Google Sheets/Docs
Discord
Research Summary
In the playtest for this study, I applied one of Nielsen Norman Group’s usability heuristics known as visibility of system status. This heuristic explains that a system should use proper feedback to keep the user informed of what is happening at any given time. Participants had difficulty determining when a major objective had been completed because the game was not adequately telling them when they had done so, which prevented them from progressing to another task. Here I recommended that the designers implement some kind of visual and audio points of feedback to notify when players completed the objective.
Train Sim World 4
Role: Test Note Taker
This was my first study as a research intern. I was responsible for taking notes on participant comments and body language during test sessions.
Tools
Alchemer
Steam
OBS
Google Sheets/Docs
Discord