HCI Design in GamesAgendaGoalQuestions to Keep In MindEffortless CommunityConnect to CommunityIdentify and Form GroupsMeeting PlacesIn-Game GroupingIn-Game Grouping (cont.)GuildsSocial Aspects of WoWCommunity for General AppsWeaknessesGames vs. General AppsLearning by WatchingAwareness & EmbodimentSlide 18Slide 19Deep CustomizabilityAnything-Goes UI MalleabilityNatural ExtensibilityPortable CustomizationsSlide 24Fluid System-Human InteractionCalm MessagingWarcraft IIIOther Fluid UIEverquestSlide 30Hands-On: Diablo IISlide 32HCI Design in GamesCindy SongFall ‘06AgendaIntroFour ConceptsEffortless CommunityLearning by WatchingDeep CustomizabilityFluid System-Human InteractionHands-OnConclusionGoalLearn novel design concepts from gamesIntroFour ConceptsHands-OnConclusionGoalQuestions to Keep In MindQuestions to Keep In MindHow do they apply to general apps?Differences b/t games & general apps?Multi-user vs. single-user mindsets?3D vs. 2D?One app open vs. multiple windows?Motivation: life/death vs. finishing 5-min early?IntroFour ConceptsHands-OnConclusionGoalQuestions to Keep In MindEffortless CommunityMotivationCommunities Serve as Valuable resourcesComment on contentResolve problemsProvide collaboration ChallengesCritical massAccess to the InternetAbility to find or form the right subgroupsGames make it easyParticipation in communitiesGroup forming in communitiesIntroFour ConceptsHands-OnConclusionMotivation & ChallengesGames: Easy to ConnectGames: Easy to Identify and Form GroupsComparison with General AppsEffortless CommunityLearning by WatchingDeep CustomizabilityFluid System-Human InteractionConnect to CommunityIntegrationGame and communityEasy to accessHost ServersDedicated & reliable game serversEnable gamers to host communities on their own game serversTakes a few clicks from within the game itselfBenefitsAttract critical mass of usersParticipate in the same locationAvailable for collaboration Nature of GamesMulti-player: community is a requirementIntroFour ConceptsHands-OnConclusionMotivation & ChallengesGames: Easy to ConnectGames: Easy to Identify and Form GroupsComparison with General AppsEffortless CommunityLearning by WatchingDeep CustomizabilityFluid System-Human InteractionIdentify and Form GroupsRequirements for Collaborator is SituationalGeneral questions (i.e. workaround)Wide group or anyone nearbySpecific tasksCompatible personalitiesSimilar levels of expertiseCommon interestsGames provideMeeting placesIn-game groupingIntroFour ConceptsHands-OnConclusionMotivation & ChallengesGames: Easy to ConnectGames: Easy to Identify and Form GroupsComparison with General AppsEffortless CommunityLearning by WatchingDeep CustomizabilityFluid System-Human InteractionMeeting PlacesDiscuss StrategySolve ProblemsCustomize gamesMatch-MakingStatsProfilesIntroFour ConceptsHands-OnConclusionMotivation & ChallengesGames: Easy to ConnectGames: Easy to Identify and Form GroupsComparison with General AppsEffortless CommunityLearning by WatchingDeep CustomizabilityFluid System-Human InteractionIn-Game GroupingSituationMassive multiplayer gamesThousands of peopleSame game worldNo defined end to the gameGamer has identity within the worldLocation (i.e. secret cow level)Conversation channels (i.e. network lag)Friend listsVisual identity (i.e. skills, loyalties, expertise)Explicit teams (i.e. private communication, tracking mechanisms)Guilds (66% of WoW characters, 90% if > level 43)IntroFour ConceptsHands-OnConclusionMotivation & ChallengesGames: Easy to ConnectGames: Easy to Identify and Form GroupsComparison with General AppsEffortless CommunityLearning by WatchingDeep CustomizabilityFluid System-Human InteractionIn-Game Grouping (cont.)Explicit TeamRestricted conversationsLocate allies IntroFour ConceptsHands-OnConclusionMotivation & ChallengesGames: Easy to ConnectGames: Easy to Identify and Form GroupsComparison with General AppsEffortless CommunityLearning by WatchingDeep CustomizabilityFluid System-Human InteractionGuildsSocial PressureFacilitates group forming43% more often to be in a groupCHI ‘06IntroFour ConceptsHands-OnConclusionMotivation & ChallengesGames: Easy to ConnectGames: Easy to Identify and Form GroupsComparison with General AppsEffortless CommunityLearning by WatchingDeep CustomizabilityFluid System-Human InteractionSocial Aspects of WoWIn WoW Being surrounded by othersCafé AnalogyInteracting with an audienceIdentity – “it is not ‘the people that are addictive’ but rather, ‘it’s the image of myself I get from other people’.” CHI ’06Laughing at and with othersOther players are a spectacle – adds entertainmenti.e. Impromptu dance performance by a group of characters waiting for a boati.e. Gnome wearing a deep-dive helmet in an auction house“/silly” commandIntroFour ConceptsHands-OnConclusionMotivation & ChallengesGames: Easy to ConnectGames: Easy to Identify and Form GroupsComparison with General AppsEffortless CommunityLearning by WatchingDeep CustomizabilityFluid System-Human InteractionCommunity for General AppsGeneral ApplicationsGraphics Designers who use PhotoshopJava Programmers who use JBuilderArchitects who use AutoCADChannelsNewsgroups WebsitesSizeComp.graphics.apps.photoshop contains >140,000 discussion threads.IntroFour ConceptsHands-OnConclusionMotivation & ChallengesGames: Easy to ConnectGames: Easy to Identify and Form GroupsComparison with General AppsEffortless CommunityLearning by WatchingDeep CustomizabilityFluid System-Human InteractionWeaknessesConventional appsUsers are disconnected Unaware of othersWhen communities do existParticipation occurs outside of the application Interaction is asynchronous (i.e. newsgroup)DisadvantagesRequires third party toolsExtra effortOut of the application contextIntroFour ConceptsHands-OnConclusionMotivation & ChallengesGames: Easy to ConnectGames: Easy to Identify and Form GroupsComparison with General AppsEffortless CommunityLearning by WatchingDeep CustomizabilityFluid System-Human InteractionGames vs. General AppsSimilaritiesNeed to build expertiseHave questions answeredDiscuss approachesSolicit FeedbackAim for productivity and efficiencyDiscussionCould we