We rapidly prototyped changes from each day of user testing before the next testing period in order to immediately see the results of the redesign. This allowed us to validate game design changes on the spot, thus further refining the design to create a more successful product.

Challenge

The Dawn of War game was formerly a popular tabletop attraction. The new game is an interactive RTS, PC game. The developers wanted to ensure both the fans of the tabletop game and PC gamers who were familiar with the game would enjoy it equally. We wanted to ensure that fans found the interactive game’s story, game play, characters, movements, etc. were true to the very advanced tabletop version. Game playability and usability testing was employed to determine this. We decided, with the design team, to apply a Rapid Iterative Testing Evaluation (RITE) method. This would allow the game versions to evolve quickly. We would take the results from one day, have the developers make changes over the next few days, then retest.

Solution

The usability testing and game playability evaluation was performed by observing a sample of players that represented potential gamers. We had the gamers play the first few missions of the game, as well as later game missions. The results of the evaluation assisted the designers in improving the pacing of the game play. Players had enough information to play the game, but not enough to take away their challenge, or the challenge of mastering the game. The results optimized game play for a range of player levels, and increased the players’ immersion and long-term game play. In addition, the study validated that characters were accurate representations and won the praise of fans, and were interesting and exciting enough for new players to this title. The RITE (Rapid Iterative Testing Evaluation) method allowed for a series of evaluation sessions and design iterations, which resulted in a more polished version of the game in a short time that was both playable and usable for the targeted players!