Project Overview
Client: Indie Game Development Project
Industry: Gaming (Indie Game, Brawler Fighter Genre)
Project Type: UI/UX Wireframe Design
Role: Lead UX/UI Designer
Project Summary
I was tasked with creating the UI and UX wireframes for a fast-paced, multiplayer brawler fighter game. The game featured a roster of unique characters, each with distinct abilities, and was designed to appeal to both casual and competitive players. My responsibility was to design intuitive, responsive wireframes for the game’s key interfaces, including the main menu, character selection screen, in-game HUD, and multiplayer matchmaking system. These wireframes served as the foundation for the development team, ensuring that the game’s navigation was intuitive and aligned with the mechanics while offering a seamless user experience.
Goals & Objectives
The primary goal of this project was to design wireframes that balanced the complexity of the game’s mechanics with a clean, accessible interface, ensuring that players could navigate the game easily while engaging with deep, competitive gameplay. Specific objectives included:
- Streamline Navigation: Design menus that were fast and simple to navigate, allowing players to move quickly between game modes, character selection, and settings.
- Intuitive Character Selection: Create a character selection screen that allowed players to browse a large roster of fighters without being overwhelmed by information.
- Clear, Accessible HUD: Develop an in-game heads-up display (HUD) that provided players with vital information (health, special abilities, etc.) without distracting from the fast-paced action.
- Seamless Multiplayer Setup: Ensure the multiplayer matchmaking interface was intuitive for both local and online play, minimizing setup time and keeping players engaged.
Research & Discovery
User Research:
To inform the wireframe designs, I conducted thorough research into the UI/UX design of other successful brawler fighter games, including Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Brawlhalla, and Rivals of Aether. Key insights from this research included:
- Streamlined Menus: Players prefer minimal menu navigation to quickly jump into the game.
- Fast Character Selection: An easy-to-browse roster with clear character abilities was essential for both casual and competitive play.
- Clear HUD Design: In-game elements such as health bars and special abilities must be instantly accessible without crowding the screen.
- Multiplayer Efficiency: Seamless matchmaking and minimal downtime were critical for keeping players engaged.
Competitive Analysis:
Studying the UI/UX design of these games helped identify best practices, such as maintaining a balance between complex mechanics and user-friendly interfaces, clear HUD design, and reducing menu layers to improve navigation.
Design & Strategy
The wireframes were designed to support fast-paced gameplay while making the UI and UX as intuitive as possible. Key design areas included:
1. Main Menu Wireframes
Objective:
Create a clean, action-oriented main menu that allowed players to quickly access game modes and settings.
Design Approach:
The wireframe featured a simple layout with large, clearly labeled buttons for the game’s core modes—Single Player, Multiplayer, Training Mode, and Settings. The goal was to reduce the number of clicks required to reach these options, offering players quick access to the game. Multiplayer options were divided into Local Play and Online Play, each with streamlined matchmaking processes.
Key Features:
- Centralized, easy-to-navigate options for quick access to game modes.
- Clear, visually distinct buttons for Single Player, Multiplayer, Training, and Settings.
- A Player Profile section for tracking stats and achievements.
2. Character Selection Screen Wireframes
Objective:
Create an intuitive character selection screen where players could quickly browse and choose fighters.
Design Approach:
The wireframe used a grid-based layout where each character was represented by a large icon. When players hovered over a character, a side panel displayed key stats and abilities, ensuring they had all the necessary information to make a decision. A “Random Character” button was also included for casual players who wanted to quickly jump into the game.
Key Features:
- Grid layout for easy browsing of characters.
- Side panel for displaying character stats, abilities, and customization options.
- Random Character button for quick, casual play.
Implementation & Development
Once the wireframes were completed, they were handed off to the development team for implementation. I worked closely with developers to ensure the designs were accurately translated into the game, focusing on:
Responsive Design:
The wireframes were optimized for both console and PC gameplay, ensuring smooth navigation across devices.Collaboration:
I collaborated with game developers and designers to ensure the wireframes aligned with the game’s mechanics and tone, refining elements as needed during the development process.Testing & Iteration:
User experience testing was conducted to identify any friction points in the navigation or interface, leading to iterative improvements based on player feedback.
Outcome & Results
The wireframes served as a blueprint for the development team, resulting in several key outcomes:
Streamlined User Experience:
The main menu and character selection screens allowed players to quickly navigate through game modes and select fighters, reducing downtime and keeping the focus on gameplay.Efficient Multiplayer Setup:
The matchmaking wireframes ensured a smooth transition between local and online multiplayer, reducing setup time and maintaining player engagement.Improved Iteration Process:
The wireframes allowed for quick iteration during the development process, enabling the team to test and refine the UI/UX as needed.
Lessons Learned & Reflections
This project highlighted the importance of balancing complex game mechanics with a clean, accessible interface. By focusing on user-centered design and iterative testing, we were able to create wireframes that provided an intuitive, streamlined experience for both casual and competitive players. One key takeaway was the value of rapid iteration and feedback from playtesting, which helped refine the wireframes to better suit player needs.
Moving forward, I would recommend continuing to test and refine the multiplayer interface to ensure scalability as the player base grows, ensuring seamless matchmaking and player engagement.