DVM: Lesson - The Storyboard and User Experience

A group of students works on a collaborative project.The Storyboard and User Experience

As a middle school student, you have probably heard that there is more than one way to reach a goal or accomplish a task. The same is true in game design storyboarding. In this lesson, we will learn about various types of storyboards and strategies to improve user experience (UX).

Types of Storyboard

Each type of storyboard serves a different purpose, but all are important for creating a cohesive and engaging game. By planning out the different aspects of the game's design, game designers can ensure that the final product is fun, engaging, and easy to play.

Here are a few types of storyboards that you may encounter when developing a visual model of your game:

  1. Visual Storyboard: This type of storyboard uses images and sketches to depict the key moments and actions in a game. It is useful for planning out the overall narrative and pacing of the game.
  2. Level Design Storyboard: This storyboard focuses on the design of individual levels within a game. It includes sketches or diagrams of the level layout, key objects or obstacles, and any special features or mechanics that the player will Level design storyboards help to plan out the gameplay and challenges of each level.
  3. User Interface Storyboard: The user interface (UI) storyboard focuses on the design of the game's interface, including menus, buttons, and other visual elements that the player will interact with. It helps to ensure that the game is easy to navigate and understand.
  4. Technical Storyboard: A technical storyboard is used to plan out the more technical aspects of the game's design, such as the programming and coding needed to make the game work. It includes diagrams or flowcharts that show how different game systems will interact and work together.

It’s interesting that although there are different types of storyboards used in game design, each type has its own unique purpose.

Creating a Quality User Experience

While the GDD and the storyboard are two important planning tools when designing your game, it is also important to dive deeper and think critically to consider the actual end user’s overall experience. By considering and implementing research based strategies to optimize user experience (UX), you can create a competitive edge in the design of your game and ensure that players have a positive and enjoyable experience.

Here are some strategies to improve game design UX:

  1. Keep it simple: Design the game to be easy to learn and Simplify the controls and interface as much as possible, and avoid overwhelming the player with too much information at once.
  2. Test and iterate: Continuously test the game with players and make improvements based on their This will help to identify any issues or frustrations that players may encounter and allow you to address them.
  3. Provide feedback: Provide clear and immediate feedback to the player so that they know what they are doing right. This could include sound effects, visual cues, or text prompts.
  4. Use tutorials and instructions: Provide tutorials or instructions at the beginning of the game to teach the player how to This will help to avoid confusion and frustration later on.
  5. Balance challenge and reward: Ensure that the game is challenging enough to be engaging, but not so difficult that it becomes frustrating. Provide rewards and incentives for progress to keep the player motivated.
  6. Pay attention to aesthetics: The visual and audio elements of the game can greatly impact the user Use engaging graphics, animations, and sound effects to make the game more immersive and enjoyable.

Connecting the Dots

In conclusion, game design storyboarding is an important aspect of creating a successful and engaging game. Through different types of storyboards, game designers can plan out the narrative, gameplay, and technical aspects of their game. However, it is equally important to consider the user experience and implement research-based strategies to improve it. By keeping the game simple, testing and iterating, providing feedback, using tutorials and instructions, balancing challenge and reward, and paying attention to aesthetics, game designers can create a game that is enjoyable and accessible to players of all skill levels. So, keep in mind that with the right planning and attention to the user experience, you can create a game that people will love to play!

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