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TRANSCRIPT
Access the usability of the game CSR Racing (v. 4.0.1)
Focus on the first 30 to 40 minutes of play
Identify positive usability aspects, specially if comparable with detected issues
Identify possible issues that may compromise the player’s early experience
Usability Review
Based on usability core principles and best practices (e.g., visual clarity, navigation, consistency)
Focus on potential issues that may affect how users Interact with and Enjoy the game
Result consists of a list of aspects with varying degrees of severity:
Devices Used
(Main) Huawei P8 Lite – Android 6.0
(Auxiliary) Samsung Galaxy Tablet – Android 4.4.4
Objectives & Methodology
Good
Urgent
Important
Minor
Of Note
Good usability practice
A very difficult or persistent issue that can halt the player’s progress
(not present in this report)
A difficult or persistent issue that may significantly frustrate or confuse the player
Not a necessarily difficult issue, but may still affect the player’s experience
Important aspects to considerate that may have a negative impact on the player
Tips During Loading Screens:
Providing tips in the loading screen ensures that even waiting times can be useful to the
player, as this can learn more about the game. Sometimes, tips can be context-sensitive,
such as when they suggest the player to try an easier race, after several loses. Some of
the information displayed that can also minimize some of the issues here reported.
Good
Learning The Game
Explanation Of The Game’s Key Components and Strategies:
At the start of the game, the player is introduced to the most important
components of the game, including: the gas pedal and gear switch for racing;
the City Map for race selection; the Gas costs per race; the Workshop and Car
Dealer for upgrades and new cars, respectively, among others.
More importantly, the game also provides suggestions, for example when
racing, so as the player has an effective start, or when to buy certain upgrades.
Good
Good
Warnings, Confirmation, and/or Feedback On Every Player Action:
Whenever the player is required to take action, the game warns the player
about it. If the action is a critical one, such as buying a car/upgrade, or restart
the game, the player is asked to confirm that decision. After an action was
performed, the game informs about it as well, visually and sometimes audibly.
No Information On How To Interact Or Leave The “Zoom View”:
After purchasing a car, the game will display several rotating shots of it;
however, no information is given on how to progress.
Although this feature will show up frequently throughout the game, during
the first interaction it may cause some confusion.
Suggestion: At least in the first time, inform the player that tapping can
exit that mode, and dragging can change the point of view of the camera.
Important
Minor
Car Purchase
No Information About The Meaning Of The Cars’ Attributes In Their First Purchase:
Players are shown several cars with varying values for Power, Weight, Grip, and Gearbox; however, no
information is given explaining their meaning nor how the player should look at them. The same applies
to the “T(1 to 5) / <number>” below the car’s model.
This can make the players’ first decision difficult and uncertain, specially since the car bought in this
stage of the game will, most likely, be the same used in the following hours of play. This can also
compromise the players’ decisions when upgrading their cars.
Suggestion: Inform the players about the meaning of these attributes, specially in their first purchase.
For example, consider including an introductory message, displayed after the player accesses the
various cars or when using an Help feature, or providing some information through Toasts when tapping
on an attribute.
What do these mean?
Which is more
important early on?
What now?
Should I wait for the animation to end? Hit back? Tap?
Upgrade Descriptions Can Lack Relevant Information:
Although some upgrade items have their descriptions complemented with the value representation mentioned above, others
do not, making it difficult to understand what the upgrade really does and, consequently, decide if it should be prioritized over
other upgrades.
Suggestion: Update upgrade descriptions to better state what are the benefits of said upgrades.
Good
Important
Car Upgrade
Information On How Upgrades Affect The Car’s Attributes:
Combining colours and up/downwards arrows, the game informs how the car’s attributes will be affected
by an upgrade, and if that will be a positive (green) or negative (red) change.
Less weight = Good
Less Grip = Bad
Stage 1 upgrade to Stage 2 = longer Nitrous duration (OK)
Stage 2 upgrade to Stage 3 = ???
Information About The Current Objective And The Likelihood Of The Player Achieving It:
By always displaying the objective, the player is informed of the next task that will allow him/her to progress in the game.
By informing on the difficulty of the mission and advising the acquisition of more upgrades, the player can decide to try
easier races to earn more cash for upgrades, thus, most likely reducing the possible frustration of losing.
Although some of these notifications may overlap other information, these can be seen as being more relevant, and may
help persuade the player to not try a race in which he/she will most likely lose.
Good
City Map
Minor
Inconsistent Pre-Selected Race:
Until the player defeats the first crew member, Crew Battle race is
selected by default (even when the current objective requires other
race types). However, after that, Relegation becomes the pre-selected
race instead.
While this can help teaching the player to select the race type before tapping Go Race, it can also lead to confusion and
make the player select a race type by mistake, making him/her spend gas points and possibly becoming frustrated.
Suggestion: Be consistent with pre-selections. Having no pre-selected race may help players gaining the habit to select
a race type first. Another possibility is to always have pre-selected the type of race associated to the current objective.
Papa Biz’s Taunts May Lead To Confusing Scenarios:
After losing the first crew battle, one of Papa Biz’s taunts suggests the acquisition of more
upgrades. It is immediately possible to access the upgrades section and spend cash on them.
However, the game then suggests to buy upgrades, even if the player already did that.
This can cause some confusion, maybe even frustration, since it can be unclear if the player
should buy more (or other) upgrades (despite not having cash) or spend real money to acquire
cash (which some players may not appreciate to do so early in the game).
Suggestion: Display the Race Official’s suggestion to acquire upgrades after Papa Biz’s taunt
or prevent that specific taunt to show up.
(First) Crew Battle
Minor
Inconsistent Expository Text:
When the player is first told about the different crews, five sets of text are displayed. The first
four take only one line and expand, while the last one takes two lines and does not expand
at all, staying also about the same amount of time on screen.
This can interfere with the text’s readability and make the player think that he/she missed
important information, that will not be available again.
Suggestion: Be consistent in how exposition is displayed. For example, do not expand the
lines of text, or assure that all sets of text are displayed in one line.
Text expands continuously
Text stays still
…
Minor
But… I already did?
Inconsistent Use of Framed Dialogs:
Most messages are displayed as framed pop-ups, and can be closed by selecting one of the options. The same does not
happen with some of the Mechanic-related options, which are displayed similarly to any other message, but can only be
closed by using the back button of the device, which in turn can cause some confusion to the player.
Suggestion: Be consistent with the navigation through the various messages/options.
Inconsistency in Pop-Up/Dialog Options Can Be Misleading:
Various suggestions will pop-up giving the player the option to accept or
refuse them. The terms used to refuse them, however, are inconsistent,
and can suggest different (and sometimes wrong) meanings.
Suggestion: Be consistent in the terminology used. Avoid terms that
may lead the player to incorrectly think that an opportunity will be lost.
Minor
Communication
One term “nicer” than the other, but with the same meaning…
Will be able to do this later…Minor
Unframed option - Can leave with the
back button.
A different representation (OK).
Framed option - Can leave using the
Cancel option.
Common Behavior (OK).
Framed option - Can only leave using
the back button.
Uncommon Behavior.
Is this a one time offer?
Conflicting Objectives During Learning Stages:
While the Race Official suggests the player to acquire a better car, to upgrade faster, the
Agent and the City Map constantly suggest to simply upgrade instead – It makes sense
for this to be a valid concern for mid-/late-game players; however, early on, it is unclear if
the player should focus on getting a better car (even if minutes after having bought one)
or upgrade the current one instead.
Of Note
Miscellaneous
Various Interface Components Not Introduced To The Player:
Although the key features of the game are described, several icons are not explained to the player. Examples include:
Progress bar(s) during the race; YouTube camera button; or Wheel spin Icon – Indeed, the function of most components
can be easily deducted through observation or first time use; however, some players may still consider necessary to
have access to that information early on, to confirm their possible suspicions, or even solidify their opinion of the game.
Of Note
Early Objectives With Extreme Difficulty Levels:
In order to defeat the first crew member, the player needs to first acquire several upgrades, perform several Ladder
races, and, more importantly, repeat several Relegation races – Although this is fine, in the sense that it prepares the
player for the most likely process needed to progress in the game, it can also lead to some frustration, specially if the
player does not like repetitive tasks (grinding) so early in the game. Consider, at least in this early stage of the game,
accompanying the player in this grinding process, until he/she is able to engage in the first crew battle with a good
chance of success.
Of Note
