Learn design strategies from good iphone games

Almost all iphone users have used game apps, a "national game" era. In iphone applications, the game is not only the number of downloads, but also the quality of the design is commendable. I from a large number of game applications in the tide, trying to learn from nutrition, explore good design strategy for my use.

The basic idea is:

Step one, ask a small question or a small test, please follow me to think about;

Step two, which leads to the deep principle;

Step three, this principle in the iphone game embodiment;

Step four, what are the implications for us?

Through the above steps, it simply introduces the characteristics of muscle memory, long-term memory, short-term memory, recognition and recollection, and the influence of the design of the user interface. article space and personal ability is limited, to each principle can not do too much digging, just want to be able to enlighten us some thinking.

Muscle memory

Step One, consider:

One morning, you get up late and drive to the company in an emergency. Come to fork intersection, a passer-by tells you: this has a shortcut. At this time you face two choices: A road is the way you walk every day, very familiar with the other way you have never walked, there are many uncertainties. Which way would you choose now?

Most people will choose the path they are familiar with.

The road itself is too familiar, "Close your eyes can walk home", the brain almost do not think, the road even if the distance will not feel slow. In contrast, passers-by for your point of shortcut, there may be a fork in your wits, once the wrong, shortcut has become a long way to delay.

Step two, where the principle: muscle memory

The efficiency and accuracy of an operation is largely determined by the proximity of the person's familiar path to the operation. If the operation is repeated many times, the muscles will form a conditioned reflex to produce a memory effect. The cerebral cortex has not yet been decided, and the brainstem and spinal nerves have been led in one step. If the operation is in the new contact stage, the uncertainty is more, at this time makes the decision-making is the cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex takes longer to make decisions than the brainstem and spinal nerves.

To cite an example: when the novice learns the car, uses the cerebral cortex more, carries on the file, the inverted pile and so on the operation slow and is inconsistent, is apt to make mistakes. Veteran motorists perform brakes and shift gears more subconsciously, faster and more accurate, directed by the brain stem and spinal nerves.

From the speed, accuracy, the user familiar with the operation of the path can make the operation of more calmly. If the operation path is too novel or difficult to explore, even if the procedure is shortened, it is not necessarily faster and better than the path that the user knows.

Step three, in the mobile game in the embodiment:

iphone action games, arcade games and role-playing games, the general use of horizontal screen mode, the lower left corner for the position control operation area, the lower right corner for Action control operation area. Simple user scenarios: Hands hold mobile phone, left thumb is responsible for the operation of the role of the game position, the right thumb is responsible for the operation of the role of specific action.

The user is already familiar with this pattern, forming a muscle memory. If it is overturned, such as position operation and action operation are placed in the lower right corner, users will feel uncomfortable.

Step four, what are the implications for us

1. The consistency of the operating system is greater than that of the product itself.

The difference between mobile operating systems is obvious, and performing an operation may have very different operating paths. The iOS system uses fewer long presses in specific applications, such as Android, which uses more long presses. Different mobile operating systems, which foster different muscle memories of the user; this muscle memory is exercised by countless applications that conform to the characteristics of this system, and once formed, it is difficult to change. Therefore, when the product platform, must be familiar with and match the operating platform of the user interface features, user-friendly quickly grasp the operation of the application mode.

2. The application should be in harmony with the neighbors.

Applications are not isolated in the user's phone, and are part of many applications. The pain is that the user does not fully remember how every detail of each application operates, and muscle memory allows them to try out the kinds of operations they are familiar with. Therefore, it is necessary to look at your "neighbor" application, to see how they are commonly used in the operation, without affecting your own creative points to play the premise can maintain a certain consistency with them.

3. Within a small application environment, controls need to be continuous and predictable.

Muscle memory can also be found in application environments. Function key is necessary to maintain a stable position, in different pages can be found along the visual habits; the layout of the function key needs to be predictable, appearing in the vicinity of the relevant content area, do not bury too deep.

Ii. Long-term memory

Step One, consider:

Question one: What's your last cell phone number?

Question two: Do you remember the specific contents of the Yu Xuan theorem?

I'm afraid we can't remember the things that have let us recite backwards.

Why is that? And what does it say?

Step two, which is the principle: the characteristics of long-term memory

Long-term memory can help people to extract key information at any time, such as you will easily say your current mobile phone number, ID number. Long-term memory, which requires a lot of repetitive drills to form, can be maintained for days or years. If the long-term memory is not consolidated, will gradually fade with the passage of time (Ebbinghaus curve).

Long-term memory has 2 characteristics:

Firstly, the information of long-term memory is a combination of high compression ratio and abstract feature, and the details of image, sensation and concept will be lost. To achieve long-term memory, the brain needs to convert complex information compression into simple language symbols.

Second, when the long-term memory is extracted, information distortion often occurs. The best way to store information is to hook up with old knowledge. It is best to give hints in familiar situations when extracting. If you pick up something in junior high school that will make you revisit, you can help you backtrack on people and things.

Step three, in the mobile game in the embodiment:

Chess game enthusiasts are generally starting from the real chess play. Although the reality of chess and mobile phone in the chess game is very different, was omitted too many elements and feelings, but when they see can express the pieces of the outline and checkerboard basic learn how to touch screen mobile phone operation.

Mobile phone chess game is easy to learn, is derived from the physical elements of life extraction and copying, quickly activated the long-term memory of chess enthusiasts.

Step four, what are the implications for us

1. Reduce the user's memory burden.

Long-term memory is very fragile, it is common to have information distortion during extraction. If the user is prompted more than once with a password error, he may blame his memory for why it is so bad; in fact, the real blame is that our software does not have a good password for users, or the special requirements of user name and password increase the user's memory burden. Our software needs to be smarter and more humane.

2. Focus on consistency.

Consistency makes it easier for information to be converted to long-term memory and reduces the error of long-term memory extraction. The weaker the consistency, the greater the user's memory burden. Different application of different functions in the consistency of the better performance, easy to learn the better, the easier to use.

3. Extract genes from related life.

According to the rule of long-term memory, in order to make the information of the memory more faster and stronger, it is necessary to make the information related to the memory of the brain in the past. This is also the reason that associative memory is more durable and easier than rote memorization. From the familiar life scene of the target user to extract the gene application in the user interface, can inspire users in the past long-term memory, not only can improve ease of use, but also to create a warm product temperament.

Iii. Short-term memory

Step One, consider:

The first group of information: 74,5,7,6,87,11,0,3,20;

The second group of information: Focus, local, domestic, international, military, women, entertainment, sports, social, financial, automotive, science and technology, real estate, education, games, internet

Read the above two sets of information hastily, how much can you remember?

Unless you devote enough time and attention, it is difficult to remember the exact value and location of the above information.

Have you felt that our memory is not as strong as we thought?

Step two, which is the principle: the characteristics of short-term memory

Short-term memory is very important for our daily work and study, because too much information just lets us know how to do the next second is enough, and do not need too much effort to convert to long-term memory.

Short-term memory is not a strict information store, it is only a temporary information store, is a combination of sensory and attention phenomena.

One of the characteristics of highly unstable. To your friend remittance, remit the basic has already put his bank account to forget.

The second feature, short-term memory is the focus of attention. If something you don't notice suddenly asks you if it's not there, you might be vague. For example, you work with a colleague talk hot, into the elevator will be in the heart whispered: I just clocked it? Because you don't focus on clocking out, there's no memory.

In addition, the number of short-term memory is very limited. According to the study (psychologists study, I do not have the ability), there are the following laws: If the information can be combined, that is, there is a certain regularity, the number of people's memory for 7±2, if the information is not regular, changes between the large, the number of people's memory is 4±1.

Step three, in the mobile game in the embodiment:

The image above is derived from the stylish sprint game and is considered a good product in the iphone parkour game. The game carries on the interface, the upper right corner area for the user obtains the achievement and the task completes the progress. Each time need to take the game action, the interface will prompt the user in the interface position. The advantage of this is that the application remembers the core information for the user and saves the user brainpower.

There is a similar parkour game, Darkness Rush, task description placed in the game before the beginning of the page, and in the game on the page without any hint, each time do not know what their task is, very puzzling.

Step four, what are the implications for us

1. The user interface needs to help users remember core information.

What goals do users use your application for? What do users need to do in this interface? What are the key messages that are closely related to user tasks and user behavior? Show these key messages clearly, and they can be used as streetlights when users are confused.

Google search apps iphone version, the search box has been hovering at the top of the page. One convenient for users to change the keyword at any time, second, can help users remember what is browsing the content of the search keyword.

2. Do not overestimate the user's short-term memory, give timely reminders and feedback.

Of course, all the relevant information cannot be placed in the interface, resulting in cumbersome information is also necessary to avoid. Non-core information can appear when the user needs it. Such information appears to be very polite and does not disturb the user too much.

Pudding Coupon iphone Client, the top of each coupon on the final display page will be used eye-catching color prompts to use, need to print or only show.

3. Guide the attention of the user appropriately where you deem necessary.

Short-term memory is possible only where attention is reached. The new function point in the application, or the task action step, if you feel it is necessary, can appropriately guide the user's attention focus. Guide not to stay too long, not too many times.

Micro-letter iphone client in order to allow users to note the group chat function, in the entry of the Tangled bubble box prompts, and then disappeared.

Four. More use of recognition, less memory

Step One, consider:

Question one:

Judge 4 faces you don't know, how long did it take you?

Question two:

How long did it take you to remember the password protection questions and answers for each website registration?

Recognize the face you do not know, only need to call a fraction of a second time; Remembering the password-protection questions and answers that you have used may take several minutes or even completely forgotten.

Step two, the principle: the accuracy of behavior and the inaccuracy of knowledge

Recognition is such a mode of thinking: sensory and long-term memory work together, memory neuron "parallel processing." The identified information at this time is clear, straightforward, and can activate countless neurons in the brain at the same time, a bit like a parallel circuit, activating the same or similar information storage area, very fast.

Memory is such a mode of thinking: There is no explicit, specific sensory input, the attempt to activate the memory neurons. Slow speed and low success rate.

The most common manifestation of recognition is choice and execution with precise behavior.

Memory is essentially the output of knowledge again, with inaccurate answers.

Step three, in the mobile game in the embodiment:

In the iphone game, it is rare to see a lot of content input, even login registration function does not necessarily exist. Game application entry, learning, level selection, personnel configuration has been to set up the steps, almost all rely on the point of choice to operate. The whole operation is smooth and simple, not because you forget something to jam.

Step four, what are the implications for us

1. To minimize the input, more in the form of choice.

In the mobile phone input is indeed a very painful thing, inefficient, trembling, if you do not fully grasp the input content, the occurrence of shred errors are enough to cut off the user's path. Therefore, it is necessary to think when doing the application that this function operation can be implemented in the form of choice. Even if you select a bit more, it is faster than the input operation.

Time selectors are implemented by choice.

2. Use images to express functionality whenever possible.

Images are more useful for recognition. In iphone Apps, the tab bar and function keys make it easier for users to identify if they use icons or icons to match text. As shown below, the column and function keys of the Zaker Plate catalog page are all replaced with text form, and the legibility and recognition will be weaker.

V. Presets: Provide users with clues on how to operate

Step One, consider:

How do you judge the way they are used?

Light switch, door handle, Hall door handle, in their own form to tell people how they should use.

Step two, which is the principle: the attributes of things can be explained by default from me

Every thing can have its own preset, books can be read, cars can be manned, pens can write, and so on.

People's presupposition of the things themselves, in life has been learned and validated. IPhone applications, for users more or less will have the cost of learning, we can use the default of things to tell users about the application of the method.

Do not put all hope to the Novice guide, the user generally do not look.

Step three, in the mobile game in the embodiment:

The above three games are: Angry Birds, Three kingdoms to make a big, pirate! Fire！

The game uses its own preset to tell the user how to operate: A slingshot can be launched, the dice can be tossed, and the fuse can detonate.

Step four, what are the implications for us

1. Skillfully borrow the presupposition of the thing itself--the physical and chemical design

The materialized design is a typical example of using the preset of things. Users will live to real things in the use of experience directly in this software, not only can improve the product's easy to learn, but also can make blunt science and technology products in the form of rich life to shorten the distance with the user mentality.

Real piano is a typical application of physical design, and how it is used is self-evident.

Summary：

The text, with 708 scattered words, is a myth about muscle memory, long-term memory, short-term memory, memory and recognition, the nature of things, and their experience in the iphone game, and how these things can inspire our application design. Have their own thinking, there are repeats, there are seemingly reasonable places, there are not very meticulous thinking place. Please make the bricks, thank you!

Source: Http://thinkingrain.lofter.com/post/3f64_df7d5