articles for reading » Interface Design

Gabe Newell talk at University of Texas

A few links

Just wanted to drop off a few things here:

http://www.radgametools.com/default.htm

The home site of Iggy, a UI design program compatible with ActionScript 3.

http://gimcrackd.com/etc/src/

Twine. A programming program that primarily utilizes if-then statements. Great for creating a "Choose your own adventure" type game.

http://www.stencyl.com/

ActionScript 3 coder

These are tools that may be able to assist with the class. I think at least one of them requires a license, but I'm not sure.

Interface Patterns in Video Games

An article intended for web designers explaining practices in game UI design

http://www.thewanderlust.net/blog/2012/10/05/user-interface-patterns-in-video-games/

Building better game UI – Eve

http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/05/eve-evolved-building-a-better-ui/

A UI study – walkthrough of Indy games

Multiple screenshots from several games accompanied by descriptive text.

http://www.rebz.org/2011/09/indie-game-dev-ui-study/

Article: Interactive Wireframes and Interface Narrative

Game specific article on using wireframes and interactive storyboarding techniques to test narrative storytelling in game development.

http://www.develop-online.net/features/1447/Understanding-interactive-wireframes

This is a related article, with more images.

http://www.playniac.com/2011/08/26/interactive-wireframes-and-wireframe-storytelling/

Article: 14 HUDs

While this article does not go into much detail about each HUD, the screenshots are good.

http://feedgrids.com/originals/post/a_look_through_14_beautiful_video_game_hud_designs

Article on GameSpy: Designing a Good Interface by David Krieger

This article discusses elements of game interfaces and why some choices work better than others.

http://www.gamespy.com/articles/491/491801p1.html

Visually Directing the Player

Joshua Nuernberger wrote this article on using visual cues to direct players in a game and posted it on A Hardy Developer's Journal.

This article answers questions about visual direction, lighting cues, and hotspots. These techniques are part of the interface feedback, directing game action in a diagetic manner, making this an interesting read for Interface design ideas.

http://www.hardydev.com/2009/11/18/visually-directing-the-player/