Game interfaces

Gaming-specific(?) guidelines

• Screen layout should be efficient and visually pleasing (Laitinen 2011)
• Consider hiding the main computer interface during game play (Bickford, 1997)
• The player should experience the menu as a part of the game (Desurvire 2004)
• When initially launching the game, the player has enough information to start playing (Desurvire 2004)
• Game players should always be able to identify their scores/status (Malone 1982, Shneiderman 1992)
• Games should use visual and audio effects to arouse interest
• Sounds from the game provide meaningful feedback or stir a particular emotion (Norman 1990, Desurvire 2004)
• The player should be  easily able to turn the game off and on, and be able to save games in different states (Desurvire 2004)

Instantiations of more general HCI guidelines

• Controls should be intuitive, and mapped in a natural way. They should be basic enough to learn quickly yet expandable for advanced options (Desurvire 2004)
• Art should be recognizable to player, and speak to its function (Desurvire 2004)
• Allow users to customize video and audio settings, difficulty and game speed.
• Interfaces should be consistent in control, color, typography and dialog design (Sanchez-Crespo1999), but the game play should be varied.
  
• Controls should be customizable and default to industry standard settings (Bickford 1997, Sanchez-Crespo 1999, Pinelle et al. 2004)
• Do not expect the user to read a manual (Norman, 1990)
• Minimize the menu layers of an interface (Shelley, 2001)
• Shorten the learning curve (Sanchez-Crespo 1999)
• The interface should be as non-intrusive as possible (Sanchez-Crespo 1999, Desurvire 2004)
• Provide immediate feedback for user actions (Desurvire 2004)
• Players should be given context-sensitive help while playing, so that they do not get stuck or have to rely on a manual (Desurvire 2004)
• Make the menu layers well-organized and minimalist to the extent the menu options are intuitive (Desurvire 2004)
  
• Get the player involved quickly and easily with tutorials and/or progressive or adjustable difficulty levels (Desurvire 2004)