HeuristicEval-TBD
From CS 160 Fall 2008
Contents |
Problem
Orquesta is a serious game that allows the player an easy, accessible way to learn how to become a music DJ.
Violations found
1. [H2-1 Visibility & System Status] [severity = 3]
In campaign mode, “-2/10 transitions” is listed as a potential progress indicator. This is rather unclear, as it could mean that you have been penalized for missing two transitions or that you need twelve more transitions to pass the level instead of 10.
2. [H2-1 Visibility & System Status] [severity = 2]
During gameplay, the screens do not specify whether you are in Tutorial, Practice, or Campaign Mode.
3.[H2-3 User Control & Freedom] [severity = 1]
A typical volume control systems allow you to click on the top and bottom of a volume bar instead of just dragging it up and down.
4. [H2-1 Visibility & System Status] [severity = 2]
The "Track is saved!" screen should appear after the "Save File" dialogue has been closed.
5. [H2-1 Visibility & System Status] [severity = 3]
Instead of clicking on "Track is saved!" to continue, have a specific button.
6. [H2-4 Consistency & Standards] [severity = 3]
The word "Quit" is vague - does this mean quit game or quit level?
7. [H2-4 Consistency & Standards] [severity = 2]
Buttons are not clearly labeled as buttons versus drag and drop menu items, as the Intro and the Tutorial/Campaign/Practice screen has blue buttons, whereas the buttons associated with the individual levels ("Campaign Level 1 Buttons") are white. This inconsistency is slightly confusing when navigating the interface for the first time.
8. [H2-3 User Control & Freedom] [severity = 4]
There is a "Next" button in the tutorial but no "Previous" button.
9. [H2-3 User Control & Freedom] [severity = 4]
The message that appears when you try to assign the same track to multiple keys always takes you back to the Campaign Mode. This may be an implementation error and not a design choice, but the wiki report regarding this error message only states, "If the player tries to assign the same track to multiple keys, an error appears. This is because one of the main objectives of beatmixing is to create new blends of sound - if a player tries to "mix" tracks that all sound the same, they won't go too far in the DJ world. If the user wants a stronger sound from one of the tracks, they can simply raise its volume in the mixing screen."
10. [H2-4 Consistency & Standards] [severity = 3]
A user can choose to go on to the next level of a game or retry a level of a game regardless of whether or not they passed a current level.
11. [H2-3 User Control & Freedom] [severity = 3]
Although a user is allowed to choose to retry the previous level, he may not choose to retry any levels other than the one he or she completed most recently.
12. [H2-4 Consistency & Standards] [severity = 2]
On the tutorial screen, the layout of the screen changes as the tutorial progresses (previously absent features such as the timebar appear later). This inconsistent layout is somewhat confusing.
13. [H2-7 Flexibility & Efficiency] [severity = 3]
If a user plays until he reaches a certain level, then presses "Quit" to do other things for the day, how will he return to the level where he was? Does the program remember automatically? If so, there should be a message (maybe when you "Quit"). If not, the user should be allowed to save his progress.
14. [H2-10 Help & Documentation] [severity = 1]
Consider adding a "What is this?" option when you right click on something or a help menu, for rapid access to help mid-game (instead of going back to the tutorial).
15. [H2-3 Visibility & System Status] [severity = 3]
There should be a list of tracks that have been imported into the game.
16. [H2-3 Visibility & System Status] [severity = 2]
When changing the volume, the cursor should appear different, to provide feedback that something is actually happening.
Summary of violations
H2-1 Visibility & System Status - 6 errors
H2-2 Match Between System and Real World - 0 errors
H2-3 User Control & Freedom - 4 errors
H2-4 Consistency & Standards - 4 errors
H2-5 Error Prevention - 0 errors
H2-6 Recognition & Recall - 0 errors
H2-7 Flexibility & Efficiency - 1 error
H2-8 Aesthetic and minimalist design
H2-9 Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors
H2-10 Help & Documentation - 1 error
16 violations total
Recommendations
1. Have two separate screens for quitting during the game and completing the level. So that the user won't just skip to another level.
2. Have a place to show that you have actually imported your file on the main screen instead of showing track is saved. And also a list of tracks that you have imported.
3. Then cursor should change during volume manipulation
4. Make buttons all blue
5. Clarify what objectives actually are for each level and overall game.
6. A saving option/give a code for each level so that the player can come back and start at that level.
7. Have a back button in the tutorial - easy to add and would be very helpful.
These are just some of the recommendation based on our evaluations. In general the main problems we saw were improper feedback or very minimal feedback as well as random inconsistencies with what is usually expected for a game application.
