HCI aspect in J2ME games

[nav2kz]

i would like to know other then playability, what are other HCI aspect that i should consider when developing games for hand phone

[jukarttu]

My opinion is that biggest problem is inconsistency with platform & user interface style conventions. For example, not implementing save & pause when user presses End key (red phone button), or using left & right softkeys differently than the actual phone UI. From game developer point of view it is easy to think that "This is not a big deal, they will surely learn this". But from the customer point of view, it can be surprisingly confusing if one application in his phone works differently than he has used to. I have seen this happen often in actual user tests.

For more details, see usability guidelines at:

(For quick summary, just read the Top 10 guidelines at last pages of documents.)

http://www.forum.nokia.com/main/0,6566,23_30,00.html

If you feel this didn't answer your question, please ask more specific question in this thread.

[nav2kz]

thanks for ur answer sir, it will help me out in my final year project documentation. But don't u think other then inconsistency, they are other key element of HCI that might effect the playbility of the user

[jukarttu]

Yes, naturally. (Usually) mobile phones are not designed for gaming, so the screen size and phone ergonomic design are one major issues, that affect how well different game concepts can be implemented. Also the gaming context is very different from the PC world. Typically mobile gaming is done while waiting; For example when waiting for bus, in school-classes and so on. This is one reason why being able to quit & save game quickly withouth losing any data is important. For this reason typical gaming periods are short. Different gaming concept also affects the use of sounds. If it try to do sneaky gaming at school (or at work), i don't want the game to make loud intro musics. (Of course this is also culturally dependant, I have understood that in asia it is important that sounds are heard by others too.)

Another issue is that (in future) mobile gaming has also some strenghts that PC world is lacking. New game concepts can be tried with new technologies like camera phones and location services.

For interesting game concepts with new devices, see google for 'Geo caching' and 'Skannerz'

[nav2kz]

you have played an important role in my final year project sir, thanks alot, i shall send u the jar and jad file once i've completed my game, thanks again. Take care sir

[jukarttu]

If you send your game before completion, i might give you some commets concerning the usability of the application. Buggy prototype withouth graphics would be fine. This would be more useful to you.

(I don't promise anything, but maybe just few comments.
After all, usability research is my full time job. =)

[nav2kz]

hi sir,
can you please send me your e-mail add so that i can send my jar and jad file to u, thanks alot for your time, Nav

[jukarttu]

I send my e-mail to you with messaging service of this discussion forum. If you did'nt get it, you can contact me by clicking 'Profile' button in this message, and selecting "Click here to e-mail jukarttu" link.

=)