Comments on: Tip For Better Usability http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/12/31/tip-for-better-usability/ I bake games. Indie style. Thu, 16 May 2013 13:23:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Checkbox Labels - fuse http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/12/31/tip-for-better-usability/comment-page-1/#comment-73827 Checkbox Labels - fuse Fri, 06 Apr 2007 19:50:47 +0000 http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/12/31/tip-for-better-usability/#comment-73827 [...] I just read an excellent post on the GameProducer.net blog on how to label checkboxes. You should always use positive labels, not [...] [...] I just read an excellent post on the GameProducer.net blog on how to label checkboxes. You should always use positive labels, not [...]

]]> By: Bartoneus http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/12/31/tip-for-better-usability/comment-page-1/#comment-30387 Bartoneus Wed, 03 Jan 2007 15:11:30 +0000 http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/12/31/tip-for-better-usability/#comment-30387 One of the most difficult options I had to find in AutoCAD was for the selection of cross-hatches on objects. Someone's set up was not allowing them to do it, and I had to find the checkbox marked "ignore hatch objects". I'm not sure if you would specifically consider the word ignore a negative modifier, but I spent a few minutes looking for the option "select hatch objects" and found what they actually used counter-intuitive, so I definitely think this is a helpful hint to point out to anyone designing interfaces and menus. One of the most difficult options I had to find in AutoCAD was for the selection of cross-hatches on objects. Someone’s set up was not allowing them to do it, and I had to find the checkbox marked “ignore hatch objects”. I’m not sure if you would specifically consider the word ignore a negative modifier, but I spent a few minutes looking for the option “select hatch objects” and found what they actually used counter-intuitive, so I definitely think this is a helpful hint to point out to anyone designing interfaces and menus.

]]> By: Juuso - Game Producer http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/12/31/tip-for-better-usability/comment-page-1/#comment-30105 Juuso - Game Producer Tue, 02 Jan 2007 07:51:23 +0000 http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/12/31/tip-for-better-usability/#comment-30105 <blockquote>For example: “AntiAlias Enabled” reads better as just “AntiAliasing”, with the checkbox telling the rest of the story, whether it’s checked or unchecked. Same with “auto-save” and “script debugging”.</blockquote> Yes, I actually pondered whether to use that "enabled" or "ON" at all, but to make clear that "no negative" should be used I thought to leave those words there in most cases. In "script debugging" I left that away.

For example: “AntiAlias Enabled” reads better as just “AntiAliasing”, with the checkbox telling the rest of the story, whether it’s checked or unchecked. Same with “auto-save” and “script debugging”.

Yes, I actually pondered whether to use that “enabled” or “ON” at all, but to make clear that “no negative” should be used I thought to leave those words there in most cases. In “script debugging” I left that away.

]]> By: ZeHa http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/12/31/tip-for-better-usability/comment-page-1/#comment-29469 ZeHa Sun, 31 Dec 2006 11:32:30 +0000 http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/12/31/tip-for-better-usability/#comment-29469 You're so right, I often stumbled across options like this and thought "oh man, why so complicated when it could be a lot easier". Also, for question boxes, it's extremely bad if they are written in a negative way, so you have to click "no" instead of "yes", and everyone knows that question boxes are often read in a rush or even not at all. Then you click the wrong answer immediately and afterwards you think "damn" ;) You’re so right, I often stumbled across options like this and thought “oh man, why so complicated when it could be a lot easier”.

Also, for question boxes, it’s extremely bad if they are written in a negative way, so you have to click “no” instead of “yes”, and everyone knows that question boxes are often read in a rush or even not at all. Then you click the wrong answer immediately and afterwards you think “damn” ;)

]]> By: hanford http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/12/31/tip-for-better-usability/comment-page-1/#comment-29371 hanford Sun, 31 Dec 2006 06:18:15 +0000 http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/12/31/tip-for-better-usability/#comment-29371 Yes, usability often flies in the face of "challenge" Designing a challenging game with good UI can be tricky because it requires two opposing mindsets. I believe this is why it's really rare you see good tutorials in games (including my own), the tutorial is trying to do such a good job at explaining things that the challenge of removed. For a lot of your examples, it's even better to remove the "positiveness" itself. For example: "AntiAlias Enabled" reads better as just "AntiAliasing", with the checkbox telling the rest of the story, whether it's checked or unchecked. Same with "auto-save" and "script debugging". Yes, usability often flies in the face of “challenge” Designing a challenging game with good UI can be tricky because it requires two opposing mindsets. I believe this is why it’s really rare you see good tutorials in games (including my own), the tutorial is trying to do such a good job at explaining things that the challenge of removed.

For a lot of your examples, it’s even better to remove the “positiveness” itself.

For example: “AntiAlias Enabled” reads better as just “AntiAliasing”, with the checkbox telling the rest of the story, whether it’s checked or unchecked. Same with “auto-save” and “script debugging”.

]]> By: Kal_Torak http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/12/31/tip-for-better-usability/comment-page-1/#comment-29363 Kal_Torak Sun, 31 Dec 2006 05:47:01 +0000 http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/12/31/tip-for-better-usability/#comment-29363 I bet the users enjoy the challenge of figuring out what the options really say. :D Beats sudoku any day! And, I just joined mybloglog. I bet the users enjoy the challenge of figuring out what the options really say. :D
Beats sudoku any day!

And, I just joined mybloglog.

]]> By: Julio http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/12/31/tip-for-better-usability/comment-page-1/#comment-29297 Julio Sun, 31 Dec 2006 01:39:41 +0000 http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/12/31/tip-for-better-usability/#comment-29297 Best post in weeks : ) Best post in weeks : )

]]> By: Jake Birkett http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/12/31/tip-for-better-usability/comment-page-1/#comment-29294 Jake Birkett Sun, 31 Dec 2006 01:19:23 +0000 http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/12/31/tip-for-better-usability/#comment-29294 Lovely tip. Do this naturally at the moment (positive naming), but didn't always - so a good tip for people that still do :-) Lovely tip. Do this naturally at the moment (positive naming), but didn’t always – so a good tip for people that still do :-)

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