Crab User Testing

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• Crab Enemy Testing
• Questions
• Key Alterations
• Result Analysis
• Results

Crab Design Testing

Testing was undertaken regarding the design of the melee enemy character design in an effort to understand a user’s beliefs and thoughts surrounding the crab character design. This was achieved during two seperate testing periods, with tests completed on both low fidelity and medium fidelity designs.

Studio User Testing

During the studio, user testing was completed with Team 11 (audio) on 64x64px low fidelity crab design. This allowed for an understanding of the target audience – university student who enjoy playing video games – to be created early in the ideation process regarding their beliefs surrounding the crab, which paved the way for future designs.

• Users enjoy the colour scheme, colours contrast and complement one another well. Both the highlight and shading is strategic, does not make the body of the crab look messy at all.
• Users really enjoyed the addition of the blue legs and claws, initially drew their attention (“exotic look”)
• Feedback: Addition of an animated face to showcase the mood of the crab (angry, aggressive), increase the size of the claws to draw user attention instantly.

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User Testing

User testing was conducted on 4 university students (non-IT degree) through a face to face interview. Subsequently, this allowed for follow up questions which aimed to clarify an understanding about what features specifically contribute to users’ beliefs and thoughts. These findings were then applied to create the high fidelity design.

Questions

The questions asked during these interviews were:

1. What animal is this?
2. What are your initial thoughts of this character?
3. What mood does the character convey to you? How do you feel looking at it?
4. Do you find the colours to be visually appealing? What initially grabs your attention?
5. If you could change anything about this character, what would it be? Why?

Key Alterations

Interviewees had several recommendations for the final Crab design:

• Facial expression: enlarge eyes (darker border around eyes), addition of slanted angry eyebrows, mouth angry (snarling) – influences the users’ initial thoughts appropriately
• Enlarge claws, change colour (red/orange) to create high contrast against blue arms - successfully capturing the attention of the users’ eyes
• Remove yellow feet, change to dark blue used to border the blue limbs – streamline design
• Addition of a pirate hat and large hand hook, makes the enemy more interesting than the average crab – represents the belongings of the sailors it has attacked and killed previously in the Atlantic sea

Result Analysis

Full results of the interviews can be found below; however, through analysis of answers given the following was found:

• The design of the character is distinguishable, all users were able to easily recognise that they were being presented with an image of a crab due to clear characteristics.
• Despite the designer believing that the facial expression of the crab was angry and aggressive, all users interpreted the crab to be worried, confused and/or scared. This was not the intended mood to be conveyed, and the interviewer's follow up questions found that beliefs were a result of the facial expression.
• Findings show that all users eyes were drawn to either the facial expression, claws, or the yellow feet. Considering first impression are important, specific features must clearly indicate to the user the agenda of the crab (friend or foe). The yellow feet are not deemed to contribute a significant amount to creating an aggressive appearance. Instead, focus should be mainly upon the facial expression and snapping claw – which will successfully capture user attention and highlight the mood and intention of the entity as an enemy.
• All users believed the colours to contrast well, features were all recognised.
• Explore certain additional features which would allow for the crab to be unique, make it fun and entertaining whilst still maintaining the angry nature of the crab
  • Pirate hat with a skull on it (front and back of hat, allows for users to recognise that it is an enemy even as it faces the back – which hides the facial expression and large claw from view) and large hand hook

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Results

User 1

1. Crab
2. I like the design, pixels on body are random, salsa dancing, boring design - not anything special
3. Confused, unsure, worried, frightened. I feel bad for it.
4. I think the colours complement one another well - especially the red and blue. The red body and then yellow feet draw my attention initially.
5. I would change the facial expression. Not dangerous, more confused. Yellow feet are unnecessary - too many colours happening, a little much. Increase claw size

User 2

1. Crab
2. Body of the crab looks random; it is a frightened crab. I want to comfort it
3. Worried and confused. Looking at the crab does not elicit any feeling from me.
4. Facial expressions and yellow feet draw my attention first.
5. I don't find the facial expression to be pleasing, it makes myself feel worried and unsure. The claws should be larger, and a different colour to differentiate.

User 3

1. Crab
2. Frowning, buck teeth, he seems upset and confused
3. The crab seems frazzled, when I look at it, I feel concerned and bad for it – relatable
4. Claws grabbed attention first, enjoyed the vibrant colours and the contrast between the body and limbs
5. Change the eyes to make them more like Mr Crabs (SpongeBob), Add eyebrows to improve facial expression, moustache. Overall it is good a pixelated crab design

User 4

1. Crab
2. Unsure, lost
3. Looks sad and lost, in need of help
4. Eyes grabbed my attention first, the white contrast against the black and red
5. Give it a hat, make it interesting. Make it fun though still dangerous. Intriguing

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