Workshop: Intro to Game UX Part 1: Cognitive Science & Usability

Making fun and engaging video games is hard. Although there is no known recipe for crafting successful games, some clear ingredients exist, which game developers can use to make their own successful recipe. A UX mindset combined with cognitive science knowledge can provide game makers with those ingredients --across all types of games, platforms used, or audiences targeted-- to guide them along the development process. Experiencing a game happens in the player's mind. This is why understanding the human brain (especially its limitations) while it is perceiving and interacting with a game is paramount to accomplish faster and more efficiently your developers' goals. Part 1 covers an introduction to cognitive science (perception, attention, memory, & learning principles) and how this knowledge applies to game development. It also briefly introduces to usability guidelines (signs & feedback, consistency, minimum workload, accessibility, etc.).