Press Skip to Start: Where’s the bigger arrow for easier gameplay and onboarding?

Remembering Mysterious Island

Let’s rewind to my childhood days when I was completely absorbed in a game called Mysterious Island (2004).

The premise was straightforward: you found yourself shipwrecked on a mysterious island teeming with strange creatures and perilous challenges. What made this game stand out was the need to control multiple characters at once, each with their unique skills. The world was vast and richly detailed, and the thrill of exploring uncharted territories while juggling the strengths and weaknesses of each character was exhilarating.

I still remember how I spent hours trying to figure out the best combinations of abilities to overcome the island’s various obstacles. There were no tutorials holding my hand - I had to dive in and figure things out for myself. Every time I successfully navigated a new challenge or found a hidden item, it felt like a personal victory. The complexity of managing multiple characters while adapting to the island's dangers was exactly why I loved it - an open world with real-life survival mechanics.

Fast forward to today, and I find myself reflecting on the same principles that made Mysterious Island engaging. For instance, consider Ghost of Tsushima. This game masterfully balances complexity with accessibility, offering players a rich combat system that allows for a myriad of skills and tactics.

The game provides just the right amount of prompts to guide you without overwhelming you, allowing you to immerse yourself in the journey of becoming a samurai while mastering intricate combat mechanics as you progress through the game.

The Role of Documentation and Game Design

One of the first steps in managing game complexity is thorough documentation. Internal Game Design Documents lay out the intended player experience, detailing everything from difficulty curves to the complexity of game mechanics. However, in reality, many studios don’t develop their own games. Instead, they often work with clients who sometimes want to simplify the user experience, thinking it’ll keep players engaged longer because they won’t get stuck. This iterative process can lead to... unique challenges.

When players are constantly bombarded with prompts telling them what to do next, it takes away the thrill of discovery. It’s like handing players a game controller with a “skip to the end” button. Instead of exploring and figuring things out, they just rush through the game, checking off tasks like they’re on a to-do list (reminding me of some of my end-to-end QA checks).

Playtesting

Playtesting can be a crucial part of the game dev process for newer products/products with a specific TA. However, testing sessions, especially with children, can sometimes yield misleading results. I’ve witnessed instances where kids simply chose to skip an onboarding step in a family-friendly app, leading a client to conclude that the game onboarding isn’t intuitive. This doesn’t necessarily reflect the game’s design quality.

People often need time to adapt to new mechanics, especially when they’re presented with an entirely new gameplay experience. So, just because a couple of kids couldn’t figure it out immediately or decided to not engage with a specific feature from the very get-go does not mean the game was poorly designed.

This brings us to a classic example: Grand Theft Auto. I spent days and days playing it, immersing myself in the open world and rarely going through the missions! The freedom to explore, cause chaos, and interact with the environment kept me engaged for hours on end, proving that sometimes the journey outside of the main objectives can be just as fulfilling as completing the storyline.

The Challenge of Balancing Complexity

When discussing complexity, we also see stark differences in game design philosophies. Many studios opt to not implement extensive tutorials and pop-up hints. Makes sense: well-placed prompts, rather than constant nudging, can enhance the experience. If a player is stuck for a bit, a gentle hint could guide them without robbing them of the satisfaction that comes from problem-solving.

Let's take strategy role-playing games Medieval Dynasty and Crusader Kings III, for instance.

Both games present a fascinating but often frustrating challenge with their complexity and pacing.

In Medieval Dynasty, players take on the role of a young man looking to build a new life in the medieval world. As you explore, you gather resources, recruit villagers, and try to establish your own settlement. However, managing your village can be challenging, especially when it comes to balancing resources.

As you (okay, I) discovered, if you recruit villagers without ensuring you have enough food and resources to support them, they may leave your settlement out of dissatisfaction - oh well. It’s essential to keep an eye on your villagers' needs, such as food, shelter, and happiness, to retain them. Building houses without the means to feed (exactly what I did) can quickly drain your finances and lead to a shortage of food, which could result in villagers abandoning your settlement (exactly what they did).

Similarly, Crusader Kings III can feel both underwhelming and overwhelming at the beginning when you are not sure what to do. You find yourself weighing the potential outcomes of marriages, alliances, and wars while not being powerful enough, which can lead to decision paralysis. Every character also has their own traits, ambitions, and relationships that can affect their loyalty and willingness to support you. As a new player, managing these relationships while trying to expand your realm can feel like juggling too many balls at once.

In both cases, the complexity is fascinating, but it demands patience and attention to detail.

Gambling Mechanics in games: A closer look

As a QA tester, I have a front-row seat to how these mechanics are designed, implemented, and tested. The integration of gambling elements adds another layer of complexity to game design, requiring to strike a balance between excitement and fairness.

The Help pages provide an explanation of the game mechanics, and players are often more attentive to the rules because of the financial stakes involved. If you take the time to understand these rules instead of skipping them during your first playthrough, you can avoid missing important elements like animations, actions, and pop-up questions that require your decisions.

Some people think that game operators don’t want players to know the rules to keep them from winning. However, the truth is a bit different. Gambling games are designed to allow players to make their own choices. They operate on the principle of risk and reward, where players must navigate their decisions independently.

Additionally, each gaming session is separate. This means that seeing onboarding prompts during gameplay would make no sense. Gambling games prefer not to deal with cache issues related to onboarding; instead, players can read the rules on the loading screen or access the Help pages through the burger menu. This keeps the experience straightforward and avoids unnecessary complications.

Also, many seasoned players stick to the same games for years because they know the rules and enjoy the gameplay without any interruptions.

1. Reward Systems:

The concept of reward systems in gambling is pivotal. The thrill lies in the unpredictability of each outcome. A higher RTP* can create a sense of trust and enjoyment, while a lower RTP might lead to frustration.

*A game with an RTP of 95% means that, on average, players can expect to receive back £95 for every £100 they wager.

2. Volatility levels:

Low-volatility games provide frequent but smaller wins, while high-volatility games offer larger payouts but less often. For example, in a slot machine, players might experience a series of small wins followed by the potential for a jackpot.

3. Random Number Generators (RNG):

At the heart of most gambling games lies the Random Number Generator (RNG), which ensures that outcomes are random and fair. For example, in a slot game, the RNG determines the position of symbols after each spin, guaranteeing that results are unpredictable. It involves running tests to confirm that the game operates as intended and that players feel their results are based on chance rather than manipulation.

4. Psychological elements:

Gambling mechanics also leverage psychological triggers to keep players engaged. For instance, near-misses - where players almost hit a winning combination - can create a sense of excitement. Games often implement these elements strategically to maximise engagement while adhering to responsible gaming guidelines.

5. Balancing risk and reward:

The balance between risk and reward is critical in gambling. Players should feel a sense of achievement when they win, which often involves carefully calibrated odds. For instance, a slot game might offer a progressive jackpot that entices players to keep spinning in hopes of a big win. However, the game must also ensure that smaller wins are frequent enough to keep players motivated. Testing different payout structures is vital to create a rewarding experience without crossing ethical boundaries.

6. Regulatory compliance:

Gambling games must adhere to strict regulatory guidelines to ensure player safety and fairness. This includes age restrictions, transparency in odds, and responsible gaming measures. As a QA tester, staying informed about evolving regulations is crucial to ensure that games meet these standards before release. Ensuring compliance not only protects players but also builds trust in the game and the brand.

Ultimately, the goal is to create experiences that resonate with players, allowing them to explore, experiment, and find their unique paths within expansive game worlds.