Kingdom’s Feedback Blog

UI/UX

Jen Kim

Hello Gamers!

Welcome to our Feedback Blog where we will walk you through the process of exploring the development of Kingdom from a user-centered perspective.

For this blog, we will be focused on the evolution of navigation elements and player feedback.

Development:

Our team set out to craft a video game experience centered around resource gathering and strategic combat.

Our vision materialized into a dynamic gameplay loop of collecting resources, fighting enemies, and improving the castle, within the serene depths of the Forest and the formidable Castle. Within these immersive environments, players embark on a journey filled with survival and possibility. However, amidst the dangers of the Forest, the Castle stands as a beacon of safety.  Players can return to its protective walls to rest, regroup, and strategize their next moves.

Playtest Experience:

Forest Exploration: Players praised the immersive ambiance of the Forest, with its eerie music setting the perfect tone. However, some noted issues with tree hitboxes and enemy “sliding” behavior.

Castle Ambiance: While the Castle served as the central hub, players felt it lacked the liveliness expected of a home base.

Movement Mechanics: Players loved the fluidity of movement within the game, though feedback highlighted concerns with the dash mechanic feeling abrupt and out of control.

Art and Aesthetics:

The game’s art style received universal positive reception, with its visuals evoking a sense of nostalgia and wonder.

UI Feedback:

While the UI garnered praise for its aesthetics, technical issues like health display inaccuracies and inventory interaction glitches were noted.

Enhancements:

• Initial feedback highlighted issues with screen resolution causing collision discrepancies.
• Addressed post-death enemy behavior, eliminating awkward sliding.
• Expanded outdoor assets to enhance environmental immersion.
• Refined tree hitboxes for smoother traversal.
• Fixed technical glitches like the health UI remaining static post-hits and inventory freezing game input.

Unrealized Ideas:

• Deliberated on improving the dash mechanic but ultimately decided against it (lack of time and resources).

Future Considerations:

• Expand subtasks within the Forest level to maximize its potential.
• Explore opportunities for vertical exploration within the game world.
• Address technical issues affecting UI functionality and animation speed.

In conclusion, Kingdom has undergone significant refinement based on playtest feedback, resulting in a more immersive and polished gaming experience. However, there are still areas for improvement, particularly in addressing technical issues and further enriching the game’s environments. As we continue to iterate and refine, we remain committed to delivering an unforgettable journey for players to embark upon!