Interaction and Interface Design

The RockStar prototype session on the 12th was a success in that it revealed a number of areas needing revision/improvement before bringing it to the kids.

LWaldman is incorporating the following revisions to the animation…
1. A visual cue is needed to indicate that vocals (in the song) = words (on the musical staff) = microphone (on the playing interface). A microphone icon will be added to the front end of all vocal sections to indicate that the players should “grab” the microphone during the vocal sections.

2. An icon for Cymbals is missing and will be added to the interface.

3. The pitch feed on the musical staff and pitch interaction scale need a visual concept to reinforce their “sameness”. The indicator on the pitch interaction will be rendered as an orange rectangle (the same color and basic shape) to show the relationship between the two items.

4. There are too many drum beats (right and left drums indicated by drums scrolling across the muscial staff feed) for the player to possibly keep up with at this phase in game development. Drums will be pared down to a more playable level.

Sound effects are needed to indicate successful and unsuccessful game play. LK will produce boos, cheers and pitch shift tracks that can be cued manually during prototype play.

AK is handling AV equipment and will bring the portable projector and a red-lamp that may be used to reinforce shadowing.

During KidsTeam prototyping, LWaldman will act as The Computer, translating player motions to keyboard strokes. AKnox will Narrate the process and LKing will take copious notes for post-prototype briefing and future development.

Filed by Amy at 8:36 am under Blog Post