REDLINE CONSOLE APP

Concept Project

 
 

Overview

Bethesda Game Studios is a widely respected and accomplished game development company that strives to create the best and more immersive gaming experiences. Our goal for this project was to create a  platform for gamers in the Bethesda community that meets the needs of gamers, while offering an exceptional user experience. After conducting extensive research on the gaming industry and gamer community, we created “Redline,” a game console app the allows gamers to connect, share, and stream their gaming content.

 
 
 

Problem

Bethesda Game Studios wants to create a mobile/console app that allows users to connect, share, and stream their experiences online through their gaming consoles.

 

Solution

An easy-to-use console and mobile app that allows users to stream their gaming experiences and connect with other gamers, while tailoring to the needs of gamers not being met by competitor streaming services.

 
 
 

Discovery

Company Research: We gathered and synthesized information on Bethesda Game Studios as a company to identify its core values, users, weak points, and business needs.

Competitive Analysis: In order to determine the pain points of current game streaming services, we looked at 4 key players in the industry and took note of each service’s strengths and weaknesses.  

User Research: We sent out a survey on online gamer platforms and conducted a combination of in-person and phone interviews. We obtained feedback from a total of 10 users concerning their needs in regards to streaming apps and services.

“Programs I look at, support streamers and their growth, not necessarily the improvement of their viewers.”   - User

 
 
 

Contextual Analysis

 
 

Personas: In order to keep our focus on the users and to provide context for our site’s typical use cases, we created 3 personas that represented typical users that may be using our console app and outlined their needs and pain points.

Storyboarding: We created a storyboard to establish the context in which gamers would likely use the various features provided by our app.




 
 
 

Concept Ideation

 

After synthesizing the findings from our research and establishing context, we determined the features we felt were necessary to include in order to achieve an ideal user experience.

Features:

  • Platform where gamers can view, stream, save, and share content in one place

  • Separate profiles for users' gaming content and streaming content

  • Easy ways to find, view, and follow content

  • Ability to filter content to condense any undesired content

  • Allow users to view content while playing a game to minimize the need to switch between platforms

  • Award in-game perks to encourage users to create accounts

  • Page dedicated to promoting community among Bethesda gamers

  • Updates and notifications about new content to promote company's presence

 
 
 

Interface Design

Layout: The layout for this design was tricky because we had to consider that the user would be using a game controller to navigate on the screen. We decided it would be best to minimize the number of action buttons on each screen. We also felt that the video preview should be quite large so that the user can have an idea of the specifics of the content just by looking at the preview image. Additionally, we designed all the screens using the same basic layout to ensure a simple and intuitive user flow.

Interaction Design: Interaction played a major role in the design of this app. Keeping in mind the user’s game controller, we decided that a series of horizontal carousels would ensure smooth content browsing. We also separated content categories by designing a vertical carousel that would shift when a user navigates up or down using the toggle on the controller, and incorporated animations to give the user visual feedback cues throughout their navigational experience.

 

Usability Testing

We asked 5 users to test our product and had them provide feedback on the app's features, content, organization, and design. 

Feedback: 

  • Split Screen is a unique and thoughtful feature

  • Like the ability to look at past content because not centered around the streamer's schedule

  • Positive response to design simplicity and organization

  • Recommendation to adjust stats to include wider variety

 

Summary

RedLine is a game console application and streaming service that includes a variety of features that tailor to users’ specific wants and needs. The design incorporates several interactive elements that provide user engagement and feedback.