UX Research and Testing | Duration: 5 week
Virtual Reality (VR) is still a new medium, and many users face a steep learning curve. Beyond basic controls, each application may use different gestures and interactions. While VR is immersive and exciting, it can also feel overwhelming, as controls are not always intuitive and require time to learn.
This research explored how VR games introduce controls to new players in ways that are both effective and engaging. By analyzing existing tutorial strategies and testing them in a VR game prototype with users of different skill levels, the study focused on improving user understanding, retention, and overall ease of learning.
Definition> Research>Design>Iteration
The process began with defining a game to build, particularly its genre (casual puzzle), as well as its target audience. Then exploration was conducted on various existing VR games that were similar in nature, learning and rating its onboarding processes. From this, the final game was designed, with interactions related to onboarding as the main focus area. This was then playtested amongst users that were similar to the target audience. Their inputs were gathered and iterations were made.
The project helped define several core principles for effective VR onboarding.
Integrated, Immersive Learning: Onboarding should feel like part of the game, not a separate step.
Environmental Cues: Use intuitive gestures, visuals, animations, and lighting to guide players.
Safe Exploration: Let players experiment in low-pressure spaces to discover mechanics.
Progressive Difficulty: Start simple, increase complexity gradually to build confidence.
Immediate Feedback: Reinforce actions with visual, auditory, or haptic cues to confirm learning.
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