For the last couple of weeks, we have been learning about UI and UX or User Interface and User Experience. While we have focused mainly on UI but we have also talked some about UX. Both of these are very important but also commonly perceived as the same thing. UX is the user experience and it is how the player gets information and what they do with the information. In the design process, a UX designer will go through and basically layout where each element will fall. This could be deciding what the HUD layout will be or where the informational text will fall. After this comes the UI designer. UI is how everything looks and how the player is able to see and interact with the elements. After a UX designer makes his concepts, the UI designer is able to start actually designing what the art style is and how it will be reflected in the menus and HUD. A lot goes into this design process. The UI designer needs to be consistent with their art style which is supported by the UX designer having a consistent layout. The UI is very important in every game. Having a common theme and a correct layout makes the gameplay smooth and informative. This allows the player to get the best experience from the game. UI can be as simple as a coin counter but it serves almost no purpose if it is not in the right place or doesn't flow with the rest of the game. The menu system is usually something where people confuse UI and UX. While they both contribute to the menus, it is the UX designer that chooses where each button goes and what the flow is. After, the UI designer is able to change the font as well as how smaller text is laid out. Overall, both UI and UX are very important for every game and can make the gameplay feel smooth and interesting if done correctly.
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I recently watched a YouTube video about a guy who said he massively improved by switching from a 30 hertz TV and a PlayStation to a 144-hertz monitor and computer. When I heard this I was a little surprised but it did make sense. All my life I have heard that playing video games on a computer is such a better experience and you can get a lot better. At first, I didn't really believe anyone who said that but I now realize how valuable an upgrade can be. The first benefit of upgrading your hardware at least from a console to a pc is the input lag. Input lag is the amount of time it takes from when a button is pushed to the character performing the action. This can be reduced by not only switching to a faster computer but also using a monitor at a higher hertz. Having a higher hertz monitor will refresh the screen more often and provide a smoother experience while also being able to reduce input lag to a minimal amount. Reducing input lag will allow players in competitive games to react quicker and see that reaction show up in a faster manner. Along with decreasing input lag, upgrading will allow better frame rates that are more consistent. Consoles usually run either 30 fps or 60 fps. This is a drastic decrease from computers which can play at a steady 140 fps on better machines. While the opportunity to increase fps higher than around 140 is possible, it is often deemed as unnecessary because it does not change much. This fps increase from consoles to computers allows the game to run smoother which in turn allows the user to react quicker and have a better experience with the game. Another great benefit of computers is that they allow upgrades when new parts come out. This lets you add new parts whenever and you do not have to buy a new console each time. While this might not have much relation to video games, it allows the user to spend more on games and have a better experience with a variety. Overall, there are clear differences in the capacities of consoles and PCs but the one key difference is the price point. While PCs might be better, they tend to cost a lot more which can be out of some consumer's range. If you have the ability to upgrade, I strongly suggest it as there are clear differences that I have seen first hand.
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AuthorHi, my name is Nick Bayer and I will be posting blogs about every 1-2 weeks in the 2020-21 school year. I am doing this for my Advanced Game Design class at Durham School of the Arts(DSA). The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of the author and do not represent those of Durham School of the Arts or Durham Public Schools. Categories
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