Guidelines for Playing Games
Guidelines for Playing Games
Ever played a game that frustrated you? When I mention "rules of Games," I’m referring to the guidelines developers should observe. It’s not just about coding or visuals; it covers everything from navigation (menus) to animations and cutscenes. Any feature essential to a game can vary by platform, and some elements are simply obvious—like server lists or matchmaking. For the sake of discussion, I’ll focus on FORZA 5 on Xbox One. I’m frustrated by lengthy menus that take a minute to change, making it feel unnecessary while you’re moving around the screen. I don’t care about artistic flair if it slows you down. Imagine upgrading a car: only a couple of seconds for an animation between options, followed by a smooth transition to the next screen. Even then, it’s not seamless. Consistency matters—when you finish a menu and return to the main screen, it should feel familiar. But sometimes, after a race, you’re greeted with a long animation and forced button presses until your hand gives out. Menu design can be inconsistent, too. If you’ve upgraded a car before, you expect the same experience across different sections—like moving from shop to race mode. Yet, in FORZA 5, you jump between completely different menus with varied styles and functions. This inconsistency is frustrating. Time wasted on unnecessary steps, like being stuck in a 5-second animation with repetitive button presses, is unacceptable. TL;DR: Menus should be quick and intuitive, predictable, and free from forced delays. Anything that disrupts your flow feels like a child being guided through preschool. If you’ve seen this before, please share your thoughts so developers can improve."