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PLAY!Heuristics!!
PLAYability#Principles#for#Good#Game#Player#Experience#Design#(PLAY)#
Category!1:!Game!Play!
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A.!Heuristic:!Enduring!Play#
A1.#Player#finds#game#fun#with#no#repetitive#or#boring#tasks#
A2.#The#player#should#not#be#penalized#repetitively#for#the#same#failure#
A3.#The#player#should#not#lose#any#hard#won#possessions#
A4.#Game#play#is#long,#enduring,#and#it#keeps#the#player’s#interest#
A5.#Varying#activities#and#pacing#during#the#game#play#minimize#any#fatigue/boredom!
B.!Heuristic:!Challenge,!Strategy,!and!Pace#
B1.#Challenge,#strategy,#and#pace#are#in#balance#
B2.#Difficulty#is#varied#so#players#have#greater#challenges#as#they#develop#skills#
B3.#Mechanics#are#easy#to#learn,#but#hard#to#master#
B4.#Challenges#are#positive#game#experiences#and#result#in#wanting#to#play#more#
B5.#AI#is#balanced#with#the#player’s#skill!
B6.#AI#is#tough#enough#that#players#have#to#try#different#tactics#against#it!
C.!Heuristic:!Consistency!in!Game!World#
C1.#There#is#consistency#in#the#Game#World#
C2.#The#game#world#reacts#to#the#players#and#remembers#their#passages#through#it#
C3.#Changes#the#player#makes#in#the#game#world#are#persistent#and#noticeable#if#they#
backtrack#!
D.!Heuristic:!Goals#
D1.#The#game#goals#are#clear#
D2.#The#game#presents#overriding#goals#early#as#well#as#short#term#goals#throughout#play!
D3.#Skills#needed#to#attain#goals#are#taught#before#new#skill#is#needed#
D4.#Game#rewards#players,#immersing#them#by#increasing#their#capabilities,#capacity,#or#
ability#to#customize#
E.!Heuristic:!Variety!of!Players!and!Game!Styles#
E1.#The#game#supports#a#variety#of#game#styles#
E2.The#game#is#balanced#with#multiple#ways#to#win#
E3.#Player#actions#are#obvious#and#result#in#immediate,#positive#feedback#for#all#players#in#
first#ten#minutes#
E4.#The#game#has#different#AI#settings#so#that#it#challenges#all#levels#of#players#
All#Rights#Reserved#©#
User#Behavioristics#Research,#Inc.#
www.behavioristics.com#
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Please#contact#Heather#Desurvire#
+#310#463A4603#
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F.!Heuristic:!Player!Perception!of!Control#
F1.#Player#feels#in#control#
F2.#The#players#have#a#sense#of#control#and#impact#on#the#game#world#
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Category!2:!Coolness/Entertainment/Humor/Emotionality/Immersion#
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A.!Heuristic:!Emotional!Connection#
A1.#The#player#has#an#emotional#connection#with#the#game#world#and#avatar##
B.!Heuristic:!Coolness/Entertainment#
B1.#The#game#offers#something#different#in#terms#of#attracting#players#and#retaining#interest#
C.!Heuristic:!Humor#
C1.#The#game#uses#humor#well#
D.!Heuristic:!Immersion!
D1.#The#game#utilizes#visceral/audio/visual#content#to#immerse#the#player#further#
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Category!3:!Usability!&!Game!Mechanics!
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A.!Heuristic:!Documentation/Tutorial#
A1.#Player#does#not#need#to#read#manual#or#documentation#to#play#
A2.#Player#does#not#need#to#access#the#tutorial#in#order#to#play#
B.!Status!and!Score!
B1.#Game#controls#are#consistent#within#game#and#follow#standard#conventions,#except#
where#a#novel#mechanic#brings#increased#fun#
B2.#Status#score#indicators#are#seamless,#obvious,#available,#and#do#not#interfere#with#game#
play#
B3.#Controls#are#intuitive,#customizable,#and#mapped#in#a#natural#way#
B4.Controls#follow#industry#standard#to#shorted#learning#curve#
C.!Heuristic:!Game!Feedback!
C1.#Game#provides#feedback#and#reacts#in#a#consistent,#immediate,#challenging,#and#exciting#
way#to#player’s#actions#
C2.#Game#provides#appropriate#feedback#(music,#sound#effects,#controller#vibration)#
D.!Heuristic:!Terminology!
D1.#Player#understands#terminology#and#the#language#is#natural#within#the#context#of#the#
game#
E.!Heuristic:!Burdon!on!Player#
E1.#The#game#does#not#put#an#unnecessary#burden#on#the#player#
E2.#Player#is#given#controls#that#are#basic#enough#to#learn#quickly,#yet#expandable#for#
advanced#options#for#advanced#players.#
F.!Heuristic:!Screen!Layout#
F1.#Screen#layout#is#efficient,#integrated,#and#visually#pleasing!
F2.#The#player#experiences#the#user#interface/HUD#as#consistent#but#not#intrusive!
F3.#Art#is#recognizable#to#the#player#and#speaks#to#its#function#
All#Rights#Reserved#©#
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Please#contact#Heather#Desurvire#
User#Behavioristics#Research,#Inc.#
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+#310#463A4603#
www.behavioristics.com#
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G.!Heuristic:!Navigation#
G1.#Navigation#is#consistent,#logical,#and#minimalist#
H.!Heuristic:!Error!Prevention#
H1.#Player#error#is#avoided!
H2.#Player#interruption#is#supported#so#that#players#can#easily#turn#on#and#off#the#game#and#
are#able#to#save#the#games#in#different#states#
H3.#Upon#turning#on#the#game,#the#player#has#enough#information#to#get#started#to#play#
H4.#Players#should#be#given#context#sensitive#help#while#playing#so#that#they#do#not#get#stuck#
or#have#to#rely#on#a#manual#for#help!
H5.#All#levels#of#players#are#able#to#play#and#get#involved#quickly#with#tutorials#or#adjustable#
difficulty#levels#
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Category!4:!Beginning!and!Tutorial!Levels#
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A.!Heuristic:!Tutorial!Offers!Chance!to!Play#
A1.#Game#play#and#learning#are#seamlessly#integrated.#Development#of#tool#mastery#is#also#
seamlessly#offered.!
B.!Heuristic:!Ease!into!Difficulty!of!Game!Skills#
B1.#The#first#ten#minutes#of#play#and#player#actions#are#obvious#and#result#in#immediate#and#
positive#feedback!
C.!Heuristic:!Safe!Place!to!Learn!
C1.#Players#should#be#able#to#learn#and#practice#in#a#safe#place#without#penalty.#
D.!Heuristic:!Skill!Development#
D1.#Teaching#(rather#than#lecturing#or#expecting#players#to#know)#occurs#in#a#paced,#leveled#
way#of#showing#tutorial#skills#
E.!Heuristic:!Game!Play!is!Fun#
E1.#The#tutorial#teaches#and#entertains#at#the#same#time#
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Category!5:!Game!Story!Immersion#
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A.!Heuristic:!Game!Story!encourages!immersion!(If!there!is!a!story!component)#
A1.#Game#story#encourages#immersion.#
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All#Rights#Reserved#©#
User#Behavioristics#Research,#Inc.#
www.behavioristics.com#
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Please#contact#Heather#Desurvire#
+#310#463A4603#
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