User Experience Evaluation Methods in the Games Development Life Cycle

Abstract

User Experience (UX) evaluation methods can be applied at any stage in the design and development life cycle. While the term user experience is still not well defined, this chapter gives an overview on a large number of UX related terms, dimensions, factors and concepts. It presents specialized UX evaluation methods classified in (a) user-oriented methods including focus groups, interviews, questionnaires, experiments, observation, bio-physiological measurements, (b) expert-oriented methods like heuristic evaluations, (c) automated methods like telemetry analysis and (d) specialized methods for the evaluation of social game play or exertion games. Summarizing the contributions in this book, a user-experience centered game development is presented, allowing readers to understand when in the life cycle to apply what kind of UX evaluation methods.