Feature: 'Better Games Through Usability Evaluation and Testing'

Today's in-depth feature focuses on usability evaluation in video game development, which is important for locating non-technical problems during the design and development process. Sauli Laitinen, who works as an Usability Specialist at Adage Corporation in Finland, argues for more formal usability testing in games, showing examples from his work on Frozenbyte's Shadowgrounds. Laitinen's introduction to his piece explains: "No one wants to play games that are either frustrating or difficult for the wrong reasons. The best way to make sure that unintended problems do not hinder enjoying the game is to take usability into account in game development. This article presents how this can be done and what kind of results to expect. Usability is an integral part of software development and has been so for the past 20 years. For one reason or another, usability has not gained similar popularity in game development. This, however, is about to change. Ease of use and optimal user experience are already important in games and will become even more so in the future." You can now read the full Gamasutra feature on the subject (no registration required, please feel free to link to the article from external websites).