The Game Search
Client Problems
Developer Problems
User Problems
User B
User A
User A is a parent to teenagers
User B is a gaming enthuisiast.
Actively plays video games on a variety of gaming consoles
Actively involved within gaming community and therefore actively communicates with other gamers
Would like to be able to be see current popular games along with being able to access information about older game titles
Would like to prevent exposure of inappropiate content to her children and therefore, requires the application to be child-friendly
User A only has a only one particular console and would like to be able to filter games that are able to be played on that particualr console, and therefore requires the application to be able to filter by consoles
User C
Time Frame: 4 Weeks
Requirements
Competition
User C is a non-gamer who wants to enter gaming in order to socialise more with her friends but is unsure where to find games that suit her interests and would like to filter games by genre
Prefers multiplayer games in order to be allowed to play with her friends
Impacts
As the application widens the gaming community, a rising interest in games will also occur and therefore lead to an increase within video game sales
An increased interest within video games can lead to increased usage of gaming systems and lead to video addiction
Allows communications between people interested in gaming and allows gaming to be more accessible for a wider demographic by providing access to information about games
IGN
Gamespot Now
Application should engage
students in gaming through the ages
Key Algorithms
Search Function
Parental Control
Sort Function
Data
IGN.csv
Data Storage & Retrieval
Video-games.csv
Coding Environment
Language: Swift
Xcode IDE
Designed for iOS
The database will be stored in an SQLite3 database
Pros
Cons
Cons
Pros
The database will be stored in an SQLite3 database which will be known as "games.db"
Dataset chosen is the video-games.csv
Usability Principles
Layout must be consistent, simplistic and must feel intuitive to the user (utility and effectiveness)
Help Screen - provides information about how to use the application(effectiveness and learnability)
Simplistic and Consistent Colour Scheme - allows users to become familiar with application(learnability)
Black and White contrasting Text - improves Text readability for the Colour Blind (accessibility)
Commonly used icons eg. Home,Settings etc. in order to allow the user to develop a sense of familiarity with the app(learnabilty)
Easy to read font in order to improve the user's ability to understand and perceive information(learnability,)
Grid - Like Design in order to develop a level of visual hierarchy and classify information accordingly(effectiveness utility )
Close Button - allows easy reversal of actions(utility )
Utilises swiping gestures ( learnability, utility)
White Space will be used in order to highlight dominant information( accessibility and effectiveness )
Shortcuts Bar in order to allow frequent users to use shortcuts (utility)
Provides users with general game information, reviews, gaming news
Provides users with a final game score, allowing a point of comparison between games
Allows users to filter by game console, providing users with information relevant to the console that users use
Allows users to filter by editor's choice, allowing users to be able to see highly rated games
provides users with a "Top 10" list, allowing users to see the biggest and popular stories of the day
Does not allow users to specifically filter by game console and utilises a search bar
provides users with important & recent gaming news, reviews and opinions
Allows users to be able to sort through games based on certain factors such as genres, game scores or game platforms
Allows users to filter games based on ESRB rating, which will be utilised in order to prevent children from accessing adult-rated and inappropriate games
Allows users to search
Popular Games Function
Allows users to easily be able to access games that are popular with other users
Has less irrelevant information, in terms of the application requirements, than that of the ign.csv dataset
Considerably more data fields than that of the ign dataset, indicating that the video-games.csv dataset provides a wider range of data on a game
The video-games.csv dataset has a ESRB rating, which is utilised within the parental control algorithm
Focus on gameplay styles, which is utilised within application eg. 3rd Person, first person etc...
Does repeat certain data values in different forms, in both varchar and binary form
Consists of 16853 less records than that of the ign.csv, indicating that a larger amount of game information is present within the video-games.csv rather than the ign.csv, suggesting that this particular dataset has a substantially less records than that of the video-game.csv dataset.
Consists of 18625 records,indicating that the dataset has a substantial range of games
Does not have any empty fields, indicating that the dataset can be considered as complete.
Consists a field with a URL, allowing users to start the game directly from the application or link to an image
Has 11 fields, indicating that the dataset has a limited range of information regarding each specific game
Does not have any field highlighting the ESRB rating, which is utilised within the parental control algorithm
Required App Data
Popular Games
Sort By
Search
Parental Controls
click to edit
Game Title
Game Style
Sales
Maximum Number of Players
Console
Genre
ESRB Rating
Year
Application Features
Game Recommendations / Game List
Search/Sort By Function
Popular Game Function
Multiplayer Game
Provides users with videos, providing users with similar information in another format
Does not provide game recommendations based on inputted user information
Provides wikipedia guides and walkthroughs providing users with in-depth support for playing games
Parental Control function
Simplistic and minimalistic application layout
Does not provide users with specific game information, rather just reviews and opinions
No Empty Fields, suggesting a complete dataset
Mobile application should uses game
data in an interesting and innovative way