"Button Blindness to Boredom: UX Lessons From a Kickstarter Crash"

Button Blindness to Boredom: UX Lessons From a Kickstarter Crash

Many indie game developers dream of a successful Kickstarter campaign, but the reality is harsh. Games fail to reach their funding goals, not always because of bad concepts, but often due to poor user experience (UX). A clunky demo can kill a campaign before it even gets off the ground.

The Case of "Project Exodus": A UX Postmortem

I want to talk about “Project Exodus,” a sci-fi RTS that launched on Kickstarter last year. The art looked great, the concept was solid, but the campaign crashed and burned. What happened? I got my hands on the demo. It was a UX nightmare.

The most glaring issue was the overwhelming UI. Every button looked the same, icons were cryptic, and tooltips were non-existent. It was button blindness on steroids.

The Demo Death Spiral: How Bad UX Kills Campaigns

Imagine a potential backer visiting the Kickstarter page. They see cool screenshots and an engaging video, but they’re skeptical. “Is this game actually fun?” they wonder. They click the demo link, excited to try it out.

The demo loads. They’re immediately bombarded with a wall of text and a confusing array of buttons. They click a few buttons, hoping to figure things out, but nothing seems to happen. Frustrated, they close the demo and move on.

This is exactly what happened with “Project Exodus.” The demo, meant to be a powerful selling point, became a major deterrent. People didn’t understand how to play, so they assumed the game was bad. This led to fewer demos played, lower conversion rates on the Kickstarter page (people not becoming backers), and negative feedback in the comments section. The campaign quickly spiraled downward.

UX Failure #1: The Button Blindness Epidemic

“Project Exodus” suffered from severe button blindness. Every button was the same color, size, and shape. There was no visual hierarchy. Players couldn’t easily distinguish between important actions and secondary functions.

This is a common mistake for indie devs, especially those who prioritize functionality over usability. They cram every possible feature into the UI, without considering how it will impact the player experience.

Solution: Prioritize visual hierarchy. Use color, size, and spacing to guide the player’s eye. Make important buttons larger and more prominent. Use contrasting colors to differentiate between actions. Also, limit the amount of options. Simplify, simplify, simplify.

UX Failure #2: Navigational Nightmares

The navigation in “Project Exodus” was atrocious. Players had to click through multiple menus to perform basic actions. There was no clear path to completing objectives. The overall flow of the game felt disjointed and confusing.

Bad navigation is a silent killer. Players should be able to find what they need quickly and easily. If they get lost or frustrated, they’re likely to give up.

Solution: Streamline your navigation. Use clear and consistent labels. Provide visual cues to guide the player. Consider using a minimap or a tutorial to help players understand the layout of the game world. Also, user test your navigation relentlessly. Watch people play and see where they get stuck.

UX Failure #3: Overwhelming UI Elements

The UI in “Project Exodus” was overloaded with information. There were status bars, resource counters, and tooltips everywhere. It was visually overwhelming and difficult to parse.

A cluttered UI can be paralyzing. Players can’t focus on the core gameplay experience when they’re constantly bombarded with information.

Solution: Embrace minimalism. Remove any UI elements that aren’t absolutely necessary. Prioritize clarity over completeness. Use whitespace to create visual breathing room. Consider using contextual UI elements that only appear when needed.

Prototyping for UX Success

The key to avoiding these UX pitfalls is prototyping. Don’t wait until the end of development to think about UX. Start early and iterate often.

Create simple prototypes to test your UI and navigation. Use paper prototypes or low-fidelity digital prototypes. Focus on functionality and usability, not aesthetics.

Get your prototype in front of real users. Watch them play and observe their behavior. Ask them for feedback. Use their feedback to improve your design.

User Testing on a Budget

User testing doesn’t have to be expensive. You don’t need a fancy lab or a professional facilitator. You can get valuable feedback from friends, family, or even online communities.

Post your demo on itch.io and ask for feedback. Share your game on Reddit or Discord and see what people think. Use online surveys to gather data.

The most important thing is to be open to criticism. Don’t take feedback personally. Use it as an opportunity to learn and improve.

Alternative UI Design Approaches

If you’re struggling with UI design, consider exploring alternative approaches. Don’t be afraid to deviate from traditional UI conventions.

Consider using a more minimalist or abstract UI. Explore different input methods, such as voice control or gesture recognition. Think outside the box and find a UI that fits your game.

A game called “Mirror Drop” does this. The game is nearly invisible when it comes to UI. By using very little text on the screen, the player can focus on the beautiful, abstract, artwork.

From Crash to Comeback: Learning From Failure

The failure of “Project Exodus” is a cautionary tale for indie game developers. It demonstrates the importance of UX and the devastating consequences of neglecting it.

By learning from the mistakes of “Project Exodus,” you can avoid similar pitfalls in your own projects. Prioritize usability, test your UI early and often, and don’t be afraid to experiment with alternative design approaches.

A great game with poor UX is a missed opportunity. Don’t let your game be a victim of button blindness. Invest in UX and give your game the best chance to succeed.