Case Study
A modern twist to a traditional Mexican game, Lotería.
Splash Screen
Purpose
Sets the tone for the entire app experience by engaging players right from the start.
Design Decision
The splash screen features vibrant Lotería cards that animate outwards, revealing the main menu and seamlessly introducing players to the game’s festive, culturally rich environment. This animation reflects the overall design ethos of the app—playful, immersive, and deeply connected to Mexican cultural aesthetics.
Main Menu
Purpose
Guides users by highlighting the core three app paths, playing, social features, and settings. Users can sign in by tapping the bottom button which is tucked away neatly.
Design Decision
The main menu is crafted with user-friendly icons and a lively, animated backdrop of the familiar Lotería images that people have come to grown and love. This continues the lively and cultural theme established by the splash screen.
Behavioral Design
Strategically encourages users to engage by displaying a dynamic backdrop of cards from a deck, mimicking a real game. It allows players to easily access various game modes, settings, and social features, encouraging exploration and interaction.
Game Options
Purpose
Offers players a customizable, inclusive, and easy-to-understand gaming customization experience by allowing them to tailor various aspects of gameplay according to their preferences.
Design Decision
This screen was meticulously crafted to cater to a diverse audience, typical of families that enjoy Lotería. Options are clearly displayed with large, recognizable icons and simple, easy-to-read text to accommodate players who may have varying levels of tech-savviness and visual acuity. The design prioritizes ease of use and understanding, with toggle switches and large imagery such as checkmarks to highlight selection states that require minimal interaction complexity.
User Experience
With the intent to make the game inclusive for family gatherings, the options allow for customization of the gameplay that respects the needs and preferences of all family members. Players can effortlessly adjust settings like the game's visibility, dealer behavior, winning conditions, and pace, ensuring that the game is accessible and enjoyable for everyone, including elders who may prefer a slower, more deliberate pace.
Game Loading
Purpose
Enhance anticipation and immersion by visually representing the dealing of cards, setting the stage for the upcoming gameplay, while ensuring everyone understands the current winning conditions from the start.
Design Decision
The screen displays an animation of Lotería cards sliding onto the screen from the bottom, simulating a real-life card dealer distributing cards to players. This animation is not only a visual treat but also functionally represents the game's readiness to begin.
User Experience
This animated feature is designed to keep players engaged during loading times, reducing perceived wait times and maintaining excitement. The animation aligns with traditional card game rituals, fostering a connection to the physical counterpart and enhancing the digital experience for players of all ages.
Active Game
Purpose
Engages players in a lively and interactive round of Lotería, capturing the essence of the traditional game while incorporating modern digital gameplay elements.
Design Decision
The screen layout is optimized for active engagement, displaying dealt cards at the bottom that are read aloud by an upbeat narrator, enhancing the auditory experience. Players interact with their digital boards by placing chips on matched cards, mirroring the physical game’s mechanics.
Interactive Features
The right side of the screen shows other participants in the game, fostering a sense of community and competition. Additionally, players can use reaction emojis to express their feelings and reactions in real-time, adding a layer of social interaction and fun.
User Experience
Designed to be intuitive and engaging, this screen ensures that players of all ages can easily understand and participate in the game. The visual and auditory cues are designed to keep the pace lively and the interaction seamless, making each game round exciting and enjoyable.
Live Reactions
Purpose
Enhance player interaction and emotional expression during gameplay by allowing players to communicate their game status through emojis.
Design Decision
The feature introduces an automated system where emojis change to reflect the player's current game situation. For instance, the "bruised up" emoji appears when a player like "Simulator" is not faring well. This player can then react by selecting the emoji, providing a visual and emotional cue to other players.
Interactive Features
When a player reacts, this triggers an "emoji rain" visible to all participants, creating a live, shared experience that captures the communal spirit of traditional Lotería. This animation is not only fun but also keeps the game atmosphere lively and connected.
User Experience
Designed to be intuitive and emotionally engaging, the live reactions feature allows players to interact more deeply with the game and each other. By reflecting the real-time status of players' games through specific emojis, it adds a layer of strategy and empathy, fostering a more engaging and supportive community environment.
Multi-Board Gameplay
Purpose
Provide a heightened level of challenge and excitement by allowing players to manage multiple boards during a single game session.
Design Decision
The screen layout is optimized to display multiple boards clearly and efficiently. Each board is scaled to fit on the screen without compromising visibility, ensuring that players can easily track and interact with each card. This design supports a fast-paced gaming experience that challenges veteran players while still being accessible to newcomers.
Interactive Features
Players can switch between boards with easily-understandable buttons. The interface is designed to handle the increased pace without overwhelming the player, maintaining a balance between challenge and usability.
User Experience
This mode caters to seasoned players looking for more rigorous gameplay.
Game Winner
Purpose
Announces the winner of the game and offers a detailed recap, enhancing the competitive and celebratory aspects of the gameplay.
Design Decision
This screen prominently displays the winner's name and avatar with festive and vibrant visual effects to celebrate the victory. Below the celebration, a scrollable section presents the cards that were dealt during the game in the order they appeared, allowing players to review the game flow and verify outcomes.
Interactive Features
Players are shown along with their completed boards, enabling participants to tap on any player to view their board configurations at the end of the game, fostering transparency and interaction.
User Experience
Options to continue to the next game, exit, or engage in a chat are provided, enhancing social interactions and giving players control over their next steps.
Game Chat
Purpose
Facilitates communication among players, allowing them to discuss previous games, strategize for upcoming ones, or simply engage in social interaction.
Design Decision
The chat interface is integrated seamlessly into the game environment, providing an easy-to-use communication tool. The design features a clear and intuitive layout with familiar chat elements like message bubbles and a responsive input field.
Interactive Features
Players can send messages, emojis, and quick responses, making the chat lively and engaging. This feature is especially useful while waiting for the next game to start, keeping the community connected and the conversation flowing.
User Experience
Designed to be straightforward and unobtrusive, the chat interface ensures that players of all ages can easily participate in conversations.
Shop
Purpose
Provide players with a platform to personalize their gaming experience by purchasing custom decks, board chips, and memberships.
Design Decision
The shop is organized into clear categories for easy navigation, featuring vibrant and appealing visuals that showcase the unique themes of the available items. Each category—decks, chips, and membership plans—is designed to be appealing to encourage players to purchase new game content that will enhance their experience.
User Experience
The shop is designed to be engaging and straightforward, with detailed descriptions and pricing visible for each item. Quick purchase options and a simple checkout process ensure a smooth transaction experience, keeping players focused on enhancing their gameplay rather than navigating complexities.
Deck Details - Mística
Purpose
Allow players to explore the unique elements and artistic details of the "Mística" deck, enhancing their appreciation for the game's artistry and offering a personalized gaming experience.
Design Decision
This screen showcases the "Mística" deck, featuring a collection of vividly designed cards that blend traditional Lotería iconography with mystical and modern artistic interpretations. Each card is displayed with high-resolution images to capture the intricate details and vibrant colors.
Interactive Features
Players can scroll through the deck to view individual cards, learning about their meanings and the artistic inspiration behind each. This section also highlights the designer, Enrique Guzman Alvarez, adding a personal touch and acknowledging the creative talent behind the deck.
Custom Boards
Purpose
Provide players with a visual gallery of their personally designed boards, allowing them to easily select and manage their creations for upcoming games.
Design Decision
This screen is laid out to display all custom boards in a clear, grid format, making it easy for players to browse and select their preferred designs. Each board is labeled with a unique name given by the player, enhancing the personal connection to the game.
Interactive Features
Players can tap on any board to view it in greater detail or choose to edit it or delete it. A prominent “Crear Tablero” (Create Board) button encourages ongoing customization and creativity.
Board Creator
Purpose
Empowers players to customize their gameplay experience by creating unique Lotería boards with their choice of cards.
Design Decision
This tool provides a drag-and-drop interface where players can select from a variety of cards to arrange on their board. This hands-on approach ensures that each board can be tailored to personal preferences or strategic choices.
Interactive Features
Players can select cards from the selected deck of cards in the previous screen. They can then drag their chosen cards onto the grid, and arrange them as desired. The board can then be saved with a custom name, allowing players to easily recognize and select it for future games.
User Experience
The Board Creator is designed to be intuitive and engaging, with clear visual cues, responsive controls, and haptic feedback. The ability to save and name boards adds a personal touch, enhancing players' connection to the game, increasing replay value.
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