GameBus Account
Concept
Design Challenge
This devlog contributes to the design challenge: "Build upon an existing game made for diabetes patients with new features, so that the patient can get a more personalised experience whilst playing the game."
Context
With the first release of SugarVita in the appstores, we agreed on temporarily removing the mandatory login page because it was running on a test backend and no features in SugarVita made use of the player being logged in. Now there are plans to add new features regarding requiring a GameBus account. What is the best way to go about that? In other words:
Should a GameBus account be required to play SugarVita?
Methods
Field - Stakeholder Analysis
SugarVita wants to make use of the systems provided by GameBus to create new social features like playing against other people with a ghost-like system. From SugarVita's perspective, the game shouldn't be locked behind a login page which requires the player to have a GameBus account.
GameBus wants SugarVita players to make use of their platform in which several health-related apps (and now games) are being tracked for a healthy social experience. From GameBus' perspective, a required login page would increase the number of users on their platform which in turn will get them more data to analyse and build upon.
Field - Explore User Requirements
Our target audience consists of primarily elderly people. This generation hasn't grown up with computers all around them and it can be quite intimidating to do, what to other generations seems like, easy tasks on a computer. With this target audience, the key is simplicity. We, as developers, have to create a game that is easy to understand and to use not to alienate our player-base.
Library - Available Product Analysis
Looking at examples in the gaming industry, most games either don't require a login, make it optional or logging in is handled by trusted and easy third-parties like Google, Apple or even Facebook. Casual games in the mobile games market are usually designed to be easy, quick and fun. Requiring a lengthy sign-up will most likely result in the player uninstalling the game before being able to even play it. As GameBus even requires an e-mail verification, this option would most likely result in less players over-all.
Library - Community Research
Checking out some forums on mandatory login pages in games, confirmed to me what I already assumed. Most gamers won't even try to create an account for a casual game. With our target audience being primarily the elderly, I don't want to lock the game behind a lengthy sign-up and login.
Result & Validation
With all this research, I started brainstorming for the best solution which would be suiting for the players while also keeping in mind the wishes of the stakeholders.
I advised the stakeholders to meet in the middle and make sure a login/ sign-up would be optional but still be pushed quite heavily. Options to log in and sign up may not be overlooked by the player by placing them in full view of the player. The game should also recommend creating an account whenever a feature requires an account. If these solutions wouldn't be enough, a popup might appear every time a player starts the game and isn't logged in. This would come with the side note that the popup should be closable.
Both stakeholders recognised the need to make an account optional. The GameBus stakeholder emphasized that creating a GameBus account should be recommended at all times. The SugarVita stakeholder was pleased with the solution to make sure possible players wouldn't immediately uninstall the game because a login is required.
Next step
The research has been done and a solution is agreed upon. Now I can start working on actually re-implementing the login page in a way where it is optional. To make it easier for the player to create an account, I can now also create a sign-up page in the same vein as the login; not being required but heavily pushed.
Sources
Should I Require User Sign-In Before They Start Playing?? (2021, May 19). Unity Forum. Retrieved 9 June 2022, from https://forum.unity.com/threads/should-i-require-user-sign-in-before-they-start-playing.1111942/