Ben Taels
@bentaels.bsky.social
Kiwi, Dad, Human Factors Psychology PhD, & Games User Experience Research.
Formerly Epic Games, Player Research, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Te Manatū Waka, & Hamilton Zoo.
Formerly Epic Games, Player Research, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Te Manatū Waka, & Hamilton Zoo.
Reposted by Ben Taels
Every day, all around the world, the most complex infrastructure ever assembled on this planet runs because billions of workers make it run, not because a few shareholders or managers will it to run. All the plans and stand-ups and PowerPoint decks combined can't solder a single wire.
November 18, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Every day, all around the world, the most complex infrastructure ever assembled on this planet runs because billions of workers make it run, not because a few shareholders or managers will it to run. All the plans and stand-ups and PowerPoint decks combined can't solder a single wire.
Assuming the game is in an appropriate state you can mix both within one session.
For example start by letting a player interact without a clear task, and then get more specific with a task based section of the test (unless the player already goes through the tasks in the open part)
For example start by letting a player interact without a clear task, and then get more specific with a task based section of the test (unless the player already goes through the tasks in the open part)
November 18, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Assuming the game is in an appropriate state you can mix both within one session.
For example start by letting a player interact without a clear task, and then get more specific with a task based section of the test (unless the player already goes through the tasks in the open part)
For example start by letting a player interact without a clear task, and then get more specific with a task based section of the test (unless the player already goes through the tasks in the open part)
Task based is typically used earlier and when testing UI and/or prototypes where the player has to stay within certain bounds
Open is typically used when the game is more fully functional and you are looking at the system as a whole
Open is typically used when the game is more fully functional and you are looking at the system as a whole
November 18, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Task based is typically used earlier and when testing UI and/or prototypes where the player has to stay within certain bounds
Open is typically used when the game is more fully functional and you are looking at the system as a whole
Open is typically used when the game is more fully functional and you are looking at the system as a whole
- Combine the findings into a clear report with summary, top findings, and well labelled sessions that flow logically (for example usually start with the onboarding)
November 17, 2025 at 6:21 PM
- Combine the findings into a clear report with summary, top findings, and well labelled sessions that flow logically (for example usually start with the onboarding)
- Play methodically. Take your time, the goal is to analyse and accurately understand the game not to be completely natural (that is what playtesting/UX testing is for)
- Use outside sources where needed e.g. Wiki’s, Streams, the Games UI Database, etc
- Use outside sources where needed e.g. Wiki’s, Streams, the Games UI Database, etc
November 17, 2025 at 6:21 PM
- Play methodically. Take your time, the goal is to analyse and accurately understand the game not to be completely natural (that is what playtesting/UX testing is for)
- Use outside sources where needed e.g. Wiki’s, Streams, the Games UI Database, etc
- Use outside sources where needed e.g. Wiki’s, Streams, the Games UI Database, etc
Full bot matches (with controllable difficulty) are a good option for offering an experience where you can win most of the time.
That of course means it isn't PvP anymore, and doesn't suit streamers. But bot matches are very popular in PvP games that offer them (League of Legends for example)
That of course means it isn't PvP anymore, and doesn't suit streamers. But bot matches are very popular in PvP games that offer them (League of Legends for example)
November 16, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Full bot matches (with controllable difficulty) are a good option for offering an experience where you can win most of the time.
That of course means it isn't PvP anymore, and doesn't suit streamers. But bot matches are very popular in PvP games that offer them (League of Legends for example)
That of course means it isn't PvP anymore, and doesn't suit streamers. But bot matches are very popular in PvP games that offer them (League of Legends for example)
As such, if you are a developer or executive asking a User Experience Researcher to do something, please be patient with them if they start asking what may be quite obvious sounding questions about what you want to achieve
They are trying to get you the best results possible
They are trying to get you the best results possible
November 16, 2025 at 5:16 PM
As such, if you are a developer or executive asking a User Experience Researcher to do something, please be patient with them if they start asking what may be quite obvious sounding questions about what you want to achieve
They are trying to get you the best results possible
They are trying to get you the best results possible
During that same time at a scientific conference I saw the police contingent that was attending get up and walk out of the room seemingly because the speaker was suggesting that systemic change, and not police enforcement and blaming individuals, was the most effective option to improve safety
November 15, 2025 at 6:45 PM
During that same time at a scientific conference I saw the police contingent that was attending get up and walk out of the room seemingly because the speaker was suggesting that systemic change, and not police enforcement and blaming individuals, was the most effective option to improve safety