Games of all types have always been immensely popular, and it is worth considering why this is. Not only this, but it is worth considering how games can influence other areas of life with web design being a particularly notable area. It may not seem like it on the surface, but the two are actually closely linked and any web designer could learn a great deal by looking at any type of game and seeing how they can use certain factors to create a pleasing website. So, how exactly do games influence web design? Read on to find out more.
1. High-Quality Interface
One of the most notable areas is the importance is a high-quality interface. In order for someone to enjoy a game, they will need to be able to get to grips with it quickly which, means that it needs to be intuitive as well as attractive and engaging. This is similar to web design as people will quickly close a website if it does not have a clear interface or it is difficult to navigate. This means that you need to carefully consider how the website works and how you can hook viewers in immediately through a smart interface, an attractive design and engaging experience.
2. Goals
Leading on from this, another area where the two are intertwined is the fact that goals are key. Every game in the world will have an end goal which the player (user) is working towards. In web design, you need to understand what the goal of the website is so that you can direct the user (player) towards this. For a business website, for example, the goal of the website will be to get the user onto a specific page and to purchase a product or inquire about a service.
3. Content
Similarly, a game will encourage the player to learn through exploring the content on show to them much like a web designer needs to make sure that the user is learning as they progress through the website. A good example of this is to look at the increasingly popular escape room games, such as the Cincinnati Escape Rooms where players must use the information provided to them to progress and ultimately escape the room. A web designer will not want to “trap” users in the website, but they can use a similar approach of allowing a visitor to learn about the website and the goal through relevant and interesting content, such as photographs and infographics.
As you can clearly see, games can have influence when it comes to web design and this is something that every designer should consider. Ultimately, it is all about creating a positive and enjoyable experience for the user/player where they are guided to a specific goal with a learning process along the way. This can be difficult to achieve and it will take careful planning and thought, but by taking inspiration from games you could start to develop better websites which are satisfying to use and meet the client’s goals.