From Drexel University’s Interactive Digital Media class of 2021 comes “Thunk,” an engaging game designed to foster social interaction and ignite creative thinking. Developed by a team of talented students from the User Experience and Interaction Design (UXID) program, Thunk brings players together in a social setting, encouraging them to explore their creativity through divergent thinking.
The Concept
Thunk challenges players to generate as many responses as possible to a series of prompts over six rounds. The game’s unique element lies in the “switch-ups” – constraints that add complexity to the prompts, requiring players to think outside the box and adapt to unexpected challenges. The random pairing of prompts and switch-ups ensures variability and high replayability in each playthrough.
Research-Informed Design
The development of Thunk was deeply rooted in user research. The team began by conducting interest interviews to gain insights into player preferences. Participants were presented with sample questions based on creative exercises developed by Cas Holman, along with questions about social games they enjoy.
The team identified Fibbage XL, Quiplash 2, and Drawful 2 as popular choices, noting that engaging digital social games require a distinct personality, akin to a game show host, and a central screen that players connect to via personal devices.
User Interface
The team followed a three-step agile design cycle:
- Create and Iterate: Team members worked on individual tasks, often collaborating on the same task simultaneously.
- Discuss and Evaluate: The team reconvened to present and discuss their ideas.
- Merge Designs: Ideas were refined and integrated.
The challenge for the UI team was to create a design that conveyed creativity while maintaining web accessibility. They selected a color scheme of pinks and purples, paired with Avenir Next and McLaren fonts, and used Gilbert for the logo. While achieving AAA accessibility standards proved difficult without compromising the aesthetics, they were able to create a distinct visual identity for Thunk.
Development and Technical Challenges
Thunk was developed using NodeJS and Socket.IO. NodeJS was chosen for its ability to handle dynamic server-side actions, while Socket.IO facilitated simultaneous connections and communication between multiple devices.
The development team faced challenges in scaling up their proof-of-concept prototype, which revealed the need for features like room creation and user identification. The team learned a lot about working with server-side JavaScript.
Key Takeaways
The creation of Thunk proved to be a valuable learning experience for the entire team. While the final product may not have met all initial goals, the development process yielded valuable insights. Key lessons learned included:
- Improved project planning and goal setting, especially when working with unfamiliar technologies.
- The importance of constant and clear communication among team members.
- The critical need for effective time management, as team members’ progress was heavily reliant on each other’s work.
Thunk stands as a testament to the collaborative spirit and innovative potential within Drexel’s UXID program. The team’s dedication to user-centered design, coupled with their willingness to tackle technical challenges, resulted in a project that not only fosters creativity but also offers valuable lessons in teamwork and project management.