Freelance work
A few mini projects analyzing current mobile games on the market...
Brain Out
01
Project Name
"Brain Out is an app full of parody and fun with brain-teasers that will test your speed, creativity memory. It's unexpected and absurd -but correct- solutions will make you think out of the box."
Although Brain Out has an average rating of 4.5 stars, most of the top reviews for the game express the same user pain points that I have come across myself, while playing the game.
COPY
CONFUSION
In game clues do not make sense, sometimes don't work, must have exact placement of finger for clue to work
ADS
More time is spent watching or clicking ads than playing game, some ads are impossible to exit, redirects to app store
Finding the pain
04
Project Name
Joy Doodle
"A handy painting game for kids and adults to enjoy amazing doodle fun on iPad and iPhone. With 20+ magical brushes, kids can doodle like an artist to unleash their imagination and creativity. Adults can paint a beautiful doodle full of childhood color as if they were kids once again."
Sensible Solutions...
EDIT THAT COPY
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Check for grammar, spelling errors and typos...and then check again!
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Proof read all copy, but specifically in the "TIPS" section. Test different verbiage and sentence structures to see which make sense to real users.
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Use time to target tests with different verbiage on the "TIPS" to see which clues allow users to make decisions within the game more quickly
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Add multiple clues/tips to each level, in case a clue/tip doesn't make sense to the user.
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Check for font sizing, placement , and accessibility.
THOSE PESKY ADS
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Be more selective with ads. Choose ads that users can quickly and easily exit, without being pulled away from the game entirely. Allow users to choose whether to be redirected to app store.
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Choose ads that show a timer/countdown, so the user can decide whether or not to watch it, and allow a skip ad button
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Allow users to win "ad free game play" when passing a certain level. This would allow users to have breaks from watching ads after every level
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Upon testing, users are spending an average of 30 or more seconds watching ads and 10-20 seconds actually playing, per level.
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Some ads have inappropriate material in them that is not suitable for their audience of ages 12+ (including things about sexual reproduction, and other adult topics.
STOP THE CONFUSION
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Keep buttons where users expect them to be. Users are being tricked into watching ads because the game is intentionally swapping buttons
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Allow less precise movement within the game to achieve the goal. Users did not like having to be exact when moving or placing an item
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Eliminate the levels in which users have to accomplish the task by doing something completely random (for example, turning down your volume level on your device to pass a level. Users are saying they want logical puzzles to solve, but many levels are completely random
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Again, add the option to request more than one clue on a level, instead of receiving the same clue again and again
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Include a better tutorial on the tasks you may need to do to achieve success in the game, such as how to tap, slide, move an object, precision, etc (so users aren't guessing as they go)
Moving Forward...
As the game's description says, Brain Out could be a highly enjoyable game for many age groups. If the company moves forward with fixing these three user pain points, their user base will continue to increase, and current users may start to play more often (or play again!)