The role of the user interface

The user interface is the element that most affects the gameplay of a title, as it defines how the player interacts with the game and accomplishes the task he is presented with.

A well-designed user interface can make a game with simple mechanics feel fresh and interesting, while fully supporting the expectations of the player. It is always a nice surprise for a player when he realizes he can perform some specific action exactly how he imagined it through the game interface: if you can make many players happy like that, your game will climb up the sales charts!

At the same time, the contrary is true as well. No matter the number of innovative game features and mechanics, the quality of graphics and sound, the license you are exploiting, or the story you develop throughout a game, if the interface is patchy, intricate, not intuitive and unappealing, your game isn't likely to sell well.

As we saw in the previous chapter, today's smartphones offer a completely new...