2009 Second International Symposium on Computational Intelligence and Design
Principles of Human-computer Interaction in Game Design
Xinyuan Cai
Architecture & Urban Planning College
Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Wuhan, P.R.China
e-mail: tanoncai@gmail.com
Abstract-In recent years, game design has made great progress
in human-computer interaction, but the methods and amount of
information exchange between players and computer are still
quite limited, which results in the interaction and entertainment
of game are much more restricted. Based on this context and
taking the human-computer interaction (HCI) theory as
analysis tool, this paper puts forward and gives details on the
principles of human-computer interaction in game design---
“Simple, natural, friendly and consistent”.
Keywords-Game; HCI; Principle; Design; Art
I. INTRODUCTION
From 1961 year’s Space War, the development history of
game has just less than half a century, which not only
provides people with a variety of cultural and recreational
activities but also promotes the rapid development of the
world economy. Relevant information show that the
worldwide output value of game and animation related
derivative products has reached more than ˀ500 billion in
2004, which has gone beyond that of film industry, becoming
the first giant in entertainment industry. From this, we can see
that game has had a dramatic impact on our life.
Computer games are the combined product of computer
technology, traditional games and art forms, such as movies,
music and so on; the rapid development of game is heavily
borrowing ideas from the film and music and other art forms.
Games have been trying to learn the performance way of the
film to bring players a richer entertainment experience.
Meantime it uses a lot of music, animation and other artistic
elements to enrich the content. But games are always drawing
a clear distinction with these referent art forms; in traditional
games, all the participants are people who in real life; in the
games, although some rules of the game may be same as those
of traditional game, the virtual characters and environment
generated in computer have become interactive objects for
players, in which people are active participants and they make
interactive cycle with computer, so the human-computer
interaction is the essential distinction between computer
games and traditional games.
As a well-known game designer Chris Crawford said:
"Graphics, animation, sound and music are essential elements
of the game, and they are very important but not the focus of
the game. Interaction is the real focus in the game." [1] In
order to improve the interaction in the game and show the
unique media advantage of the game, human-computer
interaction theory has gradually received game industry’s
978-0-7695-3865-5/09 $26.00 © 2009 IEEE
DOI 10.1109/ISCID.2009.171
attention in recent years. European and the United States’
game industry have begun to try to apply the HCI research
result in game design, at the same time, their two-way
communication with academic research institutions are
becoming increasingly active:
z In the game education curriculum formulated by the Game
Education Committee of IGDA (International Game
Developers Association), HCI theory is classified as an
important component in the game design curriculum
framework.
z CHI (Computer Human Interaction) is the authoritative
academy conference of Human-Computer Interaction field.
The 2004 Vienna annual meeting will be the first to add
game content.
z Microsoft’s Microsoft Game Studios has held forums for
three consecutive years except for the GDC (Game
Developers Conference) to promote their user testing
methods and ideas to the game industry.
II. THE PROCESS OF HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION IN
THE GAMES
Don Norman once summed up an “Interactive Cycle”
model for the HCI procedure in computer software, which is
the universal model describing HCI/human-machine
interface. All types of WIMP interfaces are based on this
model [2].
As a special kind of computer software, games also have
very similar operation processing: computer presents the
virtual game environment to the players through images,
sound or other manners of perception. This step can be called
game output. Based on the received information and referring
to the rules of the game, players make action decision. This
step can be called players’ processing. Players express their
intentions through operating the hardware input devices. This
step can be referred as players’ input. In accordance with the
rules of the game, computer calculates the corresponding
scores of players’ action. This step can be called computer’s
processing. After this step it will return to Step one and enter
into the next round of HCI cycle. The cycle processing of
these four-step constitutes the human-computer interaction in
a game [3]. (Figure 1)
Human-Computer Interaction is not only an important
feature of the game but also the core of many game elements.
From the procedure of HCI in the game, we can see that the
process of game is actually a cycle of HCI: as the participants,
players and computer play a motive role in the cycle. Kinds of
software and hardware are the pipelines for cycling while the
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game content is the transferred information in the cycle. Thus
HCI plays a main role in the game and is the link of other
game component elements. In order to improve the quality of
the game, improving the HCI in the game should be the first
thing to do. Optimizing the HCI completely in the game
requires a clear principle to guide the design of HCI in the
game.
Update screen
information
Computer’s
Processing
Update internal
state of
t Dotted line is the
Computer receives
the command, and
then explains it.
Player’s
Processing
Figure 1
III. DESIGN PRINCIPLE OF HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION
IN THE GAME
At present, the design field of human-computer interaction
in the game is still short of theoretical system; in fact there is a
close connection between HCI field and game design field:
"Usability" is an important research of HCI area while games
field concerning a lot on gameplay, which is actually basing
on the usability of game software [4]. Thus the gameplay is
also called playability sometimes. Thanks to the deep links
between game theory and HCI theory, we can boldly learn
from the experiences and theories which have been made in
the HCI field to guide the design of the game, taking full
account of the special nature of the game, apply the "Simple,
natural, friendly and consistent," principle to the guide of the
human-computer interaction design in the game.
A. Simple Principle
Simple principle refers to the process of human-computer
interaction in the game should be as simple as possible. Too
complicated means of interaction is not only detrimental to
the players to grasp and control the game but also will often
interrupt the player's gaming experience, which greatly
reduce the entertainment effect of the game. Game designers
should focus on the gaming experience rather than interaction
process. Thus game designers must take players out from the
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complicated interface of human-computer interaction to
reduce interference of the interaction on the players’ thought.
During the process of players’ input, the simple principle
embodied in the game is that whether the number of actions is
appropriate or not for players to reach certain purpose, but for
the game, the number of operating the button is not the less
the better. The reason lies in the fact that the goal of the game
User accepts, understands and
evaluates the information on the
screen.
output
human-computer
interface.
Input
User defines goals and
action steps, and then
inputs command.
is bringing players a kind of entertainment experience rather
than completing a specific work. If simplifying all the
operations, in fact, the process would be simplified at the
same time, which will reduce the fun of the game itself.
Therefore, what kind of operation requires as simple as
possible and what kind of operation needs a detailed
breakdown are entirely dependent on the type and theme of
the game. For example, in the action adventure game (AVG),
the player's main task is to make a correct operation through
hand-eye coordination at appropriate moment and to control
virtual characters to overcome various obstacles. If such an
advancing process designed as a simple mouse-click process,
then the fun of overcoming challenges in the game will be
bankrupt[5].
In the course of game output, the simple principle
embodied in the game with whether the amount of
information passed to the players at the same moment is
appropriate or not. The amount of information passed to the
player in games depends on two factors: one is the feeling
ways of players used in the game (such as visual, auditory,
tactile, etc.), and the other is the number of objects for players
each sensory to concern about at the same time. In the design
of the game, the designers must rationally allocate players
limited acceptance ability within a unit time and ensure that
players be able to receive necessary information. We divide
the outputted information in the game into two types: one is
the information related to the mechanisms of the game, as the
game elements information, which may be called the key
information. They’re the key information of the game and
also occupy most of players’ attention. The other type of
information has nothing to do with the game mechanism but
plays a decorative role in enhancing the effectiveness of game
entertainment, which can be also called auxiliary information.
For the output of the game, the simple principle is simplifying
the key information which output in a complicated way.
Simple principle does not apply to the auxiliary information
output in the game, because auxiliary information does not
need players’ more attention, but it will bring players a better
sensory enjoyment.
B. Natural Principle
Natural principle refers to the process of human-computer
interaction in the game should be kept in line with the player's
life experience and cognitive habits. One of the goals of the
game is to create a world into which a player can be fully
integrated. In order to achieve this objective, we must obtain
player's recognition and integration from all aspects. If the
players experienced differently in the game compared with
the real life, they would be excluded from the game. All
efforts to lead players integrate into the games will be greatly
reduced, leading to loss of entertainment of a game
eventually.
In the process of players’ input, natural principle embodied
in the game with whether the design of input devices
conforms to people's habits. In daily life, we make a common
action without any thinking about how to do it but entirely
rely on natural physiological reaction. In the players’
operation design in the game, designers should also pursue
the natural degree with daily life. In other words, players will
make action as they make in their daily life when they control
a virtual character to act, without any thought on where is the
corresponding button in the input device[6]. Natural principle
requires the design of input device must take the user's
physical and mental habits into account, for the game, the
physical habits correspond to the shape design of the input
device while mental habits corresponding to the function
design of the input device.
In the course of the game output, natural principle
embodied in the game with whether the output information is
in line with people’s cognitive habits or not. Although the
virtual world created by games is not real, it has a deep
connection with real life but is also different with real life
naturally [7]. To enable players to integrate into the virtual
world is the prerequisite for a game to meet the entertainment
effect. The game output in line with players’ cognitive habits
will help them quickly to link the experience in real life with
the virtual world, and then players will integrate into the
virtual world more easily.
C. Friendly Principle
Friendly principle mainly refers to the contents and forms
of information output from computer must play a necessary
help to players’ understanding, meantime the computer
should have a certain degree of inclusiveness for the entering
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form and content of players. Natural principle is mainly
reflected in the following points:
1) Reasonable forms of information: Taking visual
information as an example, the kinds of information should
be logically grouped, and then be displayed to the players, at
the same time, using different arrangements and areas to
show important information and secondary information.
2) Giving automatically correction or tips to the inputs do
not conform to the rules of the game: This is often overlooked.
The most common error is that a virtual character in the game
comes near to the wall, if the player made the virtual character
continue walk down toward the wall, the virtual character
would be blocked by the wall and only be able to slide on site.
There are many similar problems can be solved better, for
example, can automatically correct player's operation and
ignore the player's command to go to the wall so that the
virtual people remain stationary; also can give players some
tips, you can play section of animation which shows the
virtual character hits the wall and is shelled back. Either way,
the design should have corresponding input processing to
players’ irrational input so as to prevent the occurrence of
unreasonable operation result[8].
3) The main state and information must be given: Player
should make a lot of decisions according to the specific
circumstances during the game. So it is necessary to consider
giving the players as much information as possible and show
them through the relevant senses. For example, in many
shooting games (STG), the virtual characters controlled by
the players have a life value. If the virtual characters were
injured, the value of life will be reduced. And when it reaches
to zero, the game will be over. These rules comply with the
principle of simplicity and the principle of nature in the
human-computer interaction, but it does not meet the people's
habits which they can feel in the real life. In fact, good design
should give the players some tips when the virtual characters
controlled by them are injured, for example, there could be
shown on the screen the action of the shoot virtual characters
with blood or let the whole screen red for a few seconds in
visually; or in hearing, it can play the moaning voice when the
virtual characters suffer the pain. As a result, players can
clearly receive the "hurt" message from the virtual characters
and do not need to deliberately pay much attention to the life
value.
4) Provide comprehensive help system: Some of the
designers have the wrong view that the general players are
just like them who are the experts in the game, and they think
the players can play the game smoothly without any help.
Actually, any soft should have a full set of help system, but
for games, it seems that the traditional way of help is totally
different with the virtual net world. Because the help will
interrupt the play progress and reduce the level of the players'
devotion.
5) The operation which can be configured and many
operations for the same function: The default operation may
not comply with the habits of the players, so it must be made
that the modes of operation can be configured, such as the
mapping relations between the keys on the keyboard and the
actions in the game can be defined by the players themselves.
Even if the default way of operation is just in line with
players' manners, it cannot just supply one way. The various
ways of the operation not only give the players more options,
but also increase the depth of the game. For example, the vast
majority of software has shortcut, there should be a
corresponding shortcut key besides the standard way of
operation in the game.
6) Adequate feedback: Any legitimate operations from the
players should be given the feedback from the computers. No
matter the specific form is a text telling the players that they
are successful or a section of music, the feedback can tell the
players the results of the operation and give them a sense of
achievement.
D. Consistency Principle
The consistency principle means the output of the
computer and the input of the player should maintain the
consistency not only on the appearance and the logicality.
Only by ensuring the consistency in the process of interaction,
the players can easily gain the communication process with
the computer and engage in the game entertainment
experience earlier. The consistency principle of game is
mainly embodied in the following points:
For the same type of game information, whether the forms
are the same [9]. For the different types of game information,
whether there is a difference between them. Every player has
a fixed habit of receiving information according to the
experience in the game. If there are two kinds of doors in a
game, one can open and the other may not. Then it should be
guaranteed that there is an apparent difference between them
in appearance and each of them has the same appearance. If it
fails to do that, the players should fail in opening a door
which he thought he can open. Therefore, they will deny the
correctness of the game experience they accumulated before.
So the game designers need to clearly make a standard form
for the output information, and use it throughout the whole
game. In the same operation, whether the players’ way of
input are the same. In fact, the process of people knowing
how to play is a process of learning [10]. Only by unifying the
similar operations in the design, the players can agree to the
rules in the operation and accept the mode of operation in the
game. If the purchasing operation is one of the game
functions in the game, and the purchase of food and clothing
is designed to operate in different ways, then the players
might question the necessity of such inconsistency.
principles are abstracting concepts. Referring to the specific
guidance on how to practice the game designs, it is the main
contents of the follow-up study.
REFERENCES
[1] Chris Crawford, “Chris Crawford on Game Design”, New Riders Press,
United States of America, 2003, pp 89-90..,
[2] Tonya Barrier, “Human Computer Interaction Development &
Management”, IRM Press United States of America,
2002,pp210-211..,
[3] Ye Zhan, Ye Ding, “The Designing and Development of Game”,
People’s Traffic Press, 2003, pp64-65..,
[4] Kuutti. K., “Activity Theory as a potential framework for
human-computer interaction research in Context” and “Consciousness
Activity Theory and Human-Computer Interaction”, B. Nardi. Editor
MIT Press, Cambridge, 1996, pp31-32..,
[5] Center Activity Theory and Developmental Work Research,
“Cultural-Historical Activity Theory”, [DBˋOL]
http://www.edu.helsinki.fi/activity/pages/chatanddwr/chat/, 2007,
[6] “The Activity System”, [DB/OL]
http://www.edu.helsinki.fiactivity/pages/chatanddwr/activitysystem/ ,2
008,
[7] Malone. Th.W, “What makes things fun to learn? A study of
intrinsically motivating computer games”, PhD dissertation, Stanford
University, 2005, pp167-168..,
[8] Garris.R. Ahlers. R. ˂ Driskell .J.E., “Games, motivation and learning:
a research and practice model”, Simulation ˂Gaming. 33(4), 2002,
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[9] Mahboubeh Asgari ˂David Kaufman, “Relationships Among
Computer Games Fantasy and Learning”, [DBˋOL]
http://www.ierg.net/confs/2004/Proceedings/Asgari_Kaufman.pdf
[10] Chris Crawford, Translate by Li Ming. Ying yu, “The Theory of Game
Design”, Beijing Hope Electronic Press, 2004, pp150-151..,

IV. CONCLUSIONS
Human-computer interaction, as a primary feature and the
core component of the game, is a main factor of affecting the
game quality. According to the theory of human-computer
interaction described by Don Norman, the principle of
"simple, natural, friendly and consistent" should be reflected
in every aspect of the progress in the game. Flexibly applying
these principles to the design of the interactive game not only
establish good channels of communication between the
players and computers, but also achieve the entertainment
value of games. However, we should also note that these

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