Play-Create-Share Gameplatform for the iPad: Exploring Game Creation Technique on a Touch Screen Platform

Abstract

This report presents the implementation and analysis of a simple create-andplaygame for the iPad. The game is a platformer with a level editor, utilizingthe iPad s touchscreen and acceleration sensor. We believe the results arealso applicable to games, that have level editors, for other types of post-PCtablet devices (Samsung Galaxy Tab, Motorola Xoom etc.).The analysis comprise a usability test with a questionnaire. 33 universitystudents and 4 children attended the test. The attendants were given severalopportunities to provide feedback as free text. The free text answers havealso been categorized and summarized.The level editor provided a low entropy building scheme which was popularamong the test population. Multiple mechanisms were provided for scrollinginside levels and controlling the game character. The population was dividedin which mechanisms they learned to use, and which they preferred. Webelieve that this indicates that they did all contribute to a good game andeditor experience.We also provide some general advice about GUI appearance on touch baseddevices. Many of our test attendants were dissatisfied with how well theycould understand the meaning of the menu icons. Some attendants suggestedthat on-screen text should be used more extensively, but we do not concludewhether an improved set of icons, more text, a demonstration or informationmode or some other, yet unknown strategy is the best way to handle theissue.