UI design for games is an important aspect of game development, and it’s crucial to choose the right type of UI for your game. There are four main types of UI: diegetic, non-diegetic, spatial, and meta. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it’s important to select the right one for your game.
Diegetic UI is integrated into the game world, making it feel like a natural part of the experience. This can be a great way to immerse players in the game world, but it can also be confusing if not done carefully. Non-diegetic UI is separate from the game world, giving players a clear view of all the information they need. This can be helpful for complex games, but it can make the game feel less immersive. Spatial UI uses elements in the game environment to convey information, such as symbols on a map. This can be a great way to use existing assets in your game, but it can be difficult to design spatial UI that is both effective and unobtrusive. Meta UI breaks the fourth wall by directly addressing the player. This can be a fun and engaging way to interact with players, but it can also be confusing or off-putting if not used sparingly.
Choosing the right type of UI for your game is essential to creating a great player experience. Consider what type of experience you want to create and what will work best with your game’s design before making a decision.
Types of UI:
Diegetic UI – This is UI that’s integrated into the game world. An example of this would be a character’s health bar appearing above their head in a first-person shooter.
Non-diegetic UI – This UI is separate from the game world. An example of this would be a health bar appearing at the bottom of the screen in a first-person shooter.
Spatial UI – This UI uses elements in the game environment to convey information. An example of this would be symbols on a map that represent enemies or objectives.
Meta UI – This UI breaks the fourth wall by directly addressing the player. An example of this would be a popup that appears in the corner of the screen that tells the player to press a certain button to perform an action.
Deciding which UI is best for your game is an important decision. Consider what type of experience you want to create and what will work best with your game’s design. Read on to get more information about different interface options and remember that only careful choice of one or the other or combination will bring quality to your game interface.
Game Interface options
Diegetic UI
Diegetic UI is a term for user interface elements that are part of the game world itself, as opposed to being presented on a separate screen. The most common examples of diegetic UI are on-screen buttons and indicators that help the player to interact with the game world. When designing diegetic UI, it is important to consider how the elements will fit into the game world and how they will be used by the player. For example, on-screen buttons may need to be placed in strategic locations so that they can be easily reached by the player, and their size and shape should be designed to be easily legible. Indicators, on the other hand, should be designed so that they are not intrusive but still conspicuous enough to grab the player’s attention when necessary. Careful consideration of diegetic UI can help to create a more immersive and user-friendly gaming experience.
Non-Diegetic UI
Non-diegetic UI is a type of user interface that is not bound by the laws of the game world. This means that it can appear and disappear at will, and can be used to convey information that would be otherwise impossible to convey within the game world. While diegetic UI is constrained by the rules of the game world, non-diegetic UI is not, which gives designers a lot of flexibility when it comes to designing interfaces. However, this flexibility comes at a cost, as players may find non-diegetic UI to be immersion-breaking or confusing. As such, it is important to use non-diegetic UI sparingly, and only when it is absolutely necessary. When used judiciously, non-diegetic UI can be a powerful tool for conveying information and enhancing the player experience.
Spacial UI
Spatial UI is a type of user interface that takes advantage of the three-dimensional nature of the human environment. Unlike traditional interfaces, which are based on two-dimensional screens and menus, spatial interfaces allow users to interact with digital content in a more natural way. For example, instead of scrolling through a list of options, a user could simply reach out and grab the one they want. This type of interaction is possible because spatial UI makes use of depth cues, such as shadows and perspective, to give users a better sense of the three-dimensional space around them. When designing spatial UI, it is important to consider how users will move through the interface and how they will interact with the content. For example, will users be moving their hands or using physical objects? Will they be standing in one place or walking around? Taking these factors into account will help you create an interface that is both easy to use and visually pleasing.
Meta UI
Meta UI is a term that is used to describe the interface between the user and the computer. It includes the graphical user interface (GUI), as well as the voice-activated interface (VAI). The goal of Meta UI design is to create an interface that is intuitive and easy to use. In order to achieve this, designers must consider how users interact with their computers. They must also take into account the different ways that users can input information, such as through keyboard, mouse, touch, or voice. By taking these factors into consideration, designers can create an interface that will be both user-friendly and efficient.
How to make a choice?
When designing the user interface for your game, it’s important to choose an approach that will create the best experience for your players. There are four main types of UI: diegetic, non-diegetic, spatial, and meta. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it’s important to select the right one for your game.
Diegetic UI is integrated into the game world, making it feel like a natural part of the experience. This can be a great way to immerse players in the game world, but it can also be confusing if not done carefully. Non-diegetic UI is separate from the game world, giving players a clear view of all the information they need. This can be helpful for complex games, but it can make the game feel less immersive. Spatial UI uses elements in the game environment to convey information, such as symbols on a map. This can be a great way to use existing assets in your game, but it can be difficult to design spatial UI that is both effective and unobtrusive. Meta UI breaks the fourth wall by directly addressing the player. This can be a fun and engaging way to interact with players, but it can also be confusing or off-putting if not used sparingly.
Choosing the right type of UI for your game is essential to creating a great player experience. Consider what type of experience you want to create and what will work best with your game’s design before making a decision.
