Noxious Quest
Map Editor, UI Redesign
Noxious Quest in-game interface
Noxious Quest is a free-to-play 2D isometric MMORPG game. Players choose one of five factions, which offers unique starting abilities, storylines and challenges.
Responsibilities
UI Design, UX
Team
1 UX Designer, 6+ Cross-teams
Problem
Noxious Quest's internal map editor tool made creating in-game maps a slow and frustrating process.
Research Methods
Heuristic evaluation, Accessibility guidelines, Competitive Analysis
Noxious Quest's internal map editor tool before UX.
Discovery and Feedback
Map is sometimes obstructed by large, free-floating asset panel
Changing and choosing asset types happens in two separate areas
Asset panel search is limited to asset type
Badges with numbers unclear
Assets defined in backend by color
Development team to add over 1,600+ assets and tags in near future
Iterating
To keep the map artboard visible, our team decided on a docked editing panel to be implemented on the right side of the UI. To increase mapbuilding workflow efficiency, I tested 3 different systems of asset organization; toggling asset types on/off, filing asset types in different tabs, and selecting asset types by dropdown.
Asset type tab functionality
Asset type dropdown functionality
Solution
Although tab functionality allowed for a faster workflow, dropdown functionality was easiest to implement while retaining a positive experience, future-proofing for larger asset libraries, and encouraging users to engage with tag searching; a feature to be implemented in future. Additionally, an "All Assets" type was added, allowing users to search and browse all available assets.
The side panel was given an updated, thoughtful hierarchy that considers users' workflow.
Badges, which denote the separation of assets into color-groups, were removed for accessibility and ease of use, and each asset has its own specific material-based tag, keywords and more in addition to its original color tags.
Tool controls were adjusted so that asset types were selected only in the asset panel.
Map options controls were moved slightly left to remain unobstructed by new fixed asset panel.
Noxious Quest's internal map editor tool after UX/UI improvements.
Outcomes
Better/faster workflow efficiency
Increased engagement with asset search