Case Study: Enhancing User Experience

Overview

During my six-month contract with Rockstar Games as a UX Consultant, I contributed to several key updates for Red Dead Redemption 2 (RDR2) in 2018. My role focused on implementing quality of life (QoL) improvements and refining the menu systems to enhance the overall player experience. The specific patches I worked on included Title Update 1.03, as well as updates addressing language support and game information for the Ultimate Edition.

Client

Rockstar Games

Sector

Gaming, Communication, Accessibility

My Role

UX Consultant

Project Time

6 months

Objective

Improve user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) based on player feedback.
Enhance menu navigation and accessibility.
Implement quality of life updates to address common pain points.
Ensure comprehensive language support for a global player base.

Key Contributions

01 User Research and Feedback Analysis

Conducted analysis of player feedback from forums, social media, and surveys.
Identified recurring issues related to menu navigation, in-game controls, and usability.

02 Quality of Life Improvements
(Title Update 1.03)

Title Update 1.03 was a major patch released on November 29, 2018, addressing various issues and improving the overall gameplay experience:

Bug Fixes and Stability Enhancements:
- Resolved issues with animals triggering kill cams despite being disabled, improving the hunting experience.
- Fixed problems with companions going missing during missions, which ensured smoother story progression.
- Addressed weapon and item glitches that hindered player inventory management.
- Corrected terrain and environment problems that caused visual and interaction issues.

03 Language Support Update
(October 3, 2018)

Implemented support for multiple languages, including English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Latin American Spanish, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Korean, Polish, Russian, and Japanese.
Ensured that the game was available in different languages depending on the region.
Updated in-game text to replace the phrase "social club" with "Rockstar Games" for consistency.

04 Ultimate Edition Game Information (June 4, 2018)

Provided detailed information about the Red Dead Redemption 2: Ultimate Edition.
Worked on ensuring that all relevant game information was easily accessible on the Rockstar Games site and Rockstar Newswire.

Results

The updates released in 2018 significantly improved the game's user experience, addressing many of the pain points reported by players. The specific patches I worked on led to:

Increased Player Satisfaction: Players appreciated the bug fixes and stability improvements, which made the game more enjoyable and less frustrating.
Enhanced Accessibility: The implementation of comprehensive language support broadened the game's appeal to a global audience.
Positive Feedback: The community responded positively to the QoL improvements, particularly the enhancements in menu navigation and gameplay mechanics.

Conclusion

My contributions to the post-launch phase of Red Dead Redemption 2 involved critical UX enhancements that addressed key player concerns and improved the overall game experience. By focusing on quality-of-life improvements, menu refinements, and comprehensive language support, these updates helped solidify RDR2's reputation as one of the best games of its generation.

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Red DeadRedemption 2Red DeadRedemption 2

Case Study: Enhancing User Experience

Overview

​Objective

Key Contributions

01 User Research and Feedback Analysis

Conducted analysis of player feedback from forums, social media, and surveys.

Identified recurring issues related to menu navigation, in-game controls, and usability.

02 Quality of Life Improvements (Title Update 1.03)

Title Update 1.03 was a major patch released on November 29, 2018, addressing various issues and improving the overall gameplay experience: ​

Bug Fixes and Stability Enhancements:

Resolved issues with animals triggering kill cams despite being disabled, improving the hunting experience.

Fixed problems with companions going missing during missions, which ensured smoother story progression.

Addressed weapon and item glitches that hindered player inventory management.

Corrected terrain and environment problems that caused visual and interaction issues​.

03 Language Support Update (October 3, 2018)

Implemented support for multiple languages, including English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Latin American Spanish, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Korean, Polish, Russian, and Japanese.

Ensured that the game was available in different languages depending on the region.

Updated in-game text to replace the phrase "social club" with "Rockstar Games" for consistency.

04 Ultimate Edition Game Information (June 4, 2018)

Provided detailed information about the Red Dead Redemption 2: Ultimate Edition.

Worked on ensuring that all relevant game information was easily accessible on the Rockstar Games site and Rockstar Newswire.

Results

The updates released in 2018 significantly improved the game's user experience, addressing many of the pain points reported by players. The specific patches I worked on led to: ​

Increased Player Satisfaction: Players appreciated the bug fixes and stability improvements, which made the game more enjoyable and less frustrating.

Enhanced Accessibility: The implementation of comprehensive language support broadened the game's appeal to a global audience.

Positive Feedback: The community responded positively to the QoL improvements, particularly the enhancements in menu navigation and gameplay mechanics.