UI/UX Design
Input Binding in Simulator Games: How to design a keybinding interface for hardcore players
The objective of this thesis was to provide improvement suggestions to the commissioner
regarding their game’s spaceship keybind menu through findings from formal analyses of two
other space simulator games and a focus group discussion.
I worked for the commissioner as a user interface designer and produced an updated spaceship
keybind menu to the comissioner’s product. The design process of the interface was described
and evaluated.
Qualitative methods used were formal analyses of two space simulator games and a focus group
discussion in order to provide improvement suggestions to the commissioner regarding the
spaceship keybind menu.
The formal analyses found that there were specific design conventions used in keybinding
interfaces of simulator games. The focus group discussion revealed common problems players
have with keybinding interface and user experience design.
The study found that more time is needed to conduct a more comprehensive research of other
simulator games. More focus group discussions or individual interviews with players with
even more experience in simulator games are needed but the study provided a good basis for
future research on the subject. Additionally, accessibility and controllers in simulator
games would make a great research subject of its own.