Timeline
May 2022 - 1 week sprint
Tools Expertise
Figma, Adobe Suite
Rocket League is a high-powered hybrid of arcade-style soccer and vehicular mayhem with easy-to-understand controls and fluid, physics-driven competition.
My Goal
I interviewed with Psyonix and was asked to redesign the Garage system of Rocket League.
User Research and Questionnaires
Conducted user questionnaires and surveys to gain an in-depth understanding of the issues with the Garage system in Rocket League, which helped inform and conceptualize potential solutions.
User Flows and Solution Flows
Analyzed the flow of the existing Garage system and proposed a new solution map to address its shortcomings and improve user experience.
Created a Fully interactive prototype using Adobe XD.
Developed a fully functional prototype that demonstrates the proposed solution, showcasing improvements and key features to enhance the Garage system.
Analyzing the Problem
The Garage allows players to customize their cars, create different presets, and manage their inventory.
Problem Statement
There has been substantial feedback stating that "the Garage in Rocket League is difficult to navigate and makes it hard to find what you're looking for."
My Goals:
1. Users can easily view their items and item variants, clearly understanding the differences between them.
2. Users can find newly acquired items more easily.
2. Users can find newly acquired items more easily.
Research Phase
Documented my personal issues with the Garage system and sent out player questionnaires to gather additional feedback on what the Garage lacks, helping to identify common pain points and areas for improvement.
Garage Options
Garage Customization
Problems Identified after Research
1. Item variants, which are different color skins of the same item, are not grouped efficiently. Instead of being organized under the base item, all variants are displayed in the same layout, leading to unnecessary clutter in the main inventory.
2. New items are not highlighted in the inventory section. When users unlock new items, they aren't visually indicated, making it time-consuming to scroll through the inventory to locate and equip them.
3. The current filtering options are too limited, especially with the game receiving frequent updates. This makes it a chore to quickly find specific groups of items, highlighting the need for more robust filtering options overall.
The 'Diamante' base wheel has all of its 6 color variants in the same layout making the scroll too long.
Flowcharting and Wireframing a Solution
Began creating user flow charts to effectively address the issues mentioned above, mapping out potential solutions to improve the Garage system's usability.
Grouping Color Variants
Color variants can be organized under the base item. Users would first select the base item, then choose from the available color options, reducing inventory clutter and improving navigation.
Base item with info about variants
Color variants open up
Discoverability of New Items
When new items are unlocked, they should automatically appear at the top of the inventory, allowing players to view and equip them immediately without needing to scroll through the entire list.
New Item unlocked
New item pops up with the new tag
New Filtering Options
Introduce additional filter options such as item type (e.g., tradable) and car type, allowing players to quickly narrow down and access specific car parts more efficiently.
Prototyping in XD
I developed a fully interactive prototype for my redesign, showcasing the proposed solutions. It is embedded below and can be navigated using an Xbox controller. Alternatively, you can view all screens in a non-interactive format via this XD link:
Final Thoughts
1. Small Changes, Big Impact – Grouping variants under the base item can significantly reduce inventory clutter, making it easier for players to navigate and find items without being overwhelmed by numerous variants.
2. Filtering Options to the Rescue – While the game already has several filters, adding more options for precise searches will improve usability. With further time and research, additional filtering options can be identified to enhance item discoverability even more.
