🔼Buttons

Button design and functionality impact how your game feels to play, both in terms of physical controller buttons and on-screen UI elements. Playtesting in this area helps identify points of friction, awkwardness, and opportunities to make the player experience smoother.

Physical Buttons

• Comfort and Reach: Do the core actions mapped to frequently-used face buttons feel natural? Can players comfortably reach shoulder buttons, triggers, and the d-pad without strain?

• Multiple Control Schemes: If applicable, offer alternate control mappings and test for comfort across different playstyles (claw grip, etc.).

• Remapping Success: If players utilize custom remapping, inquire about their reasoning. Did the default layout have issues?

• Responsiveness: Do button presses feel snappy and register accurately, or is there a noticeable delay or "mushiness"?

• Vibration and Feedback: If using haptic feedback or rumble, does it enhance gameplay in intended ways, or does it become distracting?

UI Buttons and Menus

• Readability: Are on-screen buttons and menu text large enough to read comfortably from a typical play distance?

• Visual Clarity: Do buttons have clear "unpressed" vs. "selected" states? Do important buttons stand out visually?

• Navigation: Is it easy to navigate menus using a controller? Are button layouts for menus intuitive and efficient?

• Hitboxes: Ensure players can't accidentally select menu options by bumping the analog sticks. Fine-tune button hitboxes as needed.

• Responsiveness: UI button presses should feel instant, providing clear feedback to the player.

Additional Considerations

• Accessibility: Consider options for larger UI elements, single-button interactions, and customization for players with motor limitations.

• Sound Design: Button clicks and menu navigation sounds significantly enhance the feel of UI interaction.