What is our problem?
Development could potentially positively influence players' perspectives, needs, and expectations in social spaces.
When asked about games with toxic communities, 78% of players mentioned League of Legends making it focus for this case study.
What details should I collect?
Role
User Researcher
Year
2022
Duration
14 Weeks
Audience Research

Gathering insights on community values, focusing on what drives player engagement and satisfaction.

This research should aim to identify necessary design adaptations that would allow for flexibility and responsiveness to the diverse needs and expectations of the player base, especially in addressing issues related to toxic behavior.

Preliminary Designs

Develop and iterate on interfaces that directly address the identified needs and expectations of the target audience.

These preliminary designs should be tailored to foster a positive community environment within the game, incorporating features that mitigate toxicity and promote constructive interactions among players.

User Testing  

Conduct user testing sessions with the new design changes and measuring interviews by The System Usability Scale.

During these sessions, collect detailed feedback through direct interviews, documenting players' first impressions, emotional responses, and any suggestions for further improvement.

Design Strategy 

Explore how large data samples in-game behavior metrics can be leveraged to reinforce specific design decisions.

This strategy should focus on identifying patterns and trends that inform ongoing adjustments to the game’s design, ensuring that the platform continuously evolves to meet the needs of its community and reduce toxic behaviors.

What is our problem?
WHO IS the Audience

Based on research and ideation, we've identified 6 new persona types tailored to meet our customers' needs and expectations within the context of League of Legends.

THE INTERVENTION
I developed a matchmaking system that allows players to communicate their needs and expectations before entering a League of Legends game, providing context for others' actions and motivations.
How does this align with others?
USER FEEDBACK
After spending some time fleshing out a prototype, I then introduced this feature to several players for general impressions. Where some interesting points of confusion were found about the options available.
What did I learn?

Simplicity is Key

Overcomplicating features or choices can confuse players and disrupt natural social dynamics.

Positive Perceptions

Players felt they were more likely to understand and positively interpret others' actions in a positive context.

Players are Diverse

More personas emerged highlighting the need to cater to diverse needs without adding in complexity.

Environment Matters

Differences in player experience can alter perceptions of appropriate attitudes and intentions in each space.

CONCLUSION
These insights highlight the importance of creating clear, user-friendly environments and features that cater to different player experience levels while promoting positive interactions. But also gives us a solid understanding of how we might reinforce the original values from NEXT-GENs Framework.