14Case study / Games
Palia day/night minimap
A new minimap for Palia, with the north compass and the day-night cycle merged in: one element that changes with the day, for easier navigation.
Overview
One minimap for the map, the compass, and the time of day.
The minimap through one whole day: the time marker travels round the ring, the sun rising in it from behind a cloud and setting, then the crescent moon rising among stars as clouds drift over it, while the light on the map and the sky round it change with the hour
As a passionate gamer and UX designer, I’m committed to resolving frustrations within games. In my new design for Palia’s UI, I prioritised integrating the day-night cycle into the minimap, to address navigation challenges and enhance immersion.
The current UI’s separate elements create cognitive overload, hindering gameplay. To streamline navigation and improve accessibility, I proposed consolidating the day-night cycle, the north compass, and the minimap into a single, dynamic interface.
This was a concept, which I designed and presented.
Problem
- Cognitive overload
- Disparate UI elements create cognitive overload.
- No minimap
- The lack of a minimap hampers navigation and quest progression.
Holistic Solution
- A minimap
- Design a minimap, to address the absence of one in the current game.
- One interface
- Merge the north compass, the day-night cycle, and the minimap into one interface.
Condensing information reduces cognitive load. Seamless integration improves gameplay flow and immersion.
Visual Cues
Visual cues accompany the day-night cycle: the imagery evolves as the time of day shifts.
Sunrise
The sun gradually emerges from behind the clouds, until full daylight.
Midday
Bright visuals show peak daylight.
Dusk
The sun retreats, giving way to the moon, signalling night.
Benefits
Accessibility
Improved accessibility for all players.
At a glance
Quick, effortless visual identification of time progression.
Planning
Better preparation and strategising around day-night mechanics.
Quests
Streamlined quest progression, through improved visibility.
Immersion
Enhanced immersion and enjoyment, with a dynamic representation of the day-night cycle.