LudoScience

This paper presents the design and implementation of a mini map navigation system into an RPG Action Adventure game created using Unity3D game engine with the goal of improving the usability and user experience. The main aim of this work is to find out how a mini map navigation system can be beneficial to the end user and improve the over game play of a video game. The mini map can help reducing the user frustration, as well as aiding story progression so that it keeps the user immersed and engaged for a longer period of time that ultimately increasing the longevity of the game. A mini map navigation system is a user aid that is used across a wide range of video games and genres. The purpose of the map is to highlight the user position in relation to areas of interest such as objectives, enemies and Missions. A prototype game was created in the RPG Action Adventure genre with a vast open explorable world. The results show that the mini map has improved the overall usability and user experience.

References (1): 

Djaouti, D., Alvarez, J., Jessle, J-P., Methel, G. (2007) Play, Game, World: Anatomy of a Videogame. CGAMES 2007 The 11 International Conference on Computer Games, 11, pp.96-100.