This week, my focus was on addressing a fundamental aspect of our game's user interface: the health bar. The original health bar was a simplistic, red gauge that depleted upon taking damage - a standard approach, yet one that proved insufficient for our needs. The crux of the issue lay in its lack of informative value; it failed to adequately warn players of critical health levels. This oversight could potentially lead to players neglecting their health status, affecting gameplay negatively. Given the importance of the health bar in conveying vital gameplay information, finding a solution was imperative for enhancing player engagement and experience.

The solution to this issue involved a complete overhaul of the health bar's visual feedback system. Initially, the health bar's singular red color did little to communicate the player's health status effectively. To remedy this, I introduced a color-coded system: the bar starts green, indicating a healthy state. As the player's health drops below 50%, the bar transitions to yellow, serving as a cautionary signal. At 25% health, the bar turns red, warning the player of imminent danger. Additionally, entering this critical state triggers a visual cue where the screen's corners also turn red, further emphasizing the player's perilous situation.

This multi-tiered approach was designed not just to make the health bar more informative but also to enrich the gaming experience by adding layers of strategic depth. Players now receive clear, intuitive signals about their health status, enabling them to make timely decisions about defensive or aggressive gameplay strategies. This visual overhaul, therefore, doesn't just solve a UI problem; it enhances the game's interactive and immersive qualities, making for a more engaging and enjoyable player experience.

Author: Fraser Paterson

Posted on 4/12/2024.