Designing an iconic and accessible home screen to navigate between game features.
Overview
In Hungry Shark Primal, our focus on in-game UI aimed at creating an experience that is both intuitive and immersive for the player. Key gameplay elements such as health and boost bars, boost button, and joystick were meticulously placed, considering player comfort and reducing cognitive load. This design approach was backed by extensive playtesting and iterative refinements to ensure fluid and engaging gameplay, further enhancing player immersion and satisfaction.
Accessibility for core controls
Where is the best place to put important buttons?
Joystick Zones
The joystick's elastic design allows flexible thumb movement and dynamic acceleration, enhancing control responsiveness and player immersion
Ambidextrous Controls
We fixed the boost button's position to support ambidextrous play, while playtesting confirmed a static location best served the simple tap-and-hold interaction
Accessibility for core controls
Boost Charge Interaction Design
Boost Charge Interaction Design
After rigorous playtesting, we made a conscious decision to affix the boost button in its position. The binary tapping interaction necessitates only a tap and hold action to activate the boost, making a static position optimal for consistent accessibility. Its design intention is to ensure players have a constant point of reference for the boost function
Making effects punchier
Designing Visual Feedback
Damage taken feedback
When enemies attack your shark, we use multiple visual cues to show danger. Your shark flashes with a red outline when bitten, the screen edges glow red, and your health bar changes color and flashes as it drops. These signals work together to help players quickly react to threats.
Flying score text
To make eating more satisfying, score numbers pop up whenever your shark catches prey. These numbers linger briefly to highlight your kill before adding to your total score. We also added fun text like 'Shoal Bonus!' when you gulp down an entire group of fish at once.
FRENZY!
When FRENZY is activated in Hungry Shark Primal, the player becomes an unstoppable force with unlimited health and boost for a brief period. The UI captures this state of fury with red edges and amplified VFX. During this temporary state the player shark goes on a devouring rampage. A distinct shader is applied to all the marine life on the map, further emphasizing the shark's voracious frenzy.
End-game score summary
Post Session Results Screen
Balancing key information with multipliers & monetization opportunities.
At the end of each Hungry Shark Primal session, players receive a detailed performance summary, including high score, best time, trophies, and coins collected. This post-game interface also presents a great opportunity for ad and rewards monetization, allowing players to multiply their coin earnings by watching ads. Our design journey involved multiple iterations to perfect this balance of engagement and monetization.