RARE GAMES
RARE GAMES
RARE GAMES
RARE GAMES

Amplifying brand relevance and
player loyalty with every game

Amplifying brand relevance and player loyalty with every game

Amplifying brand relevance and player loyalty with every game

Amplifying brand relevance and player loyalty
with every game

Team

Raquel de Melo

Raquel de Melo

Raquel de Melo

Kondwani Laher

Kondwani Laher

Kondwani Laher

Lea Sportis

Lea Sportis

Lea Sportis

Client

Rare Games

Rare Games

Rare Games

Timeline

2 weeks

2 weeks

2 weeks

Deliverable

Twitch Extension App

Twitch Extension App

Twitch Extension App

01 OVERVIEW

From record setters to player decline

From record setters to player decline

From record setters to player decline

From record setters to player decline

Sea of Thieves (SoT) is an action-adventure game where players become pirates taking on voyages and exploring the open pirate world. The game is developed by Rare Games, a video game developer. My team collaborated in this project with Xander Ashwell the UX Design Lead at Rare.

Sea of Thieves (SoT) is an action-adventure game where players become pirates taking on voyages and exploring the open pirate world. The game is developed by Rare Games, a video game developer. My team collaborated in this project with Xander Ashwell the UX Design Lead at Rare.

Sea of Thieves (SoT) is an action-adventure game where players become pirates taking on voyages and exploring the open pirate world. The game is developed by Rare Games, a video game developer. My team collaborated in this project with Xander Ashwell the UX Design Lead at Rare.

Sea of Thieves (SoT) is an action-adventure game where players become pirates taking on voyages and exploring the open pirate world. The game is developed by Rare Games, a video game developer. My team collaborated in this project with Xander Ashwell the UX Design Lead at Rare.

Problem
Problem

Sea of Thieves was launched in June 2020. They reached peak success in June 2021 with 4.8 million players logged in, setting a new record. Since then, their numbers have been on a gradual decline.

Rare wants to maintain their SoT players, while bringing more attention back to the game utilizing their prior research:

  • players who play with other people tend to remain engaged for longer

  • streamers are an important fulcrum point in maintaining relevancy and share of voice in the saturated gaming market

Sea of Thieves was launched in June 2020. They reached peak success in June 2021 with 4.8 million players logged in, setting a new record. Since then, their numbers have been on a gradual decline.

Rare wants to maintain their SoT players, while bringing more attention back to the game utilizing their prior research:

  • players who play with other people tend to remain engaged for longer

  • streamers are an important fulcrum point in maintaining relevancy and share of voice in the saturated gaming market

Sea of Thieves was launched in June 2020. They reached peak success in June 2021 with 4.8 million players logged in, setting a new record. Since then, their numbers have been on a gradual decline.

Rare wants to maintain their SoT players, while bringing more attention back to the game utilizing their prior research:

  • players who play with other people tend to remain engaged for longer

  • streamers are an important fulcrum point in maintaining relevancy and share of voice in the saturated gaming market

Sea of Thieves was launched in June 2020. They reached peak success in June 2021 with 4.8 million players logged in, setting a new record. Since then, their numbers have been on a gradual decline.

Rare wants to maintain their SoT players, while bringing more attention back to the game utilizing their prior research:

  • players who play with other people tend to remain engaged for longer

  • streamers are an important fulcrum point in maintaining relevancy and share of voice in the saturated gaming market

Business Goals
Business Goals

⟶ Increase player retention

⟶ Increase brand relevance

⟶ Increase player retention

⟶ Increase brand relevance

⟶ Increase player retention

⟶ Increase brand relevance

⟶ Increase player retention

⟶ Increase brand relevance

Design Constraints
Design Constraints
  • design cannot alter the gameplay

  • design cannot give any users unfair advantages

  • design cannot affect in-game matchmaking

  • design cannot alter the gameplay

  • design cannot give any users unfair advantages

  • design cannot affect in-game matchmaking

  • design cannot alter the gameplay

  • design cannot give any users unfair advantages

  • design cannot affect in-game matchmaking

  • design cannot alter the gameplay

  • design cannot give any users unfair advantages

  • design cannot affect in-game matchmaking

02 DISCOVERY

Seeking connection and community

Seeking connection and community

Seeking connection and community

Seeking connection and community

To get a better understanding of their users, we conducted interviews (5) and surveys (26) with SoT streamers and viewers around gaming styles, streaming, and general frustrations.

To get a better understanding of their users, we conducted interviews (5) and surveys (26) with SoT streamers and viewers around gaming styles, streaming, and general frustrations.

To get a better understanding of their users, we conducted interviews (5) and surveys (26) with SoT streamers and viewers around gaming styles, streaming, and general frustrations.

To get a better understanding of their users, we conducted interviews (5) and surveys (26) with SoT streamers and viewers around gaming styles, streaming, and general frustrations.

User Insights
User Insights
  • Viewers often play after or while watching a streamer

  • Streamers want more ways to engage people in the chat

  • Streamers bond most with their viewers during lulls in their game

  • Streamers have difficulty to finding ways to bond with their chat

  • Community is important to both streamers and viewers

  • Viewers often play after or while watching a streamer

  • Streamers want more ways to engage people in the chat

  • Streamers bond most with their viewers during lulls in their game

  • Streamers have difficulty to finding ways to bond with their chat

  • Community is important to both streamers and viewers

  • Viewers often play after or while watching a streamer

  • Streamers want more ways to engage people in the chat

  • Streamers bond most with their viewers during lulls in their game

  • Streamers have difficulty to finding ways to bond with their chat

  • Community is important to both streamers and viewers

  • Viewers often play after or while watching a streamer

  • Streamers want more ways to engage people in the chat

  • Streamers bond most with their viewers during lulls in their game

  • Streamers have difficulty to finding ways to bond with their chat

  • Community is important to both streamers and viewers

Tasked to build bonds

Tasked to build bonds

Tasked to build bonds

Tasked to build bonds

We used a Jobs-to-be-Done framework to get to the what and the why of the tasks our users wanted to accomplish.

We used a Jobs-to-be-Done framework to get to the what and the why of the tasks our users wanted to accomplish.

We used a Jobs-to-be-Done framework to get to the what and the why of the tasks our users wanted to accomplish.

To empathize with our user, we utilized the Jobs-to-be-done framework the what and they why of the tasks that our users want to accomplish.

Streamers want to interact with viewers to strengthen bonds with their community.

Viewers want to engage in fun activities with other to feel part of a community.

Streamers want to interact with viewers to strengthen bonds with their community.

Viewers want to engage in fun activities with other to feel part of a community.

Streamers want to interact with viewers to strengthen bonds with their community.

Viewers want to engage in fun activities with other to feel part of a community.

Streamers want to interact with viewers to strengthen bonds with their community.

Viewers want to engage in fun activities with other to feel part of a community.

03 IDEATION

How might we strengthen the bonds of the Sea of Thieves streaming community?

How might we strengthen the bonds of the Sea of Thieves streaming community?

How might we strengthen the bonds of the Sea of Thieves streaming community?

How might we strengthen the bonds of the Sea of Thieves streaming community?

Capitalizing on an open world concept

Capitalizing on an open world concept

Capitalizing on an open world concept

Capitalizing on an open world concept

Our design team used the Crazy 8 method for a rapid ideation session. After narrowing down our options, we regrouped with our client to discuss the feasibility and effectiveness of the remaining ideas. Filtering through ideas from a Captain's Log, Pirate Cheersquad, and a Pseudo-Pirate Raid. We ultimately decided on the Sea of Thieves Challenges Twitch Extension that allows streamers to host mini-challenges for their viewers, an idea that takes advantage of the game's open world concept.

The storyboard below illustrates the streamer's user flow while using the SoT Challenges extension.

Our design team used the Crazy 8 method for a rapid ideation session. After narrowing down our options, we regrouped with our client to discuss the feasibility and effectiveness of the remaining ideas. Filtering through ideas from a Captain's Log, Pirate Cheersquad, and a Pseudo-Pirate Raid. We ultimately decided on the Sea of Thieves Challenges Twitch Extension that allows streamers to host mini-challenges for their viewers, an idea that takes advantage of the game's open world concept.

The storyboard below illustrates the streamer's user flow while using the SoT Challenges extension.

Our design team used the Crazy 8 method for a rapid ideation session. After narrowing down our options, we regrouped with our client to discuss the feasibility and effectiveness of the remaining ideas. Filtering through ideas from a Captain's Log, Pirate Cheersquad, and a Pseudo-Pirate Raid. We ultimately decided on the Sea of Thieves Challenges Twitch Extension that allows streamers to host mini-challenges for their viewers, an idea that takes advantage of the game's open world concept.

The storyboard below illustrates the streamer's user flow while using the SoT Challenges extension.

Our design team used the Crazy 8 method for a rapid ideation session. After narrowing down our options, we regrouped with our client to discuss the feasibility and effectiveness of the remaining ideas. Filtering through ideas from a Captain's Log, Pirate Cheersquad, and a Pseudo-Pirate Raid. We ultimately decided on the Sea of Thieves Challenges Twitch Extension that allows streamers to host mini-challenges for their viewers, an idea that takes advantage of the game's open world concept.

The storyboard below illustrates the streamer's user flow while using the SoT Challenges extension.

04 UI DESIGN

Style extraction to application

Style extraction to application

Style extraction to application

Style extraction to application

We were provided with a brief style guideline:

  • pirate themed

  • cartoonish without being too childish

  • no straight lines

We filled out the style guide by pulling and observing the colors and assets from their game and website.

  • warm earthy tones and sea greens

  • weathered and aged textures with cracks and worn edges

  • playful interactions

  • glowing elements used to draw attention

  • style is whimsical, funny and quirky

From these features, we compiled a color palette and created components for the SoT Challenges extension.

We were provided with a brief style guideline:

  • pirate themed

  • cartoonish without being too childish

  • no straight lines

We filled out the style guide by pulling and observing the colors and assets from their game and website.

  • warm earthy tones and sea greens

  • weathered and aged textures with cracks and worn edges

  • playful interactions

  • glowing elements used to draw attention

  • style is whimsical, funny and quirky

From these features, we compiled a color palette and created components for the SoT Challenges extension.

We were provided with a brief style guideline:

  • pirate themed

  • cartoonish without being too childish

  • no straight lines

We filled out the style guide by pulling and observing the colors and assets from their game and website.

  • warm earthy tones and sea greens

  • weathered and aged textures with cracks and worn edges

  • playful interactions

  • glowing elements used to draw attention

  • style is whimsical, funny and quirky

From these features, we compiled a color palette and created components for the SoT Challenges extension.

We were provided with a brief style guideline:

  • pirate themed

  • cartoonish without being too childish

  • no straight lines

We filled out the style guide by pulling and observing the colors and assets from their game and website.

  • warm earthy tones and sea greens

  • weathered and aged textures with cracks and worn edges

  • playful interactions

  • glowing elements used to draw attention

  • style is whimsical, funny and quirky

From these features, we compiled a color palette and created components for the SoT Challenges extension.

05 FINAL DESIGNS

How it works

How it works

How it works

How it works

SoT Challenge Twitch Extension is designed to increase multiplayer gameplay, building out the Sea of Thieves' network amongst users to increase engagement and bring more awareness to the game.

SoT Challenge Twitch Extension is designed to increase multiplayer gameplay, building out the Sea of Thieves' network amongst users to increase engagement and bring more awareness to the game.

SoT Challenge Twitch Extension is designed to increase multiplayer gameplay, building out the Sea of Thieves' network amongst users to increase engagement and bring more awareness to the game.

SoT Challenge Twitch Extension is designed to increase multiplayer gameplay, building out the Sea of Thieves' network amongst users to increase engagement and bring more awareness to the game.

A tool for streamers to amp up activity and engagement
A tool for streamers to amp up activity and engagement

Streamers can host mini-challenges for viewers with SoT Challenges Twitch Extension.

  • They can choose from a list, randomly choose, or create their own challenge to host.

  • They can dictate the length of games.

  • They are in control of who can participate and who walks the plank.

Streamers can host mini-challenges for viewers with SoT Challenges Twitch Extension.

  • They can choose from a list, randomly choose, or create their own challenge to host.

  • They can dictate the length of games.

  • They are in control of who can participate and who walks the plank.

Streamers can host mini-challenges for viewers with SoT Challenges Twitch Extension.

  • They can choose from a list, randomly choose, or create their own challenge to host.

  • They can dictate the length of games.

  • They are in control of who can participate and who walks the plank.

Streamers can host mini-challenges for viewers with SoT Challenges Twitch Extension.

  • They can choose from a list, randomly choose, or create their own challenge to host.

  • They can dictate the length of games.

  • They are in control of who can participate and who walks the plank.

A bonding opportunity for viewers
A bonding opportunity for viewers
  • They can accept a mini-challenge from their favorite streamer.

  • They choose their own teams. Team chats allow players to strategize and build camaraderie with their teammates.

  • They can see where they stand in challenges against fellow players.

  • They can accept a mini-challenge from their favorite streamer.

  • They choose their own teams. Team chats allow players to strategize and build camaraderie with their teammates.

  • They can see where they stand in challenges against fellow players.

  • They can accept a mini-challenge from their favorite streamer.

  • They choose their own teams. Team chats allow players to strategize and build camaraderie with their teammates.

  • They can see where they stand in challenges against fellow players.

  • They can accept a mini-challenge from their favorite streamer.

  • They choose their own teams. Team chats allow players to strategize and build camaraderie with their teammates.

  • They can see where they stand in challenges against fellow players.

Watch a walk-through of the prototype on YouTube:

Watch a walk-through of the prototype on YouTube:

Watch a walk-through of the prototype on YouTube:

Watch a walk-through of the prototype on YouTube:

let's work together

lsportis@gmail.com

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