Streamlining the User Experience

[Jay]

As someone who works with user interface design, I spend a lot of time analyzing UX (user experience) efficiency and the "number of clicks" metric. This basically means, the fewer number of clicks that a user takes to get to their destination, the better the experience. One thing I noticed immediately when I started playing Rivals, is that the UX is extremely bloated. Before and after a match, the number of clicks required, and unskippable recap screens, is noticeably high.

For instance the process of launching the game:

• Launch Marvel Launcher from Steam
  
• Launch button again on Marvel splash screen
  
• 3 Different Unskippable developer logo cinematics
  
• Unskippable Siezure Warning
  
• Unskippable System Notice
  
• Click to Start
  
• Logging In
  
• Hold Space to skip another cinematic
  
• Play
  
• Select Game Modes
  
• Start
  
  For comparison, Overwatch launching process
  
• Play button on Blizzard Launcher
  
• Logging In
  
• Play
  
• Select Game Modes
  
• Ready
  
  I'm not going to analyze the post-match UX, but there are ways to streamline that as well. For instance, user input is locked from the Victory splash until the Endorsement screen. You can't adjust your settings, exit back to the main menu to get into another match quicker, etc. Even just auto-skipping the opening cinematics when launching the game after the player has seen them half a dozen times would be a good step.
  
  I'm sure there will be a lot of people that either don't care, disagree, or think the UX is perfect the way it is. That's fine... I'm simply looking at it from a technical viewpoint based on the common "best practices" of UX design.

[Jorjonbek]

Totally agree with you!

Also want to add up some stuff that I encountered and that pissing me off because I have to press something or wait while it ends. It's kinda more UI, neither UX, but I think those are bonded to each other.

1. In the beginning of match, after picking up some hero, you have to watch animation how chosen character enters match. Of course you may press Space and skip it, but I prefer to remove such animations at all. I would put checkbox in this animation screen like 'Don't show again' OR even put switch button in the settings to turn off all match starting animations.
   
2. Also while you are in the select hero screen in the beginning of the match, you are not able to press TAB and check who you are playing against. Which triggers me the most, you can see all enemies nicknames before, in the loading screen, and after, when you just jumping around the spawn room. I want to press TAB and always see who I am playing against!
   
3. After the match ends, you are also not able to press TAB and check detailed statistics. You have to wait and watch another annoying animation! Just give me my damage and heal sheet, I wanna know who was efficient and who wasn't!
   
4. Another triggering place is highlight screen, where all 6 heroes posing. Nice touch that you can check Highlight of every hero, not just one particular, who was chosen by the game. But WTF clickzone of watching highlight and pressing Like button is so damn close together! Sometimes I just want to give likes to my whole team, and accidently I enter another UNSKIPPABLE animation. It seems so obvious just move them apart. Make more space between those 2 buttons. And also make Like button larger... why am I have to aim again after the match on those buttons and do it 6 times!?
   Moreover I would put 1-2-3-4-5-6 keys for PC players to like particular player. And maybe Space-key to give a like to all team simultaneously!
   
5. Engagement feature which was in Apex Legends and Overwatch – you always start to search for another match, without needing to press 'One more round' button. Instead of this, you need to press button to stop search. Competitive mode is only exception.
   
6. I also find all navigational tabs and buttons in Main Menu screen so small. And the menu itself is such complicated and confusing.