Overview :
Create a game that will engage an audience of all ages to participate, using the smart voice technology that is provided through the Amazon Alexa devices. The game needs to be fun and engaging for the participant to continue playing.
Time Line || January 17th - March 26th 2018
Goals :
1. By creating a unique trivia game with the intent to branch into a new trivia field and increase the age of user participation, created using the voice technology provided by the amazon echo dot.
2. The goal of the player is to gain the most points to compete with their friends. “Test their candy knowledge.”
Understanding the Ecosystem
Trivia is a game that embraces every genre. But, as a game that tries to reach out to every field there tends to be a missing link when it comes to specialty trivia. Thus opening up an area for this gap to be filled with other question games like Would you rather? Jeopardy and more.
Ultimately the trivia world is populated with mainstream games and history.
Surveying the field
Investigate potential additions of a voice interface skill with five potential Alexa skills. Understanding the possible problem areas for each skill to identify whether the skill that is being created is a true problem or not.
Afterwards deciding from those factors which skill is the best candidate to create for the Amazon Echo Dot.
Along with possible areas of confusion, conflict, and overall possible methods of inventing a friendly voice interface that is accessible for all ages.
Beginning Development
To begin developing for a voice UI it was important to understand the different patterns that a trivia game could undergo, along with the different UI kits that could be used to develop such skill. Therefore due to the probability of user answering questions correct and incorrect would change the users flow and create a different pattern each time.
As shown below: the flowchart shows three scenarios that the user could take. One scenario would be re-engaging with a previous game. Another scenario starts with the user wanting to start a new game and the last scenario is the user opening and closing the Alexa skill.
User Testing
In the process of testing the skill, the main goal was to invite the users to give their initial reaction to the Who’s Candy game. In order to identify the problems with the game. To understand and find these problematic areas, three main questions needed to be answered by the end of each user test. Those questions are :
>> Did you feel like there were too many questions being ask or not enough?
>> Did you have fun playing the game? And would you ever be tempted to play again?
>> What confused you the most about the game? Why?
Areas of Focus
>> What areas need change?
>> Question limitations
>> Enjoyability of the game
>> Areas of possible confusion
>> Ability to understand and interpret the questions
>> Users ability to respond to the use of the voice skill
GOAL : Look for areas of confusion
User Testing Results
After testing the skill with 9 users, with 3 being solo testers, a group of 4, and a duo the results that came back were very similar. With the main issue being that the users were becoming confused with the number answer system. Notably this confusion caused the user to become disinterested with the skill.
Change Log ||
>> Fix the LAMBDA code to ensure error code does not happen during trivia use
>> Decrease question amount from 10 to 5
>> Adding a personality to the voice AI using vocal inflection codes
Final Product
Who's Candy
Who’s’ candy is a skill inviting trivia enthusiasts and candy lovers to test their knowledge of the candy world. Using pop culture references and quirky facts to guide the candy trivia. The goal of the player is to gain the most points and to compete with their friends. Collectively Who’s candy strives to create a fun family experience for all ages.
