Question:

What is Humankind?

Answer:

Humankind is a turn-based historical strategy game developed by Amplitude Studios and published by SEGA. The game allows players to guide their civilization from the Neolithic era to the modern age, shaping culture, diplomacy, and military power through strategic decision-making. Known for its deep customization, unique city-building mechanics, and dynamic historical evolution, Humankind offers players the ability to rewrite history in their own way.

Question:

What was the goal of this project?

Answer:

The goal of the project was to adapt Humankind’s complex PC user interface and game mechanics for a seamless console experience. This involved reworking navigation, controls, and layout to ensure the game’s depth remained accessible for console players while optimizing usability for gamepad interaction.

Question:

What was Cryptic Design’s role in this project?

Answer:

Cryptic Design collaborated with Amplitude Studios and Aspyr Media to refine and develop the UX/UI framework for the console adaptation of Humankind. The project required extensive interaction model redesign, controller-friendly navigation improvements, and usability testing to ensure a smooth, intuitive console experience without compromising the game’s strategic complexity.

Question:

What were the primary UX challenges in this project?
Answer:

• Translating PC mouse-and-keyboard interactions into gamepad-friendly controls while maintaining precision.

• Ensuring complex in-game menus remained accessible and intuitive without overwhelming console players.

• Optimizing information hierarchy and readability for smaller screen distances.

• Reducing cognitive load by restructuring menu navigation for efficiency.

• Refining HUD and tooltips to improve accessibility without sacrificing necessary game details.

Question:

What were Cryptic Design’s primary contributions?

Answer:

Cryptic Design was responsible for:

• UX & UI Adaptation for Console Navigation – Redesigning PC-based interfaces to fit controller input while maintaining usability.

• Menu Flow Optimization – Streamlining menu structures and layouts for smoother navigation.

• HUD & Information Architecture Improvements – Ensuring vital information was clearly presented in a way that console players could quickly access and understand.

• Interaction & Accessibility Enhancements – Implementing legibility improvements, optimized button mapping, and interaction models suited for gamepad use.

• Heuristic Evaluation & Usability Testing – Conducting iterative playtesting and analysis to refine interactions and enhance the user experience.

• Iterative Prototyping & Refinements – Testing and validating UI components to create an intuitive console gaming experience.