Google Smart Display Game
Google Smart Display Game
In 2020, I got an opportunity to work with the Google team to create their first-ever voice-controlled game for Google Smart Displays. Together, B-Reel and the Google team explored the frontiers of voice-controlled games in ways that were previously not possible.
Business Problem
The Google Assistant team had not fully utilized the new technology behind Google Smart Displays
User Problem
Most people use it as a utilitarian device to manage tasks
Project Goals
Define What We Build
Target gaming experience: To create a party night and facilitator game for group settings.
Mime Jam
To play, say "Hey Google, play Mime Jam"
Mime Jam is a multiplayer party game aimed at getting people up and out of their seats. Players team up to act out random words and phrases that appear on the smart display and see who can guess the most correct answers.
Check out the game trailer here: Mima Jam
Client: Google
Agency: B-reel
Role: Product Designer
Services: Art Direction, UI Design
Client: MasterCard
Agency: Sapient Nitro
Role: Art Director
Design Process
1. Identify game mechanic
2. Create Art Direction
3. Develop a visual system
4. Validate user flow and UX
5. Finalize UI interaction, motion, and sound design
Game Mechanic
Target Game Experience: To create a party night and facilitator game for group settings
We wanted to create games to mirror how people engage with the smart displays – voice-driven and conversational. Our team started with lo-fi, interactive tests to determine what games would complement this new type of engagement. Stickies on a whiteboard and cue cards indicated actions and responses. We were able to get an idea of which games would resonate with players at home.
Define What We Build
- What type of gaming experience would complement this type of device and the location in the home?
- What value is our product or experience providing to whom?
- What is the person who’s playing this game trying to accomplish?
Design Process
1. Identify game mechanic
2. Create Art Direction
3. Develop a visual system
4. Validate user flow and UX
5. Finalize UI interaction, motion, and sound design
Game Mechanic
Target Game Experience: To create a party night and facilitator game for group settings
We wanted to create games to mirror how people engage with the smart displays – voice-driven and conversational. Our team started with lo-fi, interactive tests to determine what games would complement this new type of engagement. Stickies on a whiteboard and cue cards indicated actions and responses. We were able to get an idea of which games would resonate with players at home.
Art Direction
I developed the look & feel of the game and created the game interface. After exploring multiple visual directions, our team felt like the retro card design captured the nostalgia of the classic game.
Final UX Flow
To play, say "Hey Google, play Mime Jam"
Mime Jam is a multiplayer party game aimed at getting people up and out of their seats. Players team up to act out random words and phrases that appear on the smart display and see who can guess the most correct answers.
Check out the game trailer (Sound and Animation design) here: Mima Jam
Visual System
As part of the interface design, I created a visual system that allows all card designs to expand and adapt to varying lengths and numbers of words within the phrase. There are over 5,000-word gameplay libraries. We created a visual system that allows all those visuals to expand and adapt no matter what word length we put in front of it.
Learnings
- Considered an experience and use cases where users start with voice and then switch to a visual or touch interface.
- Balanced the voice UIs and visual UIs on the screen. Made sure that UIs are very conversational and intuitive.
- The user should be able to complete the tasks with minimum or no look at the screen.
- Made sure that we provided keywords that are natural and very conversational.
Selected Works
GlamsquadBeauty services - iOS App
ChargeFuzePortable Mobile Charger - iOS App
Google Smart Display GameVoice-controlled Game
DatPiffMusic - iOS App
Mastercard PricelessTravel - iOS & Android App
MeUndies - Perfect PairRetail - E - Commerce
House Of SpoilsArt Photography - E-commerce
MeUndies - Build-a-PackRetail - E-Commerce
Our PlaceE-Commerce
The Black TuxFormalware Rental - E-commerce
The Black Tux - Look BuilderFormalware Rental - E-commerce
FealsMembership Program
Mastercard OikosFinance - iOS App
Marc JacobsFashion - E-commerce
David YurmanWeb Design
All work © 2022 June Hongkiatkhajorn
© 2022 JH