A comparison between diegetic and non-diegetic HUD designs and their effect on the player experience

Sammanfattning

This qualitative study explores the impact of diegetic and traditional non-diegetic Heads-Up Display (HUD) designs on player experiences. HUDs serve a dual purpose in video games: they communicate essential gameplay mechanics while contributing to the game’s aesthetic and narrative identity of the game world. There is often a trade-off between immersion and usability. While traditional non-diegetic HUDs excel in delivering clear, immediate information, they can detract from immersion by drawing attention away from the game world. This study aims to unpack these trade-offs and explore how HUD designs can affect the players' playing experience. Previous research has lacked research testing the same game with both a traditional non-diegetic and a diegetic HUD; therefore, in this study, a game prototype was made and was tested on participants. A semi-structured interview, questionnaires with Likert scales, and a thematic analysis were conducted, focusing on the players' playing experiences and immersion with the two different HUDs.