What are the best ways to ensure consistent and intuitive UX across game levels?

This article is a blunder by the AI, UX and game levels and something different, there is no UX in games other than menus, it is called game design, how the game plays and how the player feels about the game and character. LinkedIn should stop pushing this. Because it is misleading and filled with bias, there are some good articles, but unfortunately this one is a blunder.

UX, by literal definition, is how a user interacts with and experiences a product, system or service. Whilst I understand the point that Cosmin makes, I'm not sure this is a blunder by the AI. In fact, I think in isolation it's a great question. For your players experience, defining your desired emotional result first, EG how you want them to feel, is absolutely paramount before crafting any level in your game. For instance, and one I think is relatable, is "rage platformers" where infuriating the players would be the goal. Each level should encompass elements that provoke these responses to make it successful. When stacked together, all levels should remain close to your UX goal/s to achieve the overall experience your after.

I will agree with O Cosmin on this that This article appears to misinterpret the intersection of AI, UX, and game levels. It asserts that UX is confined to menus in games, dismissing the broader influence of UX in shaping overall gameplay experiences and player sentiments towards both the game and its characters—an integral aspect known as game design. The call for restraint in promoting this perspective on LinkedIn stems from concerns about the content being misleading and biased. While acknowledging the presence of quality articles in the domain, this particular piece is criticized as a misstep, possibly due to a lack of comprehensive understanding or nuanced exploration of the subject matter.

To use level design patterns with UX, you need to understand your target audience, their preferences, and their expectations. You also need to define the goals and emotions you want to evoke in your users with your game levels. Then, you can choose and apply the appropriate level design patterns that match your UX vision and enhance your game design. For example, if you want to create a sense of tension and urgency in your users, you can use the time pressure pattern, which imposes a time limit or countdown on your game level.

Using level design patterns help ensure a consistent and intuitive UX across game levels. As Christopher Alexander, a renowned architect, once said, "Each pattern describes a problem which occurs over and over again in our environment, and then describes the core of the solution to that problem." Level design patterns provide a structured approach to creating game levels, offering established solutions to common challenges. They maintain consistency in gameplay mechanics, pacing, and visual aesthetics throughout different levels. In following this, game designers ensure that players can easily understand and navigate each level, creating a seamless and enjoyable user experience that keeps players engaged and immersed in the game.

- As UX designer you must champion the voices of the player?? - The best way to do so is keep in mind your vision of what you want the experience to be and compare this to how players find it ?? - Be as objective and neutral as possible, you must follow what is found on game and tweak and balance as required! ??

Have players test your game. Have them play a series of levels and give you their honest options. Take their opinions and sit down and filter out those that doesn't match your game vision. Once you've got your list, try and adjust your game to satisfy this list.

Following UX design principles provides a cohesive and user-centric experience throughout the game. These principles guide interface design, navigation, and interaction, and allow players to easily understand and engage with each level. As Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, once said, "Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works." Consistency in layout, controls, and feedback amplifies immersion and reduces frustration, and leads to a more enjoyable and intuitive gaming experience across all game levels.

Know your target audience. Having a grasp on the cultural, societal shared experiences of the audience and weaving pieces of it into the game can create really delightful pockets of UX that could be as simple as a turn of phrase or pop culture reference that brings in some nostalgia or feelings of being relevant or in-the-know.