"We need to get into the Top Pages in the Horizon Worlds app. My contact at Meta said average player time is how I get there... how do we get players to stay!?" Project Background: The client partnered with Meta to build a Horizon Worlds experience. With one month left in the project, they brought me in as a UX Researcher. Client: Made in Brooklyn games (an indie studio specializing in web, VR, AR, and XR content). Timeline: One month
Overview
Process ❖ Learn the space ❖ Define problem ❖ Test ❖ Prototype ❖ Test ❖ Implement
Team ❖ 1 developer ❖ 2 3D modelers ❖ 1 UX Researcher (me)
My contributions ❖ UX Research ❖ 3D Modeling ❖ World Optimizer ❖ Tester
Tools used ❖ Oculus 2 ❖ Horizon Worlds ❖ Discord
🌱 The Problem
Players are missing core puzzle interactions, leading to frustration and preemptive world exits. This results in low player engagement and incomplete world experiences.
Project Goals: The team and Iagreed on the goals below. I utilized them as a guide for my work. (1)Ensure players organically discover a hidden key which opens a puzzle experience; the main world event (2) Keep players in the world for at least 3 minutes, but ideally 5 minutes (3) The world ‘feels’ like a 90’s era video game store (UX goal translation: research and create a color palette invoking the 90s NYC era)
📈 Results
⏱️ Player time increased from 2 → 5 minutes. 🔑 90% of players discovered the hidden puzzle. 😎 Player feedback confirms 90's video game store feel.
Select to view actions taken to achieve these results
🔍 My contributions
User Research and Testing - Conducted user interviews and usability testing in the Horizon Worlds app - Synthesized findings into 2 personas and provided key actionable changes for each - Ran playtests throughout development cycle to track success rates
Design and Implementation - Facilitated collaborative design critiques and team feedback sessions - Introduced early interactive elements (xylophone, video game cartridges, TV, etc) - Added clue-driven dialogue via an NPC-style VR attendant - Integrated audio cues and ambient sound - Created multiple 90s-era color palette
🚧 Challenges
No prior VR experience → resolved with fast onboarding via Meta tutorials, key conversations with creators and user testing. Recruiting VR users → resolved bytraveling to social 'Hub Worlds' and learning how users socialize. No recordings → A challenge I took on in order to opt for faster user trust/openness during interviews. I utilized live note synthesis and surveys.
📚 Key Learnings
This was my first project working in Horizon Worlds. I had a great time learning about the platform and utilizing my skills in a completely different space. I applied knowledge learned in other roles in tech paired with design thinking to helped me hit the ground running. My main takeaways were: ❖ Always ask questions, and keep your own assumptions in check ❖ Every interaction is an opportunity to learn and get new ideas ❖ Always be open to iterate, and work through what that means to the project (communication and behavioral data are key)
**Click below to see specifics in my research and process**
