While computer/video games certainly have a number of good things to teach about usability in software and web design, there are also quite a few mind-bogglingly bad examples.
exhibit A: Mario Kart Wii
- turn on Wii console
- confirm health & safety warning
- from the console’s main menu, select “channel” Mario Kart Wii
- select Start
- confirm Wiimote wrist-strap warning
- confirm Mario Kart Wii portal screen
- select license (player profile)
- from the game’s main menu, select game mode (here: Single Player)
- select race type (here: Grand Prix[1])
- select vehicle class (50-150cc, karts and/or bikes)
- select player character
- select vehicle
- select drifting mode (manual/automatic)
- select cup (tracks)
- confirm selection
Each of those screens comes with a certain delay due to loading time or animations – why didn’t anybody notice and fix that before the release?
- Other game modes, e.g. multiplayer races, involve a few additional steps… [↩]