Case Study
Our Approach
In collaboration with the Actions on Google Team and HQ Trivia, we set out to create a voice-first trivia game for Google Home and Assistant. The game’s host, Scott Rogowsky, and his A.I. Teacher’s Assistant Fredo serve up games of 12 questions that get more challenging as they go.
Players are invited to play via notifications on their phone, and can play with any Google Home device or the Google Assistant app on their phone. Users of Smart Displays or Android phones are delivered an interactive visual interface for the game that also enables touch interaction.
Using the admin we built, HQ can schedule themed days (history, music), and manage questions to keep the game interesting over time.
Our Contributions
- Product Strategy
- Rapid Ideation and Prototyping
- Full Stack Development
- UX Design
- UI Design
- Technical Consulting
- Art Direction
Process
Our guiding principle in the conversation design of HQ University was to stay voice-first. All elements of game play should be able to work with your eyes closed, sound off, through a chat interface or with the touch interface delivered through Google’s Canvas technology.
Dialogue
Dialogue is at the core of a conversation design project.
Like a choose your own adventure, we started by writing variations on the dialog flow that are influenced by a variety of user inputs. Our team defined the roles of the host (Scott), teacher’s assistant (Fredo), and the player clearly so that the exchange between them could feel more natural and engaging. We ran it through its paces by reading it aloud as a team. Once we had a working prototype of the voice interface, we began playing the game to get a feeling for the variety of ways a user might engage. When asked a question, will the user say “the middle one” instead of the answer?
Visual Interface
As the dialog began to solidify, we began a process of wireframing and creating a user interface for smart displays and Android phones that aligned with the dialog. This way a player could engage with it passively or actively throughout a game. All visual elements and interactions to be should be added fun, but not a required part of the game experience.
Mobile
Bringing HQniversity to life on Android phones
Players can engage with the game from wherever they are on any smartphone that supports Google Assistant. Individuals with Android phones will get an additive visual experience with a touch interface that brings the game to life in a new way. Each experience ends with a shareable social card that allows users to post their score.
Smart Display
A rich hands free and touch experience in your home
Players with a smart display will experience a fully interactive trivia game brought to you by Scott and Fredo. Fun animations and touch interactions add an immersive feel to the voice component of the action.
