The iterative construction process of a spectator interface for Competitive Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) Game : What to consider when designing a spectator interface

Abstract: Electronic sport or esport is a trend that involves playing competitive video games professionally. Traditional sports and esport have been compared to each other because of their similarities. Esport has grown in terms of viewership. Every year more spectators get interested and the number rises. One popular genre played in esports is MOBA. It stands for Multiplayer Online Battle Arena. Two teams face each other, and the goal is to destroy the enemy’s base with the help of their selected character, in-game mechanics and objectives. There are several focus points to highlight for the spectator. Hence, a dedicated spectator interface in the esports scene helps understand the progression of the game while watching. Developers might want to market their MOBA game into the esports scene, but it is hard to know what spectators want within the interface. This study investigates the major factors to consider when designing a spectator interface for a gaming genre; multiplayer online battle arena games (MOBA) in a competitive setting. The methods used to achieve the results were literature studies that include spectatorship, cognitive theories, and game interface theories. Analysing a popular MOBA game spectator interface and redesigned the interface of a game named League of Legends. Redesigns will go through an iterative process with the help of feedback, using questionnaires and interviews on the target group. Results discovered factors that could provide the spectator with a better viewing experience and contributed to producing a guideline for designers. The study concluded the guideline could help future work or contribute to previously established guidelines for general competitive games. However, further investigations are required to explore and validate the proposed guidelines in practice.