Backstage
Cosmetic Meta-Feature
Since the inception of Playstudios TLV, the studio has envisioned a space where POP! Slots players can earn, try on, and wear new clothes for their 3D avatars. The primary goal of this meta-feature is to provide players with the opportunity to explore new outfits and express themselves.
My Role
My role was to characterize the new cosmetic meta-feature, as well as to design and lead the creative aspects of it. This included collaborating with our 2D/3D animator, concept and 3D artists.
Feature UX
Creating these cosmetic features was unprecedented in the slots industry. To understand similar concepts from other genres, I embarked on a journey of research and analysis, aiming to adapt and integrate them into our game. After conducting thorough research, I curated only
the content relevant to the product. This included outfit items (with their rarity), the player's avatar, and essential navigation elements. Additionally, I ensured that certain screen areas were reserved for future features, such as additional tabs, event options, and monetization tools.
Composition Exploration
The lobby and main features in POP! Slots use a horizontal scroll, so this was naturally implemented in the new feature as well. This design also allowed us to utilize the top and bottom of the screen for future elements. While incorporating floating and slanted UI elements in a 3D environment was unconventional, it was well-received by my colleagues and was later
adopted in other parts of the game. In contrast, the stage on which the avatar stands remains a physical object, maintaining a connection to the scene's location. The selected outfit's name appears on the stage, and to prevent unnecessary repetition and cognitive overload, only the selected outfit is accompanied by its rarity title.
Outfit Rarities
In many other games, rarity differences are clearly indicated by distinct colors. Most popular games with rarity mechanics adhere to a strict color scheme. After testing various color palettes based on different games and the colors used in POP! Slots, I decided to adopt the industry-standard scheme, understanding that players would be more familiar with it. In addition to using different colors, other elements were designed to reflect rarity—the rarer the outfit, the more elaborate
and dynamic the accompanying effects, including more complex music. I also established clear guidelines regarding the number of objects, their complexity, and their presentation in the outfit concepts based on rarity. For example, rarer outfits feature larger elements on the avatar's head, as this is the most prominent part seen in the casino environment where players showcase their outfits.
As a team, one of our key decisions in shaping this feature was to ensure that the Backstage serves as a welcoming space for players—a place where they can enter and admire the objects they've collected on their journey. For instance, we chose not to display "locked" outfits and promotions among these components. The Backstage essentially functions as a trophy room for players, accessible directly from the main lobby of the game.
Icon Explorations
During the exploration of various icon options for this feature, I experimented with numerous approaches while prioritizing simplicity. I noticed that many similar features in different games often used either a detailed item of clothing or an icon of a hanger. However, upon evaluating these options in the context of our product, I determined that these familiar icons did not align with our intention for a truly iconic feature — one that would encompass additional content beyond just outfits.
Seeking a different direction, I drew inspiration from the behind-the-scenes doors of film actors. This sparked the idea of using a star to symbolize the player's avatar, the central figure in each player's personal narrative. Positioned above the stage, which has become iconic within our app and particularly in our avatar contexts, this icon becomes instantly recognizable.
FTUE
After creating a sketch for the First-Time User Experience (FTUE) of the Backstage, we encountered some challenges. The feature had been designed with such clarity and simplicity that guiding players through a detailed explanatory flow for basic actions seemed unnecessary. Instead, we chose to include a brief sentence below the outfits to provide guidance. Additionally, we added small arrows around the avatar to signify that the three-dimensional figure can be interacted with on the stage.
Take a look at the release video of the Backstage:
Launch
The Backstage serves as a meta-feature granting players access to their avatar's personal cosmetic content within the game. While foundational for numerous other features and events, it isn't inherently a direct source of monetization, as it primarily houses content collected by players during their gameplay experience.
Launching it posed challenges from a monetization perspective. Collaborating closely with the monetization team, we devised several events and challenges. These initiatives allowed players to engage, progress, assemble, and collect outfits, thereby kickstarting their personal collections.
Below are some selected screens from the initial events that were part of the Backstage launch:
Impact
The launch of the Backstage generated immense excitement within the POP! Slots player community. Social media groups were inundated with enthusiastic posts anticipating the new feature, and since its release, player satisfaction appears to be consistently high. Subsequently, additional events and mini-games were developed around outfit collection, permeating every corner of the game. Furthermore, new outfits are regularly introduced to keep the gameplay experience fresh and engaging.
