Cathedral vs. Bazaar: A UX Analysis of Design Principles in eSports FPS Games

Problem Statement:

The design architecture of eSports games not only determines their success but also significantly impacts user experience, engagement, and usability. This project examined how the Cathedral (rigid and structured) and Bazaar (open and community-driven) design styles influence user interaction, accessibility, and competitive fairness in two popular eSports FPS games: Counter-Strike (Cathedral) and Valorant (Bazaar). The goal was to propose hybrid design solutions that enhance user experience while maintaining competitive integrity.

Project Description:

This project used a UX lens to analyze the design philosophies of Counter-Strike and Valorant. Counter-Strike's Cathedral-style emphasizes strict gameplay mechanics and high predictability, fostering a consistent user experience. In contrast, Valorant's Bazaar-style thrives on community feedback and adaptive design, offering a more personalized and evolving experience. The research explored how these styles influence player onboarding, engagement, and gameplay satisfaction, leading to recommendations for hybrid models that optimize both user-centered design and eSports competitiveness.

Role and Responsibilities:

As a UX researcher and designer, my responsibilities included:

Conducting a literature review on Cathedral and Bazaar design styles from a UX perspective.
Analyzing how Counter-Strike’s and Valorant’s design architectures affect player usability and experience.
Evaluating gameplay mechanics, onboarding flows, and community engagement strategies for both games.
Proposing hybrid design models that prioritize user experience while maintaining competitive integrity.
Visualizing insights through diagrams and mockups of user flows and hybrid design concepts.

Process and Methodologies:

1. User-Centered Literature Review:

Reviewed existing research on the Cathedral and Bazaar models, focusing on their impact on user interaction, accessibility, and adaptability.
Studied the design principles, onboarding processes, and user interfaces of Counter-Strike and Valorantt.

2. Game Analysis and UX Analysis:

Counter-Strike (Cathedral): Examined how its strict, predictable design impacts user learning curves and game mastery.
Valorant (Bazaar): Analyzed how community-driven features and frequent updates influence user engagement and satisfaction.
Applied UX principles such as Fitt’s Law, Feedback Principle (providing immediate response to user actions), and Aesthetic-Usability Effect (balancing functionality with visual appeal).

3. Usability Testing and Feedback:

Conducted user interviews and surveys to gather feedback on pain points and preferences in both games.
Analyzed onboarding flows for both games, identifying barriers to entry and opportunities for improvement.

4. Comparative UX Analysis

Compared the onboarding experiences, gameplay intuitiveness, and feedback systems of the two games.
Identified design gaps where one style succeeded in enhancing user experience.

5. Proposing Hybrid UX Models:

Designed hybrid UX models combining the Cathedral’s predictability and the Bazaar’s adaptability.
Visualized these models with user flows, highlighting how they streamline onboarding, improve engagement, and support competitive fairness.

Challenges and Solutions:

Challenge: Addressing the rigid onboarding in Cathedral-style games.
- Solution: Suggested dynamic tutorials and adaptive difficulty levels to reduce user frustration enhancing user experience.
Challenge: Managing the lack of consistency in Bazaar-style designs.
- Solution: Proposed a modular UI that balances customization with standardized gameplay elements.

Key Learnings and Skills:

Gained insights into the application of UX principles in competitive eSports design.
Developed skills in comparative analysis of onboarding flows and gameplay mechanics.
Learned to propose hybrid UX solutions that balance player engagement with competitive fairness.
Enhanced proficiency in visualizing user flows and hybrid models to communicate design solutions effectively.

Results and Impact:

Provided a UX-centric comparison of Cathedral and Bazaar design styles, emphasizing their impact on player experience.
Highlighted how structured gameplay (Cathedral) supports competitive integrity while adaptive designs (Bazaar) enhance user engagement.
Proposed hybrid design models that streamline onboarding reduce decision fatigue, and maintain competitive standards, offering actionable insights for future eSports game development.