UX and Market Research
Improve your user experience using a scientific approach with real users to uncover actionable insights.
Recent and Upcoming Projects
*Click the center of an image to visit the project's steam page.
Services
Playtesting / Reception Testing
Measure market reception of your game or product
Discover what users like and dislike
Quantitative metrics and qualitative trends
Compare your product to other similar industry titles
Usability Studies
Assess the intuitiveness of a website, game feature, interface, application, etc.
Observe users as they interact
Users voice their thoughts out loud
Find any issues related to usability, ergonomics, points of confusion, and potential blockers
Competitive Analysis
Research a competitor product
Find out what the product does well and poorly
Understand how to improve on shortcomings
Get a strong sense of user expectations
Heuristics Evaluation
Professional assessment using validated heuristics
Prescriptive recommendations backed by credible sources
No participants or recruitment required
May guide additional research
Concept Studies
Expose concepts to your target audience
Identify intrigue and concerns of potential users
Guide future development decisions
Avoid common pitfalls and capitalize on perceived market gaps
Other
Custom methodology based on research questions
Optimized by professional researchers to ensure strong validity
May include niche research methods - card sorts, personas, biometrics, etc.
Typically derived via consultation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is User Experience Research?
User Experience (UX) Research is the process of using a scientific approach to discover usability issues, provide actionable insights and improve a product.“Products” can refer to anything that users or consumers interact with. We have conducted research on video games, tabletop games, game concepts or ideas, interfaces, marketing material, websites, mobile apps, a wide variety of software, movie trailers, and much more.
What are the benefits of UX Research?
UX Research is important because it provides a way to determine areas of improvement using the behavior, experience, and opinions of actual users.In proper UX Research Studies, we account for bias and validity concerns to ensure that resulting insights and recommendations are accurate, relevant, and free from accidental influences.
Why should I use Insight Check?
Our top priority is to provide the most meaningful and helpful insights to increase the reception and usability of our client’s products as accurately and effectively as possible. We deliver thorough and high quality reports containing data-backed, actionable insights built specifically to address any user-facing issues within a timely manner.Insight Check works independently of any publishing or development companies. There is no incentive for us to skew, manipulate, or misrepresent the results of any research study we conduct.Additionally, we are closely affiliated with a network of 20,000+ diverse users with a wide variety of hobbies, interests, and experience levels in different fields who would be willing to participate in studies.
Process
Step 1: Consultation to determine research parameters
Our process generally begins with a consultation meeting with our clients in which we discuss the product, the target demographic(s), and what questions we are interested in exploring. These questions are generally related to the reception or usability of the product or specific features of the product.
Step 2: Research plan and price quote
Based on the consultation, our team will put together a plan that includes a methodological approach to the research, a participant recruitment plan, a survey (if necessary), a projected timeline, and a price quote for the research study. This plan will freely be shared via chats or meetings, and we are receptive to feedback or desired adjustments as suggested by the client.
Step 3: Test preparation and recruitment
Once all parties involved approve the research plan, we begin the process of recruitment and test preparation. A few techniques are utilized to ensure that recruited participants accurately meet the target demographic of the study. Unless otherwise discussed, all participants are required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement to protect the confidentiality of the product.
Step 4: Running the study
On scheduled study days, participants are expected to join the research team in our facility (on-site if the study is in person, or on Discord if the study is remote) 10 minutes or so before the start of their session. Depending on testing parameters, this could be a single participant per researcher, or a group of participants being facilitated at once. In either case, we record as many participant screens as possible. Recordings are uploaded to a secure online space, and a link and password to view or download these recordings is included as part of the deliverable.If desired, it is also possible for clients to observe the study via livestream, although this requires additional considerations and should be discussed during the initial consultation.
Step 5: Data analysis
Findings and trends are organized depending on priority and severity based on the focus of the research, with issues regarded as highest priority listed first. Each finding or trend includes thorough analysis of the circumstances, such as how often it occurred and how impactful it seemed to be on participant reception of the product, as well as supporting evidence or timestamps as necessary. Findings also typically include a recommendation for the development team to try and address the issue, as well as the ideal outcome of the suggested changes based on the collected data.
Step 6: Report Delivery
Included on the agreed upon delivery date will be: a thorough report in the form of a Microsoft Word document that includes parameters of the study, demographic information of the participants, all findings and trends organized based on our suggested priority and observed severity, recommendations to consider based on the data gathered, the raw data file if requested, and a means to access any video or audio recordings taken during testing sessions, interviews, and focus groups that occurred.
Step 7: Post-delivery service
After a report has been delivered, we are committed to any necessary accommodations to guarantee the satisfaction of our clients. In some cases, clients would like a followup meeting in which they can ask questions. In other cases, clients suggest tweaks or adjustments to the report so it better suits their purposes or needs.
Step 8: Invoicing
Invoices are usually sent after report delivery, and will include itemization for labor costs and participant costs. Unless changes were discussed and made over the course of the research, the final invoice pricing will not exceed that of the initial quoted price.
About
Insight Check UX Research company who provides user research services primarily for video games, AR/VR, simulation & training, or other forms of interactive software. If you come to us with a product such as a video game or website, as well as some research questions you’d like answered, we offer the service of building a research method for you, recruiting participants, running the study, compiling and analyzing the data, and presenting our findings in a priority-based report format.Our team's clients have included Saber Interactive, Wargaming.net, THQ Nordic, CD Projekt Red, MY.GAMES, Activision Blizzard, Techland, SuperGG.com, Dovetail Games, Arc Games, and many others.
We have a structured arrangement with Full Sail University in which graduate researchers pursuing their Master’s Degree in Game Design can apply to work at our facility as part of their academic career. These students are taught by their senior peers, as well as several post-graduate mentors, professors, and professionals within the field of UX Research. As a result, we strive to strike a balance with our clients in which students can gain real world experience and knowledge working on industry products, while simultaneously providing high-quality, professional services that maintain exceptional standards and client satisfaction.
Our Team
Dominick Rauck, M.S.
Director of Research
A graduate in the field of User Experience Research, Dominick chose the specialty while earning a Master’s degree in Game Design. Rauck has since started Insight Check LLC and continues to manage and lead UX research teams, as well as mentoring graduate student researchers.
Dane Dabney, M.S.
Senior UX Researcher
Dane Dabney is a Lab Specialist and Capstone Instructor in Full Sail University’s Game Design Master’s program, and Senior Researcher for Insight Check. Drawing from his 6+ years of experience as a Senior UX Researcher, Dane brings real-world research practices into the learning environment, mentoring students as they turn client questions into meaningful, actionable insights.
Dr. Shawn Stafford, Ph.D.
Research Consultant
A Ph.D. in Human Factors Psychology, Dr. Shawn Stafford has been conducting research in the world of software, video games, sports, and human factors for over 20 years. In addition, Dr. Stafford is a professor for Game Usability and Testing in the Master’s program of Full Sail University and acts as Director of Research for the Game Design Master’s program.
On-Site Facility
Our lab is located in Winter Park, FL. Our primary means of recruitment comes from Full Sail University and contains a wide variety of demographic profiles. In addition, we also have procedures in place for remote testing, where participants join through a voice/video streaming platform, usually Discord, allowing them to participate in studies from their own gaming setups. We are comfortable conducting on-site, remote, and hybrid playtests in this manner.Our on-site facility contains:
Two Playtest Rooms
Configurable for single player or multiplayer configurations experiences.
One way glass allows observation into these rooms from the "bridge".
Blinds that close off view into the space.
A television and white boards to support presentations if necessary.
Two Usability Rooms
Each Usability room is positioned in a relatively enclosed space, used for one on one sessions and interviews.
One way glass allows observation into these rooms from the "bridge".
Console Room
Simulates a living room space, with a large television used as the primary monitor.
Used for testing console or virtual reality products.
Often used as a comfortable space to conduct focus groups or participants to take a break.
Conference Room
Table and several surrounding chairs.
Typically used for private discussions and meetings, but sometimes for focus groups or exit interviews as well.
"Bridge"
Center working area with ample desk space, table space, and couch space for observing studies.
Multiple monitors and one way glass for viewing into all playtest and usability rooms.
About Us
Insight Check is a UX Research company who provides user research services primarily for video games, AR/VR, simulation & training, or other forms of interactive software. If you come to us with a product such as a video game or website, as well as some research questions you’d like answered, we offer the service of building a research method for you, recruiting participants, running the study, compiling and analyzing the data, and presenting our findings in a priority-based report format.We have a structured arrangement with Full Sail University in which graduate researchers pursuing their Master’s Degree in Game Design can apply to work at our facility as part of their academic career. These students are taught by their senior peers, as well as several post-graduate mentors, professors, and professionals within the field of UX Research. As a result, we often strive to strike a balance with our clients in which students can gain real world experience and knowledge working on industry products, while simultaneously providing high-quality, professional services that maintain exceptional standards and client satisfaction.Our lab is located in Winter Park, FL. Our primary means of recruitment comes from Full Sail University and contains a wide variety of demographic profiles. The UX lab has two playtest rooms, each usually having 12 higher-end gaming PCs (so 24 total) that we use to conduct playtesting research of all kinds. The lab also has two usability rooms, which are smaller and isolated with a single PC each, which we typically use to conduct qualitative, one on one usability research with individual participants. Additionally, we have what we refer to as the 'console room' which is built to simulate a bit of a living room space for cases when we want to test console games on something like Xbox or PlayStation, as well as functions as a dedicated space for AR/VR and simulation & training testing.In addition, we also have procedures in place for remote testing, where participants join through a voice/video streaming platform, usually Discord, allowing them to participate in studies from their own gaming setups. We are comfortable conducting on-site, remote, and hybrid playtests in this manner.
Contact
If you'd like to get in contact with us to ask questions or initiate a research project, please email us at [email protected].