Data synchronisation becomes an increasingly important feature in almost all application we are using. The main reason for this is very likely the increased amount of devices we are working with on a daily basis. The desktop computer or laptop at home, another computer in the office, the smartphone for when we are on the road, and sometimes even a tablet for the time on the sofa. We just expect our data to be available on all those devices any time. And App developers getting better and better on keeping up with those expectations. Parts thanks to improvements in cloud services such as Dropbox which offers a variety of ways for syncing data as well as integrated APIs such as Apple’s CloudKit in their upcoming iOS 8 release.

Using Dropbox for file synchronisation as well as a multitude of Apps on my iOS devices and my Mac that are syncing across the expectation have risen to a height where it is common to assume “it just works”. And for the rare occasion when a decision from my side is necessary the questions and options are usually clear and straightforward. At least in the Apple universe thanks to very good guidelines for how to go about user interactions.

With this mindset I recently went back to my PlayStation to enjoy some time playing some newly arrived game which was released for both my PS3 and PS Vita. Of course with cloud syncing for the game state to comfortably switch between the stationary and mobile gaming platform.

But unlike what I am used to on my Apple devices, syncing did not happen automatically in the background me not having to worry about it. It is actually necessary to exit to the game’s main screen to select the option to upload (or download) the game state. This alone is already inconvenient enough since the player always have to remember to upload the newest state into the cloud before switching of the console or it becomes impossible to continue playing on the other device. But as it became even more ridiculous when displaying a confusing popup message to have me, the user, what should happen to the existing local and cloud game states.

Either overwrite the data in the cloud or the local data. No way to abort and escape from this confusing dialog.

It reads “Your local save data is older than the currently uploaded Cross-Save data. Do you wish to upload save data? If you select “No” the currently uploaded Cross-Save data will be downloaded. – Yes No”. It is best practice to have the dialog options read out the explicit action and result that can be expected instead of an arbitrary “Yes/No” or “Okay/Cancel” which might lead to unexpected results due to misunderstanding the question (the dialogue is too long and it does not provide any non-destructive action which might add an element of danger and panic), which is very likely to happen in this particular example.

Gaming on smartphones becomes bigger and bigger and traditional game makers such as Sony and Nintendo have to get their act together in providing a more convenient experience for their users. Google and Apple already show that it can be done, so why still annoy users with strange dialogues if all they want is to relax and enjoy an otherwise very nicely done game?