On The Overlooked World Of 'Accessible Gaming'

Thanks to TotalGames for reprinting a GamesTM piece discussing hardware and software that opens up videogaming to blind, deaf or physically impaired people. The piece notes "an increasing number of games created for the accessible market, and 'high-street' games [that] can be adapted to meet individual needs", although programmer Nick Adamson comments: "Currently the accessible games market is purely based on the PC... as for game consoles, they are pointless to blind gamers."

Re:What's the point?

[Anonymous Coward]

Have you ever played that electronic game "Simon?" It can be played by the blind, since there are audible cues. Same with the updated version, "Bop It."

And most existing games that don't use sound as a play element can be enjoyed by the deaf today.

With video games, creating visual cues for the hearing impaired could be as simple as providing a flashing light, or subtitled text, or any number of visual support elements.

Creating video games for the blind may make a little less sense, but surely the more creative of us can come up with ways that they could enjoy games. Broacast TV has its second-audio programming, which is sometimes used for audible cues (although I've only seen documentaries and sitcoms broadcast this way), why not do that for story-driven interactive games, like those "voice novel" drama games that are still being produced in Japan for the consoles (actually, the last one I'd seen was for Dreamcast, though I've forgotten the name - it was basically "choose your own adventure" accompanied by graphics and play-acted text). I can also imagine a scenario where a party game provides audible cues for one player and visual cues for other players, or even just for spectators. Aren't there segments of WarioWare where the game is based solely on audible cues like this? I may be remembering wrong, but I believe there are parts where one or more players is blindfolded, no? *

I think that most forms of entertainment can be easily adjusted to accommodate those with disabilities. I mean, the disabled can be excellent and talented entertainers, I think everyone agrees that they also have the right to be entertained as well (where "right" is used on a strictly humanitarian level). It may take some fancy financial footwork to justify the release of such games, but you have to hope that there are companies that would take up the challenge.

* Ooh ooh ooh, the ideas keep flowing. Well, you know how Super Puzzle Fighter is basically a puzzle game with Capcom characters thrown in for no apparent reason (except to provide eye candy and so that each character can represent a different block dropping style)? Well, how about games that can be enjoyed by the blind, that feature similar eyecandy for spectators, like maybe a Dragon's Lair-style game that is driven by being forced to re-input super-long strings of audible directions and button cues, along with specific timing. (Hm, would the blind enjoy Space Channel 5?) Or competitive music-mixing games. Or controllers with multiple small rumble motors that can provide feedback about what's supposed to be done (pressed or moved) next, along with vocalized game sound effects that describe what's going on. Smarter people than I should have no trouble with this stuff, if I can come up with simple ideas like this. Just imagine what you'd enjoy playing if you lost your sight or hearing.

audio games

[cgenman]

There was actually an audio-only game released in Japan for the Saturn and Dreamcast, Kaze no Regret [64.233.161.104]. Sadly, it is Japan only,

Harmonix Music also makes Karaoke Revolution [konami.com], a game which could have far more accessable menus, but once the player gets through the menu structure the game is all about singing, which anyone can do (though generally poorly).

What about MUDs?

[mmcleod]

A MUD, MUSH, or other similar world that relies entirely on text should be easily accessible by blind or deaf people.

Games Accessibility Special Interest Group

[Sartian]

My name is Michael McIntosh and I am one of the core members of the Games Accessibility SIG (http://www.igda.org/accessibility/) founded by Thomas Westin of Pin Interactive. There are organizations, like ourselves, examining the problem of how to makes games accessible for people with disabilities and working to come up with potential solutions and offer guidance to the game development community on how to offer this functionality. This is a very important quality of life issue for those with disabilities because without accessibility technology and practices whole avenues of recreational opportunities are not available to them. I'm an avid gamer myself and it is one of the ways I use to deal with stress and occassional socialize with multiplayer mayhem. There are many games, especially puzzle games, that can be modified ever so slightly to be played by people with visual, auditory or physical disabilities. I personally spent time working with an off-the-shelf game "Oni" (by Bungie Studios) to make it accessible for people with physical disabilities. Severe cognitive disability requires a different approach altogether, but there are plenty of people who are fully cognitively able to appreciate the complexities of a great (or bad) video game that simply lack the means of either 1) control or 2) feedback. We are currently working on a white-paper which is due to come out soon about the current state of accessibility technology and how it can be applied to games accessibility. I find it really refreshing that I am seeing more articles regarding this subject. As a bonus, a lot of work that goes into user-interface and accessibility design directly benefit able-bodied individuals as well. The television remote control is a prefect example. :) It was originally designed to be an assistive technology device for people with disabilities but it now used by couch potatoes everywhere! :)

Cheers,
Michael