[real-eyes] Re: Fw: [Audyssey] New Website On Accessible Gaming

"Robert Beach" <rbeach@xxxxxxxxx> · Wed, 26 Apr 2006 14:55:09 -0500

Hmmm, I think Richard is confusing learning disabilities with mental 
impairments.  Interesting concept though.

Robert Lee Beach
Assistive Technology Specialist
Kansas City Kansas Community College
7250 State Avenue
Kansas City, KS  66112
Phone:  (913) 288-7671
Fax: (913) 288-7678
E-mail:  rbeach@xxxxxxxxx

>>> sgeorge@xxxxxxxxx 4/26/2006 12:16 PM >>>
For the blind gamers.

Reg

> Recently we (Sander and I of AudioGames.net) started a project called the
> Game Accessibility-project at our work at the Bartimeus Accessibility
> foundation. In this (government-funded !) project we are building a R&C
> (Resource & Community) website on the subject of game accessibility.
>
> As you may know, the field of game accessibility reaches further than just
> blind-accessible games. There's a whole field of one-switch games out
> there,
> games that can be played with one key only and therefore very accessible
> for
> gamers with limited physical abilities. One-switch games are often quite
> simple to understand and therefore very suitable for gamers with learning
> disabilities as well. More recently, the field of mobile gaming discovered
> the strength of these games and are exploring the possibilities to
> implement
> such games on mobile phones. There's also game accessibility for gamers
> with
> hearing disabilities, focusing on closed captioning and sign language in
> games, visual audio radars and more.
>
> The R&C site can be found here:
>
> http://www.game-accessibility.com 
>
> The aims of the Game Accessibility project are:
>  a.. to inform gamers with disabilities about the availability of
> accessible games
>  b.. to provide resources for developers, publishers and researchers
>  c.. to raise awareness of game accessibility
>  d.. to gain more knowledge on accessible game design
>
> The main activities within the Game Accessibility project are:
>
>  a.. to develop a website that includes:
>    a.. information about accessible games for the gamers with a disability
>    b.. research materials and other resources about game accessibility for
> students, developers and publishers
>    c.. a community space for gamers, developers and researchers
>  b.. to give lectures and tutorials
>  c.. to participate in student seminars/projects
> It is not this website's aim to be  'another AudioGames.net', 'another
> Phil
> Vlasak List of Game Developers' or 'another archive of games for the
> blind'.
> It also does not aim to be a substitute for the various communities that
> already exist - this list, the AudioGames.net forum, the Dutch Blindgamer
> list, the German Blindzeln list to name a few.
>
> Instead, it aims to be a *visible* portal to the communities that already
> exist and connect these to all parties in the field of accessible gaming.
> One repeating topic of discussion is the lack of communication and sharing
> of knowledge and information between gamers with disabilities, developers
> of
> accessible games, academics and the professional game industry. The
> majority
> of the industry has never thought about accessibility in games, academics
> produce interesting demo's that unfortunately aren't real games (and most
> of
> the research gets lost after a couple of years anyway) and which hardly
> anyone knows about, developers of accessible games try their best to
> develop
> games with tiny or no budgets and are way behind the professional game
> industry at many points (innovation, resources, technology, marketing,
> etc.)
> and the community of gamers have a hard time communicating their
> 'presence'
> (with their wishes, needs, ideas) to the game industry.
>
> So this website hopes to connect all parties (developers, gamers, industry
> and academics). At this very moment, there are more initiatives gradually
> coming to existance, for instance: http://gameaccess.medialt.no/guide.php 
> and
> http://ace-centre.hostinguk.com/index.cfm?pageid=02C9D29F-3048-7290-FE94E4150B34D902
>  
> /
> http://ace-centre.hostinguk.com/index.cfm?pageid=FD4F4E9B-D613-62F1-C4318E76134AAC67.
> However, their approaches are slightly different then our aims.
>
> Now, what does this mean for you?
>
> The Game Accessibility-project aims to involve as many people and
> communities as possible. Therefore we would like to have as much as your
> input as you are willing to give.
> The website enables you to get in contact with the professional game
> industry as well as academics involved in accessible games projects.
> Participants in this project are people from the industry like Microsoft
> Games, LucasArts, people who research games and teach game design to
> future
> game designers at universities, disabled gamers of all sorts,  the
> International Game Developers Association (IGDA) and more. For example,
> we're currently also doing a project with two teams of students who are
> developing alternative controllers for a new audio game called The
> Gnawlers
> (under development by AudioGames.net).
>
> The website is still under development and many things will be added for
> the
> next year or so. However, parts of it are already active. The forum is now
> active and part of the "gaming with a visual disability"-section is also
> done. As you can see, this is still very basic information (with a bit too
> much on AudioGames.net, yeah, we know - will change it!) . We would really
> look forward to all the feedback you have on this
>
> One thing you can help us with is this:
>
> We are setting up a "Top 10 List of Blind-Accessible Games To Start
> With" -
> this is basically a list of 10 game titles recommended by you, the
> community, for new gamers to start playing blind-accessible games. Which
> ten
> titles do you recommend for new gamers? We have setup a thread in the
> forum
> (http://www.accessibility.nl/games/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=62#p62) where
> you
> can post your list. You have to become a member of this forum to post -
> however, this is completely free and set up in only a couple of minutes -
> and you do not even need an email-address to register!
>
> Well, so far for this email. Anxious to know what this list thinks of
> these
> developments. And, because we think collaboration is very important, if
> anyone has a suggestion for a possible collaboration with the community on
> this list, let's hear it!
>
> Greets,
>
> Richard
>
>
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