Mark Barlet and Steve Spohn of AbleGamers have brought together a truly impressive set of Game Accessibility Guidelines: Includification. The booklet and site give rich and colourful reasons for why access matters, and why it's not as intimidating as some may think. Really great to see. On a personal level, I'm really chuffed to have had an opportunity to shout out to touch-screen developers to think a bit more about those who can't use their devices. Here's hoping...
Massively impressed by the bespoke game controller above from Remap's Leicestershire and Rutland panel. This is an approach I've not seen before, but it looks like it works brilliantly. The need for this type of controller I have seen before. Other solutions for people include that of Marc Busnel in France and by using an array of Altec Ultralight switches.
"The Doo-zy Switch is a unique switch for people with special needs packed with features to meet a wide range of communication, access and control needs. Join in stories, play your favourite music, control toys even change channels on the TV. The light touch low profile switch has light and vibration prompts and feedback making it easy to access for those with complex sensory or physical needs. Using the Magic eye the Doo-zy can even work with no touch at all!" Via Trabasack.
A raft of new activities, many of them one-switch accessible have arrived at the Help Kidz Learn site. They've also some one-switch accessible games for the iPad, which are extremely rare things to find at the minute. Most work from a cause and effect level onwards.
SpecialEffect's GameBase is turning up some really nice one-switch games just lately. Turns out that DJ Hero 2 has a one-button playable "Beginner" option. The guy playing with his foot, Isaac, has a way in. For those unable to access in that way, I'm guessing a one-switch hack would be pretty easy to do.
It's been so encouraging to see so much positive coverage for the Game Accessibility Guidelines. Even more so, to see all the positive comments. Things are progressing. Well done, Ian Hamilton and all involved in this struggle, past, present and future.
"Today sees the launch of a comprehensive developer guide to addressing the accessibility issues faced by over 20% of video gamers:
www.gameaccessibilityguidelines.com has been created by a group of developers and experts, coordinated by Ian Hamilton, an accessibility and usability specialist with a background in game development. The website offers all developers guidelines on how to better serve the needs of gamers with a range of visual, hearing, speech, learning and motor conditions. The hope is that by highlighting the relatively simple changes needed, the games industry as a whole will be able to ensure that they quickly become part of its normal working practices."
Read the full press-release at Real-Wire. Really happy to have been a part-of this effort. Now lets hope it takes hold and develops further with the support of all with an interest in this field.
