Well universal access would be the ideal, but it is a very long way off
indeed.
In the case of steam though however, there has already been really extensive
attempts to contact tthem that have been stone walled, and while I
appreciate the efforts of anyone trying, I doubt very much valve will
listen.
In the 11 years I've been working in game access, not one single major main
stream company has shown a consistant regard for accessibility in games
development. There is the odd single landmark release such as sound voyage
or studio 5, but that is more a matter of a specific designer wanting to
create an audio game and the publisher of whatever system she/he is working
for lacking up credit than any real commitment by the publisher, and once
that designer's project is finished the publisher goes back to churning out
games with the huge 3D graphics and big explosions that keep the prophets
rolling in and the shareholders happy.
Where progress is! made, is games by indipendent designers for systems that
already have a degree of access, either through some commitment on the part
of the publishers of that platform, or by third party developers working to
make the systems themselves accessible through running external programs.
So, while I applaud efforts to make Valve listen to access requests, I doubt
they ever will. I personally would therefore suggest people encourage
develpers of accessible games to stay away from steam, ---- particularly
because most developers who also publish accessible games on steam publish
off it too (choiceofgames, nielsbauer etc), and because we shouldn't be
supporting a company with no interest in accessibility at all.
I can only at this point see steam being made accessible through some sort
of third party software, ie, a steam screen reader, however sice steam
itself is rather locked down to the point that it's interface can't be
tampered with, I doubt any developer would be able to make something like
that, even assuming Valve would give permission, since again with the modern
business model of software development it's not like back in the nineties
when anyone with the know how could make a screen reader and anyone else
could freely use it.
Summary, Good luck, but I fear that Steam is going to remain inacceisslbe
due to the greedy bastards in charge (may they all die horribly of gout
caused by their stupidly opulent life styles).
Beware the grue!
Dark.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Harmony Neil" <[email protected]>
To: "Gamers Discussion list" <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, January 13, 2017 9:44 AM
Subject: Re: [Audyssey] Calling all Gamers.
I think they should make the stuff accessible for everyone to play by
default (although yes it will probably mean the developers doing their
research and asking more questions), so people can play the games
regardless of their perceived disability etc. Yes it means a few more lines
of code but so what. That way there would be no need for a separation
between say blind accenssible games and a game that random person can just
pick up off the shelf and put in their computer or whatever they're playing
the game on and play it.
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