Hi, This is a tricky one because it depends on your definition of accessible. For example, a lot of these games that are available for blind people to play, are not accessible or not so accessible to people who are lets say deaf blind. So firstly it's important to accurately define who these games are accessible for. In the majority of cases, you would need to be able to hear what you are doing in order to play the game, just as a sighted person would need their vision to be able to play the mainstream game. Or what I would consider to be mainstream.
Now having said that, there are some games out there, that by accident, not design, are playable to various degrees whether you are totally blind or if you have some vision. There are some games out there which has already been said, that do require visual input as it were. For example, the x series of games from http://www.egosoft.com. Now I have only 10% vision in the left eye, and only light perception in the right. Yet I can fly the various ships within those games, tell them where to go, trade and fight. The thing that bugs me with these games, is that they have a pretty good audio system in the game, but they haven't made full use of it. At least not enough where by people like myself can play it. Now even if they did that, a totally blind person couldn't fly the ship or even fly it into combat and get out alive. But because of the fact that I can see, if only a little, a fully integrated audio system would go a long way towards making those games and games like it accessible. Now on the blind friendly games side of things, there isn't a game unfortunately that even comes close to this series of games, which I have followed and played avidly for 10 years now. Which I think is very sad because this is my favourite type of game. Whilst Thomas has said and quite accurately that the street fighter games and such are probably the most accessible form of game to play, that may be true but stuff like that just doesn't work for me for very long because that's not what I want. I used to play the origional Elite back in the 80's when I was 10 so that gives you an idea as to what type of gamer I am. And unfortunately nothing even remotely like the most simplistic forms of space sim has even come out on this community. So something like the x series of games from egosoft I would dearly love to see created. But all is not lost. There are online, web based games out there that people can play. I play 1 such game, http://www.war-facts.com. This is an online, empire building type of space game where by you start off on a planet with a single colony and you go out into the universe of over 100000 star systems and well over 1000000 planets to colonise, explore, or conker depending on who's on it. This game hasn't been designed at all for blind persons to play, yet it is completely accessible thanks to some tweaking I have been suggesting to the developers over the years. They have listened and as such acted. It's what's kept me going back since 2004. and paying to go premium because I like the game. I wouldn't give my money if I didn't. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Mani Djazmi Sent: 27 February 2009 16:11 To: [email protected] Subject: [Audyssey] Accessible Mainstream Games Hi, my name's Mani Djazmi and I'm a reporter on the In Touch programme at BBC Radio 4 in England. I'm currently researching a feature on the accessability of computer games for blind and partially sighted people. The impression I'm getting is that mainstream games generally aren't very accessible so bespoke ones are being produced. Is this fair? Do any of you guys play mainstream games and how do you find them? I look forward to hearing your thoughts and knowledge. Cheers Mani _________________________________________________________________ Check out the new and improved services from Windows Live. Learn more! http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/132630768/direct/01/ --- Gamers mailing list __ [email protected] If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to [email protected]. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to [email protected]. No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.3/1974 - Release Date: 02/27/09 13:27:00 No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.4/1976 - Release Date: 02/27/09 13:27:00 --- Gamers mailing list __ [email protected] If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to [email protected]. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to [email protected].
