First, keep in mind that, just like gamers who can see, those who cannot
will all have different opinions. Although a lot of people think so, we are
not all alike. The only difference is that we cannot see. As a very dear
friend of mine says, "The eyes don't work, but the brain works fine."
I think, for what it is worth, that one of your most reliable sources for
the info you are looking for will be Thomas Ward. He develops games for the
blind, and used to play games not designed for the blind, so he will know
this subject from both sides of the coin. He knows what we have never
experienced.
I have been totally blind since birth, and have been playing audio games
since roughly 1997. I will be 59 in May of this year. Due to a current
lack of extra cash due to unemployment, which is a major and all too common
situation for blind people (an unemployment rate of over 75 percent in the
United States), I don't have the money to keep up with modern computer
hardware and software. This can, and probably will, restrict the games I
can play that will be taking advantage of newer equipment and software. I
am using a 1.9 gig Intel Pentium 4 processor with 1 gig of RAM. While the
computer cost around $600 when it was new, the screen reader (software that
replaces the visual monitor) costs roughly $995. More info about my screen
reader (JAWS for Windows) can be found at
www.freedomscientific.com
Now to get to your questions:
What are the qualities of a good computer game for the blind? What does it
have to have to work well for someone who can't see?
Answer: A good computer game, whether for the blind or sighted, has to have
good replay value. If you buy a game and can beat it within a day or so,
you've just wasted your money. There are games that I have bought years ago
that I still cannot successfully. This does not mean, however, that I have
given up. I really still like to play them.
In order for a game to work for a blind player, what the average person sees
must be represented through sound. Examples are that there are objects for
you to find, where they are in reference to the gamer's character, and
motion of you and those objects. Enough information has to be given to the
gamer through spoken text or other audio clues so that we know what's going
on and around us.
For blind or visually impaired gamers, what are your favorite audio games,
and why? Which games designed for sighted people are these most analogous
to?
Answer: I don't know what games for the sighted gamer these most resemble,
as I have never played or possibly heard of their equivalents, but here
goes:
Lone Wolf is a World War II submarine simulation game. You command the sub,
and must complete any of the missions you choose from a list presented at
the beginning of the game, including some that have been written by those
who play the game, rather than just the 17 that come with the original game
package. Info, and a free demo, can be found at
www.gmagames.com
GMA Tank Commander, also found at the above URL is similar, in a way, in
that you fight enemy tanks, soldiers, helicopters, and who knows what other
evil beasties as you sequentially work your way through 6 missions to defeat
the game.
And if I am in the mood for some other forms of games, I play the following
games from
www.draconisentertainment.com
1: Three packs of pinball tables. They are a blast.
2: Alien Outback. As you scroll from left to right along the bottom of the
screen, alien ships move across the top in various patterns. Shoot them
before they land. As you progress through the game, the difficulty
increases as you battle wave after wave of enemy ships. Some of them shoot
back with devastating results.
3: Change Reaction. Coins are arranged in stacks across the screen. They
are randomly placed, so no two games are alike. You are given a coin to
drop onto a stack. If there are 3 coins that match the one in your hand
either arranged horizontally or vertically, they explode and disappear. Try
to clear all coins off of the board before time runs out.
4: The Ultimate Soundoku! Basically the game of Soduku presented audible.
The last game I will mention is Sarah and the Castle of Witchcraft and
Wizardry. I am a HUGE fan of the Harry Potter series, and this game takes
place at Hogwarts during the summer. As Sarah, a witch, explore Hogwarts,
you must encounter characters from the series and battle them. Make your
way out onto the grounds of Hogwarts for other surprises.
There are many other games I play that I won't mention here due to space.
What are some examples of games for the blind that I can play online?
Answer: One way to play online is through a voice chat site
www.Out-Of-Sight.net
People connect a mike to their computers and take part in team participation
events (including but not only games). Jeopardy, Password, trivia games,
music oriented games, and others are held on a weekly or biweekly basis.
Two others that I hope someone else can direct you to (because I don't have
their URLs at the moment) are Quinton's Playroom and RS Games. They offer
various card games and other games that you play against others who join the
respective server. These 3 are at no charge.
What do you think is the most interesting factoid about games for the blind?
Answer: For me, there isn't only one fact that is more interesting. As I
stated in question 1, replay value and challenge are very important.
For another list of games and info about them and where to find them, check
out
www.pcsgames.net
For other games to check out at no charge (which I also like very much)
check out Jim Kitchen's site, which is
www.kitchensinc.net
Finally, Thank you for looking for this info from those of us who play these
games. I am a reader of PM thanks to the Talking Book program of the
Library Of Congress, and will be looking forward to a good article..
---
Shepherds are the best beasts, but Labs are a close second.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ashley Taylor" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 26, 2013 6:42 PM
Subject: [Audyssey] Inquiry From Popular Mechanics
Hello,
I am a journalist writing an article about computer games for the blind
and
would really appreciate your input. Please only reply to this post if you
are willing for me to quote you in my article (for the Popular Mechanics
website). It would be helpful if you could describe yourself as you'd like
me to describe you in the article.
What are the qualities of a good computer game for the blind? What does it
have to have to work well for someone who can't see?
For blind or visually impaired gamers, what are your favorite audio games,
and why? Which games designed for sighted people are these most analogous
to?
What are some examples of games for the blind that I can play online?
What do you think is the most interesting factoid about games for the
blind?
Thank you,
Ashley
--
Ashley Taylor
Writer and journalist
ashleyptaylor.com
(270) 485-1753
---
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