Accessible gaming
As the popularity of video games continues to soar, so too does the interest in accessible games and gaming for the estimated 20% of gamers with a disability. The good news is that there are both mainstream gaming options as well as new access initiatives that enable all gamers to participate effectively in the interactive gaming experience.
Mainstream gaming options
There are mainstream games that can be played by people with varying disabilities, and a wide choice of gaming platforms as well.
Mainstream games can often be played on a number of different gaming platforms, some of which may suit the needs of a gamer with specific needs better than others. There are dedicated video game consoles such as the Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony Playstation 3, along with handheld game consoles such as the Nintendo DS and the PlayStation Portable (PSP) give gamers a range of console options. There is also a wide range of PC games on the market, many of which can now be played on a Mac with the online gaming platform Steam.
Some mainstream games, such as Dragon Age: Origins which is available on a PC, XBOX 360 or PS3, consider accessibility as part of their original design. AbleGamers, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting the inclusion of accessibility in video games, rated Dragon Age: Origins the most accessible mainstream game in 2009 with a score of 9.8 out of 10.
Other games are made accessible through modification (more commonly known as mods). For example, AudioQuake is a modded version of the highly popular first-person shooter game Quake that makes it accessible to people who are blind or vision impaired.
There is also research into other ways of making mainstream games accessible, for example, how to make the popular drumming game RockBand accessible to the blind. To make RockBand work for gamers who are blind or vision impaired, a team of researchers from the University of California Santa Cruz figured out a way to strap vibrating pieces using Velcro on a gamer’s upper and lower arms to represent the drumhead cues, and also on the ankle to represent the kick drum cue. Auditory information is used to provide feedback on correct and timely hits (with various drumming sounds) or errors (with a click sound).
Accessible gaming communities
The best source of information about accessible games and gaming are the online gaming communities focused on accessible gaming. These communities provide news and reviews on the accessibility of mainstream games, and often include online community forums.
- AbleGamers is a well-maintained and active community-based website that provides information and reviews to disabled gamers, casual or hardcore. It is the public face of The AbleGamers Foundation, Inc., a non-profit public charity in the US.
- DeafGamers reviews games from a deaf gamer’s perspective.
- Game Accessibility informs gamers with disabilities about the availability of accessible games.
- Accessible GameBase is a forum for discussing and sharing information and ideas about accessible games.
- Assistive Gaming provides information on how people with disabilities can enjoy the latest and greatest games.
- Game Accessibility Special Interest Group (IGDA GASIG) blog has regular news, views and information about accessible gaming.
Specialist gaming resources
In addition to mainstream gaming, specialist games are available for people with specific disabilities, such as audio-based computer games for people who are blind or vision impaired.
- Nanogames provides gaming solutions for a variety of disabilities by creating games that are compatible with popular assistive technology software.
- AudioGames.net provides reviews of and resources for audio and blind-accessible games.
Game Accessibility Day
The annual Game Accessibility Day has been held in the US since 2008, providing gamers, researchers and game developers the chance to share research and development, practical experience in game accessibility, and network with others whose passion lies in this area.
