Gaming and game consoles

The popularity of video games continues to soar, with recent statistics suggesting that the gaming industry generates a higher level of income than the cinema industry. As the popularity grows, so too does the interest in game accessibility 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 ensure that all gamers are able to participate effectively in the interactive gaming experience.

Mainstream gaming options

Gamers have a wide variety of choice when it comes to video game platforms. 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, 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 last year 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 instance, a new piece of research enables gamers who are blind or vision impaired to play the drumming game RockBand. To make RockBand work for gamers who are blind or vision impaired, the team 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).

• View top accessible games on different platforms
  

Other resources and gaming communities

• AbleGamers is a well-maintained and active community-based website that provides information and reviews to disabled gamer, 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.

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 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.