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It is a great blog full of great ideas! But I will not fap because is sad that you have this problem. You are a wonderful person and I hope this problem not affect you negatively in any aspect of your life. Who knows, maybe in the future they can treat your problem.
But I agree that more developers must think of giving disabled gamers some ways to play their games.
But I agree that more developers must think of giving disabled gamers some ways to play their games.
Remind me to give you more hugs next time we see each other. Also, give Papa Sangre a try if you have an iOS device. It's a game that relies on sound alone to create the game world.
I think sensitivity to disability in entertainment is something that is on the rise. Options for subtitles for deaf players is great for conveying narrative, but sound is crucial to success or high proficiency of play in many games -- particularly twitch shooters. And I can't even imagine playing the Bit.Trip games without sound.
While at E3 this year my associate and I played a game called Deep Sea. I was really excited about it because its something you play off sound ques alone and is a totally blind shooter. Unfortunately, he had to write our article ^ on it because I have a mild hearing impairment and couldn't pick out the direction at which the sea creature was coming from. So not only was it a claustrophobic, sensory depriving experience, but an incredibly frustrating one at that.
It's just nice to know that there's folks like Robin Arnott of Wraughk Audio Design out there making games in the hopes that one day those with sensory impairments and disabilities can one day enjoy games like the rest of us.
Best of luck with your vision, but hopefully, maybe one day there will be mainstream games for the blind to enjoy. I can only imagine what people will be doing in the years to come as motion controls and sound design technology continue to improve.
While at E3 this year my associate and I played a game called Deep Sea. I was really excited about it because its something you play off sound ques alone and is a totally blind shooter. Unfortunately, he had to write our article ^ on it because I have a mild hearing impairment and couldn't pick out the direction at which the sea creature was coming from. So not only was it a claustrophobic, sensory depriving experience, but an incredibly frustrating one at that.
It's just nice to know that there's folks like Robin Arnott of Wraughk Audio Design out there making games in the hopes that one day those with sensory impairments and disabilities can one day enjoy games like the rest of us.
Best of luck with your vision, but hopefully, maybe one day there will be mainstream games for the blind to enjoy. I can only imagine what people will be doing in the years to come as motion controls and sound design technology continue to improve.
@manwithnoname... my vision isn't that bad yet (I have a couple of gray areas... like spots on my glasses except they are there when I take my glasses off)! With all the advances in tech, one just never knows what the future will bring!
@AliD... it's $4.99, but I may give it a try... it sounds very intriguing!
@Kyle... I didn't know about your hearing impairment! Yeah, that too can have a definite effect on gaming abilities!
I read about Deep Sea and at this point it seems more of a tech demo, but I really love the concepts he is exploring. I do think that games that focus on hearing may well find a niche among all gamers, rather like music games (which could also be easily adapted for the sight or hearing impaired). I would think that playing an auditory game while on the bus... and just touching the screen to indicate direction or basic functions without having to look at the screen... might be quite popular among both the sighted and hearing impaired.
It all depends on whether it's a "good game" or not... just like other video games I guess! :)
(oh, and nicely written article your friend did!)
@AliD... it's $4.99, but I may give it a try... it sounds very intriguing!
@Kyle... I didn't know about your hearing impairment! Yeah, that too can have a definite effect on gaming abilities!
I read about Deep Sea and at this point it seems more of a tech demo, but I really love the concepts he is exploring. I do think that games that focus on hearing may well find a niche among all gamers, rather like music games (which could also be easily adapted for the sight or hearing impaired). I would think that playing an auditory game while on the bus... and just touching the screen to indicate direction or basic functions without having to look at the screen... might be quite popular among both the sighted and hearing impaired.
It all depends on whether it's a "good game" or not... just like other video games I guess! :)
(oh, and nicely written article your friend did!)
It's never been much of a problem, but trying to play a game based entirely on sound in a busy convention wasn't ideal at all for someone with less than perfect hearing. It is a tech demo, but I think it's a sign of good things to come. It really opened my mind to gaming possibilities for those with disabilities.
I think tactile feedback is another relatively unexplored area. Outside of lock picking in (Fallout 3? I think it was) rumble rarely seems useful. If you could get isolated feedback, rather than just generic controller vibration I think that'd be really great for a touch-based sensory output gameplay mechanic.
I think tactile feedback is another relatively unexplored area. Outside of lock picking in (Fallout 3? I think it was) rumble rarely seems useful. If you could get isolated feedback, rather than just generic controller vibration I think that'd be really great for a touch-based sensory output gameplay mechanic.
@Kyle.... wow, I totally forgot about rumble! This would be awesome for hit detection (I seem to even recall a few games that use it that way). Yeah, differing uses of rumble feedback could be a huge bonus for visual (and even auditory) disabilities!
"it would be nice if developers started to take vision disabilities into consideration"
As a current student of game design I would like to assure that this is absolutely a thing that will be happening. Similar to the games you mentioned, I have seen a number of examples of games designed to be played without using one's sense of sight and other less extreme examples of people designing their games to cater to people with vision problems such as color blindness. Gaming is a business after all and the more people we can entice to our products, the better. I'll be sure to take your suggestions on customizable HUD elements and auditory clues into consideration as I work on future games. So fear not Elsa, gaming is a hobby you'll be able to pursue for as long as you're willing!
I absolutely love your suggestion of using next gen tech to pair up physically disabled gamers with visually disabled gamers, what a great idea!
The one suggestion you made that I'm not crazy about is the symbol put next to disabled gamer's gamertags. I think this will just invite trolls to do their worst. It's a good idea for an ideal world, but sadly, we don't not live in an ideal world.
Anyway, I'll be sure to keep fingers crossed (eyes crossed?) for you in the hopes that bionic eyes are a thing that exists in the near future.
As a current student of game design I would like to assure that this is absolutely a thing that will be happening. Similar to the games you mentioned, I have seen a number of examples of games designed to be played without using one's sense of sight and other less extreme examples of people designing their games to cater to people with vision problems such as color blindness. Gaming is a business after all and the more people we can entice to our products, the better. I'll be sure to take your suggestions on customizable HUD elements and auditory clues into consideration as I work on future games. So fear not Elsa, gaming is a hobby you'll be able to pursue for as long as you're willing!
I absolutely love your suggestion of using next gen tech to pair up physically disabled gamers with visually disabled gamers, what a great idea!
The one suggestion you made that I'm not crazy about is the symbol put next to disabled gamer's gamertags. I think this will just invite trolls to do their worst. It's a good idea for an ideal world, but sadly, we don't not live in an ideal world.
Anyway, I'll be sure to keep fingers crossed (eyes crossed?) for you in the hopes that bionic eyes are a thing that exists in the near future.
The prospect of losing my vision has terrified me to no end, but thankfully my issue was corrected. There's still the possibility of losing my sight in my right eye if the cataracts get bad enough, or if there's surgical complications if/when I choose to undertake the fix. It's not on the same level as what you face, but I'm familiar with the fear. I wish you all the best.
I was hit by a baseball square in the left eye when I was younger, and have a higher lifetime risk of developing glaucoma in that eye now, but at least it's just one eye rather than two. But at least medical technology is advancing so quickly that maybe we won't have to worry about this stuff at all in the future.
@Blindfire... both my parents have had cataract surgery (both eyes on each of them) and it was very successful! They still have to wear glasses... though mostly for reading, but they say the difference is absolutely incredible.
@Daedhead8... glad to hear that this is being considered at the current schools for game design!!
Regarding the symbol... would it be any worst to be griefed against because of the symbol next to your name... as opposed to being kicked constantly from multiplayer games because you have no peripheral vision and can only snipe... or your vision is poor and your KDR in most any game is 10 deaths for every successful kill?? I suspect that people are often kinder than they may sometimes seem. If it takes 4 people to vote out a player and they have a disability symbol on their name... I think it would take an abundance of cruelty to actually get a successful kick to vote. Hell, half the time in MAG I'll check the level on someone being vote kicked and loudly say if they are a low ranking player... then throw in a "give em a break... remember what it was like to play with the shitty guns and no skill perks?" - and usually the VTK doesn't take. Any gamer is used to dickheads... but I do think that some form of symbol might make people a tiny bit less dickish.
... at least I would hope so.
@Daedhead8... glad to hear that this is being considered at the current schools for game design!!
Regarding the symbol... would it be any worst to be griefed against because of the symbol next to your name... as opposed to being kicked constantly from multiplayer games because you have no peripheral vision and can only snipe... or your vision is poor and your KDR in most any game is 10 deaths for every successful kill?? I suspect that people are often kinder than they may sometimes seem. If it takes 4 people to vote out a player and they have a disability symbol on their name... I think it would take an abundance of cruelty to actually get a successful kick to vote. Hell, half the time in MAG I'll check the level on someone being vote kicked and loudly say if they are a low ranking player... then throw in a "give em a break... remember what it was like to play with the shitty guns and no skill perks?" - and usually the VTK doesn't take. Any gamer is used to dickheads... but I do think that some form of symbol might make people a tiny bit less dickish.
... at least I would hope so.
I truly hope the right people read this cause your ideas have a place in the future of video games. Also, as always, you are a gem.
I got vision problems in my right eye. I can't remember the exact name of the problem, but it's basically a big white blotch that is full of pigment. If I look at a bright blue sky, or white wall, It looks like tons of flies zipping around, and lots of 'floaters' constantly.
sort of like this
If I close my left eye, it looks like this
Apparently it's probably going to grow bigger some day I don't know. Don't really care, i got two eyes. You win some you lose some. Great blog btw.
sort of like this
If I close my left eye, it looks like this
Apparently it's probably going to grow bigger some day I don't know. Don't really care, i got two eyes. You win some you lose some. Great blog btw.
I am always amazed and humbled by the tenacity and passion disabled gamers like Brice bring to the table. One of my favourites is Brolylegs, a guy with arthrogryposis who manages to play SFIV like a boss.
I want to see developers focus on this area in the future. Fully customizable controls, colour blind options, descriptive audio cues, and everything else I'm not clever enough to think up. Its some nightmarish Twilight Zone shit to be disabled in a way that leaves you stuck at home all day, but unable to play games. Hopefully accessibility becomes a major area of concern for devs in the future.
I want to see developers focus on this area in the future. Fully customizable controls, colour blind options, descriptive audio cues, and everything else I'm not clever enough to think up. Its some nightmarish Twilight Zone shit to be disabled in a way that leaves you stuck at home all day, but unable to play games. Hopefully accessibility becomes a major area of concern for devs in the future.
Ouch. I feel your pain, Elsa.
While I don't have any specific eye problems beyond having really, really bad myopia, that's bad enough. Anything beyond twenty-feet which is smaller than a sedan may as well not exist as far as my eyes are concerned, and even with my glasses my vision is not 20/20. My night vision is... Non existent. The worst part is that I didn't even realize that I had a vision problem until around twelve or thirteen, and no joke, growing up, until I asked, I wouldn't have known telephone poles had wires without seeing them in drawings and up-close photos.
The thought of having something which could rob me of my sight forever is depressing. Not just for the games I play which would forever be lost to me, but the books I read and the things I draw. I'm sure I'd adapt, but one of the scariest things that ever happened to me was losing my glasses on a hunting trip while separated from friends. Ever since that day, I carry a second pair of glasses on me at all times, and keep a third backup pair at home. Just in case.
On the bright side, I developed Daredevil-esque hearing which allows me to listen to a normal conversation pretty much anywhere in a house as long as there's no closed doors between me and the people I'm technically eavesdropping on. It's always funny to be in a totally different room reading a book, only to chime in on a conversation forty feet away and freak out a family member.
While I don't have any specific eye problems beyond having really, really bad myopia, that's bad enough. Anything beyond twenty-feet which is smaller than a sedan may as well not exist as far as my eyes are concerned, and even with my glasses my vision is not 20/20. My night vision is... Non existent. The worst part is that I didn't even realize that I had a vision problem until around twelve or thirteen, and no joke, growing up, until I asked, I wouldn't have known telephone poles had wires without seeing them in drawings and up-close photos.
The thought of having something which could rob me of my sight forever is depressing. Not just for the games I play which would forever be lost to me, but the books I read and the things I draw. I'm sure I'd adapt, but one of the scariest things that ever happened to me was losing my glasses on a hunting trip while separated from friends. Ever since that day, I carry a second pair of glasses on me at all times, and keep a third backup pair at home. Just in case.
On the bright side, I developed Daredevil-esque hearing which allows me to listen to a normal conversation pretty much anywhere in a house as long as there's no closed doors between me and the people I'm technically eavesdropping on. It's always funny to be in a totally different room reading a book, only to chime in on a conversation forty feet away and freak out a family member.
I have a friend that has poor vision and can't fully enjoy games like Deus Ex: HR or the Mass Effect series because he can't read the small text on the screen. If that wasn't enough, he also worries about the increase use of motion control devices because he is physical disabled. Were both crossing our fingers the motion controls for LoZ: Skyward Sword will be optional.
I’m sorry to hear that, but I’m sure you’ll always be able to play at some capacity.
I wonder if that “virtual reality” visor Sony was showing off could help with this, a sort of “wrap around” screen right in front of someone’s eyes... the bigger the picture is from your perspective the less space the blotches in your vision could take up. I’d bet in less than ten years they’ll be like 3DTV’s are now, not very usual but definitely available.
I wonder if that “virtual reality” visor Sony was showing off could help with this, a sort of “wrap around” screen right in front of someone’s eyes... the bigger the picture is from your perspective the less space the blotches in your vision could take up. I’d bet in less than ten years they’ll be like 3DTV’s are now, not very usual but definitely available.
@pedrovay... yeah, glaucoma apparently often results in the loss of peripheral vision... and again my suggestion of being able to better place HUD elements would be helpful (as would learning to be an awesome sniper!) :)
@Occams... thanks! There are so many ideas for disabilities out there, but I liked the spectator thing as it addresses so many of them and allows people to work together.
@Lenigod... I've seen you play FPS games... and wow, you certainly do compensate!! Again.. this goes to HUD elements like cursors or minimaps... if your floaters are particularly bad say in the upper left, the ability to put a minimap on the lower right would be invaluable!
@Wrenchfarm.. yeah, reading about many of the disabled gamers really gave me hope that I can still play, even if no changes are made! They really are inspirational! Fully customizable controls is something else that should be done right from the console operating system. So many gamers would benefit from this! (abled and disabled!)
Hey Meteor! I've worn glasses since I was about 2 years old. Apparently when learning to walk I kept falling down and crashing into furniture. They thought I might be "slow" and equipped me with the bicycle helmet - but it turned out I had double vision and was grabbing the "wrong" table or wall! LOL!
I too carry an extra pair and am totally non-functional without my glasses. It gets expensive and I even looked into laser surgery, but I'm not a candidate unfortunately. Still... it doesn't hold me back much. Unfortunately I never developed super-hearing.. in fact, looking back, maybe my Mom was right and I should have turned the stereo volume down!
@King Chrono... text to speech capabilities have been available on computers for quite some time now. It does seem that this would be one of the very easiest of things to integrate into video games as an option. Alternatively, how hard really would it be to provide voice overs for menu options, story text and text where you make choices. Devs should really consider that as an option!
Regarding motion controls, they are wonderful for some physically disabled gamers, and absolutely terrible for others. I guess one thing I will have to consider is that regardless of a game I may want to play, I may have more limited choices in the future due to the nature of the game and how "friendly" it is to any specific disability. :(
(and also, have you or your friend fired off a note to Nintendo regarding this... they may well be able to include options to help people like your friend in the game - sometimes a letter can spur motion from devs in the right direction!)
@Handy.. I'm not really sure how well the virtual reality visor would work... it's certainly interesting tech though!
@Occams... thanks! There are so many ideas for disabilities out there, but I liked the spectator thing as it addresses so many of them and allows people to work together.
@Lenigod... I've seen you play FPS games... and wow, you certainly do compensate!! Again.. this goes to HUD elements like cursors or minimaps... if your floaters are particularly bad say in the upper left, the ability to put a minimap on the lower right would be invaluable!
@Wrenchfarm.. yeah, reading about many of the disabled gamers really gave me hope that I can still play, even if no changes are made! They really are inspirational! Fully customizable controls is something else that should be done right from the console operating system. So many gamers would benefit from this! (abled and disabled!)
Hey Meteor! I've worn glasses since I was about 2 years old. Apparently when learning to walk I kept falling down and crashing into furniture. They thought I might be "slow" and equipped me with the bicycle helmet - but it turned out I had double vision and was grabbing the "wrong" table or wall! LOL!
I too carry an extra pair and am totally non-functional without my glasses. It gets expensive and I even looked into laser surgery, but I'm not a candidate unfortunately. Still... it doesn't hold me back much. Unfortunately I never developed super-hearing.. in fact, looking back, maybe my Mom was right and I should have turned the stereo volume down!
@King Chrono... text to speech capabilities have been available on computers for quite some time now. It does seem that this would be one of the very easiest of things to integrate into video games as an option. Alternatively, how hard really would it be to provide voice overs for menu options, story text and text where you make choices. Devs should really consider that as an option!
Regarding motion controls, they are wonderful for some physically disabled gamers, and absolutely terrible for others. I guess one thing I will have to consider is that regardless of a game I may want to play, I may have more limited choices in the future due to the nature of the game and how "friendly" it is to any specific disability. :(
(and also, have you or your friend fired off a note to Nintendo regarding this... they may well be able to include options to help people like your friend in the game - sometimes a letter can spur motion from devs in the right direction!)
@Handy.. I'm not really sure how well the virtual reality visor would work... it's certainly interesting tech though!
I hate to spam crap, but if you're looking for cheap glasses...
There's a chain (really just a store in Toronto and Nepean, Ontario) called the Eyewear Emporium. Bog-standard glasses with only a single prescription are twenty nine dollars. That's the frame and lenses, mind you. A single-vision prescription is just twenty nine dollars. Progressives are a little more expensive, but even with that you'll pay a lot less there than you'll pay elsewhere.
I've got a pair of prescription sun glasses which cost me less than sixty dollars from the place. It does take a week for you to get your order, but I'd be willing to have them FedEx'd to you if you're not nearby.
There's a chain (really just a store in Toronto and Nepean, Ontario) called the Eyewear Emporium. Bog-standard glasses with only a single prescription are twenty nine dollars. That's the frame and lenses, mind you. A single-vision prescription is just twenty nine dollars. Progressives are a little more expensive, but even with that you'll pay a lot less there than you'll pay elsewhere.
I've got a pair of prescription sun glasses which cost me less than sixty dollars from the place. It does take a week for you to get your order, but I'd be willing to have them FedEx'd to you if you're not nearby.
Oh no Elsa...this makes me sad, especially knowing how passionate you are about games. I'm seeing some interesting experimental games that the MIT game lab makes - and I'm hoping some revolve around disabilities. I think you're right to have hope. :]
This blog kind of scares me, honestly. I have shit eyesight; my mother's side of the family seems to be where it comes from. I think she herself might have something similar to what you have. I'm not sure what exactly I have, (I might even have some of what Lenigod has) but I definitely should contact Guiness for the world record of astigmatism.
The prospect of games that don't rely on eyesight has always intrigued me. I really hope more people make some. It not only gives something to people with eye problems, but could potentially lead to a whole new genre that anyone could enjoy. I have the feeling that I'm going to need these advancements one day to continue gaming, so I must echo what Occam's said. I hope the right people/devs read this.
Great read as usual. :)
The prospect of games that don't rely on eyesight has always intrigued me. I really hope more people make some. It not only gives something to people with eye problems, but could potentially lead to a whole new genre that anyone could enjoy. I have the feeling that I'm going to need these advancements one day to continue gaming, so I must echo what Occam's said. I hope the right people/devs read this.
Great read as usual. :)
@meteorscrap... I have to get a high index lense which is what adds a lot of the expense - otherwise my glasses are coke bottle bottoms! Luckily my husband also needed glasses so we were able to go to one of those "2 for 1" places and get one pair each. Our insurance also covers $200.00 each, so we're only out of pocket about $500 for the two sets... which isn't so bad as we also get non-glare lenses.
... when he retires and we don't have insurance coverage though... I'll be doing a lot more shopping around for pricing!!
@Caitlin.. yeah, research is coming a long way (I even read an article on how they put Kinect on a helmet and used the tech to guide a blind person from point A to B... sort of like a personal GPS that detected walls and read AR Codes to navigate to a specific place - it was pretty cool!). Who knows what the future will bring! Still... devs might start considering even using current tech (especially simple things like choosing colors better suited to the color blind).
@smurfee... Nicely said... yeah, I rather hope that a new genre of gaming could arise that would benefit both those with impaired vision (or the blind) that could also become big with sighted gamers. The idea of navigating a game with non-visual forms of feedback (auditory or even rumble as Kyle mentioned) sounds rather fun.
Blind sniper fights!! Yeah, that would be awesome! Locate the other sniper based totally on footsteps, them bumping into objects, the sound of gunfire... I could totally get into that! :)
... when he retires and we don't have insurance coverage though... I'll be doing a lot more shopping around for pricing!!
@Caitlin.. yeah, research is coming a long way (I even read an article on how they put Kinect on a helmet and used the tech to guide a blind person from point A to B... sort of like a personal GPS that detected walls and read AR Codes to navigate to a specific place - it was pretty cool!). Who knows what the future will bring! Still... devs might start considering even using current tech (especially simple things like choosing colors better suited to the color blind).
@smurfee... Nicely said... yeah, I rather hope that a new genre of gaming could arise that would benefit both those with impaired vision (or the blind) that could also become big with sighted gamers. The idea of navigating a game with non-visual forms of feedback (auditory or even rumble as Kyle mentioned) sounds rather fun.
Blind sniper fights!! Yeah, that would be awesome! Locate the other sniper based totally on footsteps, them bumping into objects, the sound of gunfire... I could totally get into that! :)
That'd be a scary condition to have :S. I always worry about losing a hand or a thumb as a gamer but vision is something I take for granted.
I know TF2 does a lot of the additional audio cues. You can set it so that a bell chimes everytime you do damage on an enemy. I was using it at first but had to get rid of it since my Pyro scores too many hits in succession and makes that thing go off like crazy haha.
Great, forward-thinking blog, Elsa!!
I know TF2 does a lot of the additional audio cues. You can set it so that a bell chimes everytime you do damage on an enemy. I was using it at first but had to get rid of it since my Pyro scores too many hits in succession and makes that thing go off like crazy haha.
Great, forward-thinking blog, Elsa!!
@Celica.. that's exactly what I was thinking of! It sounds like TF2 has been designed to be "vision impaired friendly" if there is that option there.
Oh... and on the losing a hand or thumb... wait till old age catches up and you're panicked at the first signs of arthritis!! Luckily Nintendo has us covered there with the Wii!
We can Wii-bowl together... and you can tell me if I hit the pins! :)
Oh... and on the losing a hand or thumb... wait till old age catches up and you're panicked at the first signs of arthritis!! Luckily Nintendo has us covered there with the Wii!
We can Wii-bowl together... and you can tell me if I hit the pins! :)
Another great blog Elsa Hope your vision does not get too bad.
On the bright side you would most likely look badass with a Bionic Eye
On the bright side you would most likely look badass with a Bionic Eye
You know that Blind Elsa would still kick my ass in Mag (we'll have to actually test that).
Sad to hear about your eye issues. I feel for you. That's an impairment that sounds like it will be frustrating as it starts to progress further and further. Hopefully it'll be a really gradual thing or at the very least, you get robot eyes or something.
The issue with the audio cue system is games are a visual based medium in the same way as film. You can try to bring forth the sounds and audio cues you want, but at the end of the day the focus is on what you can see. Thus development will always be neglectful and will never intentionally help those that are disabled.
Many of the things you talked about would make me believe that they could be manipulated for those who aren't handicapped to excel. I wish it wouldn't be abused that way, but I can't doubt that it would. The transforming HUD however should be a given nowadays. I can't see why anybody wouldn't implement a system like this in to every game as time goes on.
Sad to hear about your eye issues. I feel for you. That's an impairment that sounds like it will be frustrating as it starts to progress further and further. Hopefully it'll be a really gradual thing or at the very least, you get robot eyes or something.
The issue with the audio cue system is games are a visual based medium in the same way as film. You can try to bring forth the sounds and audio cues you want, but at the end of the day the focus is on what you can see. Thus development will always be neglectful and will never intentionally help those that are disabled.
Many of the things you talked about would make me believe that they could be manipulated for those who aren't handicapped to excel. I wish it wouldn't be abused that way, but I can't doubt that it would. The transforming HUD however should be a given nowadays. I can't see why anybody wouldn't implement a system like this in to every game as time goes on.
Amazing post elsa , I love the co op voice thing where a friend verbally guides the visually impaired one ! If I had sight problems I would love to be treated to that!
Wonderful blog, Elsa. Man...it sucks getting older. I keep watching the advancements they're making in the way we play video games, and I sure hope things have progressed to the point where anyone with a disability (be it hearing, vision, or motor) will be able to play at some point.
I've been lucky so far that the only thing I have to deal with is floaters, mainly in my left eye, but most of the time it's not bothersome. Still, there are a few games where I notice them more, and it's rather distracting.
And omg! Don't bring up arthritis! I'm not totally in love with the Kinect or Wii yet! :p
I've been lucky so far that the only thing I have to deal with is floaters, mainly in my left eye, but most of the time it's not bothersome. Still, there are a few games where I notice them more, and it's rather distracting.
And omg! Don't bring up arthritis! I'm not totally in love with the Kinect or Wii yet! :p
Great blog, sucks to hear that. It makes me sad to hear something like that from a friend who is proof that there are nice people in online gaming in the sea of assholery of the internet.
Honestly, it terrifies me to hear that from someone who loves games like you do and then I think of all those little shits who deserved to be teabagged will go unteabagged just plain unfair.
Being able to customize HUDs is a great idea that they need to implement for new games. Its perfect for anyone with a certain condition that affects their vision such as colorblindness (which some people don't even know they have) where they can adjust colors of text and elements. Devs should start getting on stuff like that, since these additions will obviously make games more accessible and garner them good publicity.
Honestly, it terrifies me to hear that from someone who loves games like you do and then I think of all those little shits who deserved to be teabagged will go unteabagged just plain unfair.
Being able to customize HUDs is a great idea that they need to implement for new games. Its perfect for anyone with a certain condition that affects their vision such as colorblindness (which some people don't even know they have) where they can adjust colors of text and elements. Devs should start getting on stuff like that, since these additions will obviously make games more accessible and garner them good publicity.
Would be great if disabilities were built into the game's systems.
Makes me think of EVE Online and its different gameplay options. There's a task/job that focuses squarely on radar placement and sniffing out resources and hidden enemy ships. While not visceral, players skilled in radar tech can be well sought after for certain corporation (guild/clan) activities.
Also makes me think of shows like CSI or Criminal Minds. There are characters that just simply dont' go into the field and play important support roles. Baking support roles into big map multiplayer games like CoD or MAG could provide that participation without being at a reaction time or visual acuity disadvantage.
Makes me think of EVE Online and its different gameplay options. There's a task/job that focuses squarely on radar placement and sniffing out resources and hidden enemy ships. While not visceral, players skilled in radar tech can be well sought after for certain corporation (guild/clan) activities.
Also makes me think of shows like CSI or Criminal Minds. There are characters that just simply dont' go into the field and play important support roles. Baking support roles into big map multiplayer games like CoD or MAG could provide that participation without being at a reaction time or visual acuity disadvantage.
I'm definitely all for more welcoming experiences for all parties.
Back in the old N64 days GoldenEye had turn and walk on one stick as standard. Nowadays it's not even an option. I can only imagine how this has affected some gamers who used to be able to play FPS games but can't get on with the left stick strafe / right stick look mechanic.
It would be good if military games got more involved in integrating other disciplines to encourage other players. FPS games have already succeeded in introducing RPG elements. Imagine if there were strategy elements, with communications teams issuing orders to frontline troops and intelligence teams designing new weapons or fortifications and deploying them at strategic locations. Bridge-building, bomb defusal, counter-intelligence, tactics; there's a lot to war that doesn't get covered in most war games at present, and could be interesting to explore.
Great blog, Elsa!
Back in the old N64 days GoldenEye had turn and walk on one stick as standard. Nowadays it's not even an option. I can only imagine how this has affected some gamers who used to be able to play FPS games but can't get on with the left stick strafe / right stick look mechanic.
It would be good if military games got more involved in integrating other disciplines to encourage other players. FPS games have already succeeded in introducing RPG elements. Imagine if there were strategy elements, with communications teams issuing orders to frontline troops and intelligence teams designing new weapons or fortifications and deploying them at strategic locations. Bridge-building, bomb defusal, counter-intelligence, tactics; there's a lot to war that doesn't get covered in most war games at present, and could be interesting to explore.
Great blog, Elsa!
@Winged... LOL! yeah, hopefully I could even pick the colors for my bionic eyes... green! My eyes are brown and I've always wanted green. :)
@manasteel.. while it's true that games are primarily a visual medium, they needn't be. Many games could very easily be made friendly for those with visual impairments, in the same way that many movies and TV shows are now offered with descriptive audio. Certainly games like Guitar Hero would only need the option of a specific tone being played when you are supposed to hit a specific button... blending the tone into the music but something that a blind person could hear. This is the type of thing that might also appeal to sighted people as well. In terms of non-handicapped people using some of the aspects like an audio hit indicator... as Celica pointed out, it's already used in some games like TF2 and if sighted people chose to use the indicator I don't see this as an issue.
@Kaggen... yeah the coop thing would definitely be something I would be interested in should my disease develop to the point of legal blindness. The social aspect is something so often missing for handicapped gamers.
@Jaded, yeah there are so many different handicaps that people can have or that can develop later in life. I only addressed vision here as it is of personal interest, but it's nice to see gaming in so many different forms. I too don't really like Wii or Kinect, but at least they are an option... and there is also iOS games, music games, and new genres of games that haven't even been invented yet!
@Red... LOL! I can still teabag even if I go blind... though if you see me teabagging a tree stump or a rock, I hope you'd say something! :)
Yeah, a customizeable HUD would address so many issues, I really don't know why they don't do something with that. It's just an overlay anyway.
@Tubatic... support characters in a game is an awesome idea! The OIC position in MAG is often regarded as useless because the two powers they get (jamming the enemy and refreshing assets) aren't regarded as huge bonuses, but they do have an impact on the overall game. This person already gets some audio cues (when AAA goes down) but if they just saw an overall map of the entire battlefield and could do strategic maneuvers (like jamming) it would be awesome!
@Sean... I was a one stick gamer and it took me a long time to get used to dual sticks.. it's actually hard to go back to older games that only use one stick controls... but these type of simple options can be a godsent to people with various physical disabilities. You also expand on Tubatic's idea of support positions. As games grow I don't see why this couldn't be incorporated more.
Devs just have to start thinking "outside the box". In building games that are accessible to various disabilities they may well end up hitting on the next big new genre for gaming - something that has a larger mass appeal than they expect.
@manasteel.. while it's true that games are primarily a visual medium, they needn't be. Many games could very easily be made friendly for those with visual impairments, in the same way that many movies and TV shows are now offered with descriptive audio. Certainly games like Guitar Hero would only need the option of a specific tone being played when you are supposed to hit a specific button... blending the tone into the music but something that a blind person could hear. This is the type of thing that might also appeal to sighted people as well. In terms of non-handicapped people using some of the aspects like an audio hit indicator... as Celica pointed out, it's already used in some games like TF2 and if sighted people chose to use the indicator I don't see this as an issue.
@Kaggen... yeah the coop thing would definitely be something I would be interested in should my disease develop to the point of legal blindness. The social aspect is something so often missing for handicapped gamers.
@Jaded, yeah there are so many different handicaps that people can have or that can develop later in life. I only addressed vision here as it is of personal interest, but it's nice to see gaming in so many different forms. I too don't really like Wii or Kinect, but at least they are an option... and there is also iOS games, music games, and new genres of games that haven't even been invented yet!
@Red... LOL! I can still teabag even if I go blind... though if you see me teabagging a tree stump or a rock, I hope you'd say something! :)
Yeah, a customizeable HUD would address so many issues, I really don't know why they don't do something with that. It's just an overlay anyway.
@Tubatic... support characters in a game is an awesome idea! The OIC position in MAG is often regarded as useless because the two powers they get (jamming the enemy and refreshing assets) aren't regarded as huge bonuses, but they do have an impact on the overall game. This person already gets some audio cues (when AAA goes down) but if they just saw an overall map of the entire battlefield and could do strategic maneuvers (like jamming) it would be awesome!
@Sean... I was a one stick gamer and it took me a long time to get used to dual sticks.. it's actually hard to go back to older games that only use one stick controls... but these type of simple options can be a godsent to people with various physical disabilities. You also expand on Tubatic's idea of support positions. As games grow I don't see why this couldn't be incorporated more.
Devs just have to start thinking "outside the box". In building games that are accessible to various disabilities they may well end up hitting on the next big new genre for gaming - something that has a larger mass appeal than they expect.
You write the best blawggggsss :)
I'm really sorry to hear that you have this condition, I watched some videos of it online, it seems shitty :( but you are a happy and determined person it seems and I'm sure something good will happen in the research field with advances in stem cell research and for the gene-specific keying/coding of certain proteins and whatnot.
Also, you make me really want to get into app development and wish I had an iphone or ipad so I could play some of these awesome games you and others have mentioned. That papa sangre game looks (sounds) dope!
I'm really sorry to hear that you have this condition, I watched some videos of it online, it seems shitty :( but you are a happy and determined person it seems and I'm sure something good will happen in the research field with advances in stem cell research and for the gene-specific keying/coding of certain proteins and whatnot.
Also, you make me really want to get into app development and wish I had an iphone or ipad so I could play some of these awesome games you and others have mentioned. That papa sangre game looks (sounds) dope!
I don't really have much to add, but I hope your vision gets better, and I think that better accommodations for all gamers is a good thing.
@Monkey... LMAO!! Awesome movie too! :)
@Sissors... it's unlikely my sight would get better, and it's pretty much guaranteed to get worse... but there is no telling how much or how little it will deteriorate. Meh, it's just part of life. I'm rather surprised at all the other responses with vision problems too... so this is definitely something devs should be considering as the current gamer population ages!
@mratomix... yeah, I can blame my parents for this LOL! You're right though that genetic research and gene manipulation is a pretty young science - with so much potential!
@Sissors... it's unlikely my sight would get better, and it's pretty much guaranteed to get worse... but there is no telling how much or how little it will deteriorate. Meh, it's just part of life. I'm rather surprised at all the other responses with vision problems too... so this is definitely something devs should be considering as the current gamer population ages!
@mratomix... yeah, I can blame my parents for this LOL! You're right though that genetic research and gene manipulation is a pretty young science - with so much potential!
Some great thoughts, I gotta take exception to some sort og disabled tag for online gaming. From my experience people with disabilities don't want to feel like charity cases, and will only accept the minimum help when necessary. And for those who do get it, the internet has shown time and time again that they will be anything but accomadating. It's not like a disabled car tag because the law is on the side of those.
It is a shame devs don't experiment with accessability options more. They don't have to even be a touted feature, just have some devs with a bit of downtime work on a modular (as in easy to drop into a game) way to increase accessability, and see how people react/use it. I suppose schedules are way too tight for that though, or used for other enhancements or dlc options.
I'm pretty sure most of the big online shooters have a little "pfft" audio cue when you hit somebody. I'm certain CoD has it, and I'm fairly sure Battlefield does. I could be mistaken but 'm pretty sure that's the case.
Anyways, very sorry to hear of your condition. <3
It is a shame devs don't experiment with accessability options more. They don't have to even be a touted feature, just have some devs with a bit of downtime work on a modular (as in easy to drop into a game) way to increase accessability, and see how people react/use it. I suppose schedules are way too tight for that though, or used for other enhancements or dlc options.
I'm pretty sure most of the big online shooters have a little "pfft" audio cue when you hit somebody. I'm certain CoD has it, and I'm fairly sure Battlefield does. I could be mistaken but 'm pretty sure that's the case.
Anyways, very sorry to hear of your condition. <3
