[nabs-l] accessible video games

[Juan Munoz]

Hi all,

My favorite games are the only games I know for sure I can play, and
those are fighting games, in particular, Mortal Kombat games. The
newer versions of these incorporate stereo surroundsound, meaning that
the location of my fighter is very easy for me to keep track of. I
grew up with some sight before losing it, and therefore was able to
play games like Tetris, Super Mario, and 007. I do get nastalgic when
I hear my nephews play newer versions of my childhood games, and often
wonder how these could be made accessible without taking away from the
enjoyment of both blind and sighted players. The only thing I can
think of is to at least have audible menu options read allowed by
either human or synthesized speech so that we can customise player
options, create online accounts on XBOX Live and PSN, etc. Beyond
this, I've got nothing, but wouldn't that be quite the huge leap
forward?

Respectfully,
JC

On 9/17/11, Patrick Molloy <ptrck.molloy at gmail.com> wrote:
> Thanks for all of your thoughts. It seems like game companies should
> at least try and make their games accessible. What's the worst that
> could happen? Furthermore, how will we know unless we try?
> Patrick
>
> On 9/16/11, David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com> wrote:
>> We are just to small a market for it to be worth their while.  And
>> ... in many instances, it just wouldn't be possible.  Many games are
>> based on eye-hand coordination and can't be reproduced with sound or
>> other  modalities in the same way.
>>
>> Dave
>>
>> At 08:00 PM 9/14/2011, you wrote:
>>>Hi All,
>>>I'm curious to get your thoughts on this question that's been in the
>>>back of my mind recently: Why haven't mainstream video game companies
>>>even attempted to make their products accessible to blind people?
>>>Wouldn't it grow their profits? And would it be all that difficult to
>>>make a video game accessible? We have described movies, after all, and
>>>there's the blind driver car. If they can make an accessible CAR, why
>>>not video games? What do others think about this issue?
>>>Patrick
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nabs-l:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/ptrck.molloy%40gmail.com
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nabs-l:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/jcmunoz1989%40gmail.com
>


-- 
Respectfully,

Juan Carlos Munoz, President
Texas Association Of Blind Students
www.nfbtx.org/tabs
Phone: (832) 378-8632