[nabs-l] accessible video games

[Kirt Manwaring]

Dave,
  Some people would say the blind driver challenge is a waste of time
and money which would be better spent on something practical and
possible and it's a valid point.  But I think lots of us agree that
it's a risk worth taking because of the potential benefits.
  Now I'm not suggesting accessible video games would be as valuable
for us as a car we could drive, but if our goal is to help us live on
terms of equality with the sighted world then it's certainly within
the scope of that mission.  Should pressuring gaming companies to at
least try and make something accessible be one of the top priorities
of the nNFB?  Of course not.  But is it something worth pursuing?  I
say so.  After all, it's very possible, some would say likely, that
the blind driver challenge will just be a waste of millions of dollars
that could be put into something actually useful.  I think this is a
similar situation, on a much smaller scale.  Thoughts, anyone?
  Best,
Kirt

On 9/17/11, Juan Munoz <jcmunoz1989 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 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
>>>
>>>
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>
>
> --
> Respectfully,
>
> Juan Carlos Munoz, President
> Texas Association Of Blind Students
> www.nfbtx.org/tabs
> Phone: (832) 378-8632
>
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