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Website Makes Gaming Accessible For Everyone
Posted by Tori Floyd at 9:18 AM on March 6, 2008
For many of us, playing video games and working on computers is second nature. My laptop and I are practically attached at the hip. But what if, due to physical limitations, you were unable to use your computer for gaming and other applications? Assistive Gaming is a website who aims to provide an answer to this question, offering ways to use assistive technology to play games on Mac computers, and make gaming more accessible to people with physical impairments. Launched this past January, the website's publisher, David Niemeijer, says that many people think only specially adapted "accessible" games are available, which are generally targeted at younger kids, and would be of little interest to adults and teenagers. However assistive gaming means that anyone can play just about any game, including Unreal Tournament 2004, or World of Warcraft.
"Those kind of games were never designed to be played by users with physical disabilities," Niemeijer said, "but with universal access software, such as on-screen keyboards, they can be played also by people with physical impairments."
Niemeijer became a developer of universal access software for Mac in 1996, after a friend of his was paralyzed in an accident. With a number of websites already available for PC gamers with physical impairments, Niemeijer decided that the Mac gaming community needed its own centre of support, too. Niemeijer calls the website a collaborative effort, right down to the website's banner (partially shown above), which was created by an individual who can only move his head.
All of the website's team members, currently four editor/contributors and three contributors, use assistive technology to interact with their computers (all Macs). They speak from experience in their articles on hardware and software using assistive technology for the Mac, reviews of Mac games, and other issues that arise with assistive technology. Anyone who uses assistive technology on a Mac is welcome to contribute to the website, which Niemeijer says has received very positive feedback so far from the assistive technology community and the website's users.
According to Niemeijer, the games that work best with assistive technology are ones that offer a windowed mode of gameplay, otherwise the assistive software won't be accessible during gameplay. He also said that games which allow for multiple forms of input and output work well.
"Games that can be played with keyboard or mouse or joystick or game pad will allow many more people to play then those that only accept keyboard input or only joystick input," Niemeijer said. "Similarly, games that rely only vision or hearing in terms of output exclude people. If a hint or story line is only spoken by the game, deaf users will be left out. If information is only visual, vision impaired users will be left out."
Once the barrier of accessibility has been lifted from the world of gaming, Niemeijer says that online games provide a world of options to people who can't otherwise go outside to play soccer, golf, or travel to other countries. It provides them with new experiences they may not have without assistive technology.
"The nice thing about many of the online games is also that no-one knows you have a disability," Niemeijer said. "In the virtual word there are no disabilities."
To give you an idea of the impact that assistive technology can have, Niemeijer's company AssistiveWare has created a video of one of Assistive Gaming's editors, Michael Phillips, playing a number of video games, including Unreal Tournament 2004 and World of Warcraft.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
Superman
Posted 10:23 PM 19/3/08
Dude. That's totally cool. Is there any way I can help?
Superman
Turael
Posted 10:23 PM 19/3/08
Nice. I dig their logo/mascot too. Although WoW could be a problem endgame for a a disabled gamer. But that is merely a small drop in a very large bucket of gamey goodness that could be opened up.
Turael
BornToFlail
Posted 10:23 PM 19/3/08
Seems like a perfect application for the half-assed mind reading technology from earlier today. Even though you still have to move the mouse a tiny little bit, that could help people with extremely limited range of motion.
BornToFlail
NeoAkira
Posted 10:23 PM 19/3/08
@BrentW:
Yah I remember seeing that vid before, that kid is awesome.
And I also think the idea behind the site talked about in the article is really cool as well.
NeoAkira
unmarkedone
Posted 10:23 PM 19/3/08
I already get so pissed off when a 70 Lock ganks me in EPL. It's a hopeless fight even with 30+ abilities at my disposal. I can only imagine how infuriated I'd be if I was trying to fight the guy with one finger.
unmarkedone
Setzer IIDX
Posted 10:23 PM 19/3/08
@BrentW: The problem is you still don't know distance. A ki blast from point blank has different timing as a ki blast from the other side of the stage.
C'mon, this is a popular new site. Someone has gotta have an answer here.
Setzer IIDX
BrentW
Posted 10:23 PM 19/3/08
@Setzer IIDX: Ok well funny story, I'm actually in the library of my university right now and can't hear the audio either, I watched the video a really long time ago and when this article came up I remembered this video. Basically he plays with the volume up and knows what each attack sounds like. I imagine it's a very daunting task to learn how to counter every attack that he hears from all of the other characters in the game.
BrentW
Evil Tortie's Mom
Posted 10:23 PM 19/3/08
Assistive Gaming: +1. + infinity. A winner is them.
Evil Tortie's Mom
mizzle
Posted 10:23 PM 19/3/08
@Setzer IIDX: He uses the sound cues that the game has. It's pretty awesome.
mizzle
mizzle
Posted 10:23 PM 19/3/08
@BrentW: This is gonna be dumb, but once I tried the echo location thing. I made little clicks with my mouth and hands. I could kinda tell the difference between like bushes and concrete walls.
And I remember my mom bashing into furniture because we had all just watched Blind Justice.
That kid wins though.
mizzle
Setzer IIDX
Posted 10:23 PM 19/3/08
@BrentW: I have no audio as I'm at work.
Mind explaining to me how he's playing DBZ Budokai?
To be fair, I could probably beat a 60 year old reporter at any fighting game with a blindfold. But for the sake of argument, I'll assume he's playing and not button mashing. So where does the enjoyment come in for him? It may be explained in the video, I just can't hear it right now.
Basically, what I'm thinking is people have two options. Single player or Multiplayer. If he does single player, a good chunk of games are lost on him, especially in this day and age of graphically pleasing games. In addition, many things with puzzles cannot be played, such as Uncharted or Zack and Wiki. Anything with timing such as DMC is neigh impossible to play to enjoy.
Multiplayer on the other hand, well hell. On the one hand you could have him play with his buddies in person. You know he can't see where you are. You could add a rumble feature or have a headset with a tone that could indicate distance from enemy, which would make fighters possible, but shooters I just can't see. And online play they would NOT be merciful.
The only game I can see him playing and enjoying totally is a turn or strategy RPG. I suppose a more live action game like Oblivion could be enjoyed as well, or even WoW with the right features these guys are working on. I can NOT see how he'd play a twitchy game like Unreal.
Again though, I couldn't hear the video. Enlighten me, please. Because I may forget to watch this by the time I go home.
Setzer IIDX
jp182
Posted 10:23 PM 19/3/08
@BrentW: that kid is like the friggin' real life Daredevil!
jp182
Gladman
Posted 10:23 PM 19/3/08
Dude should go the gym :P
Okay chillax I was kidding, I've met someone similair to this fella however he could use one entire hand and was in a wheelchair, they're always the nicest funniest people and are very open about their condition and will often joke about it.
Gladman
jp182
Posted 10:23 PM 19/3/08
where there's a will, there's a way.
this is one place that the whole "Cognitive Controller" thing will come in handy once it's perfected.
jp182
BrentW
Posted 10:23 PM 19/3/08
Kid who is blind playing video games above.
BrentW
BrentW
Posted 10:23 PM 19/3/08
+ Watch video
BrentW
mtvernon
Posted 10:23 PM 19/3/08
Great article, Tori! I wish Niemeijer much success. Always love it when folks reach out to broaden the gaming audience.
mtvernon
Setzer IIDX
Posted 10:23 PM 19/3/08
Not sure if blind people really could get behind many video games. Other than that, good concept.
Setzer IIDX