Accessibility in games has come a long way, but games are not yet as close as progressive as it should be. Including people with disabilities can be a difficult task for developers, since disabilities can affect people in a multitude of ways and find out the correct ways to support players with disabilities may seem an impossible task.

However, as we will see, there are already good examples of “game accessibility performed”, and many resources for developers who want to put more accessibility options in their games.

What do we mean by ‘accessibility’ and why is it important?

The game is so important for people with disabilities, since it is capable, possibly more, because people with disabilities have an increased risk of social isolation. Games have natural value as entertainment, but it also has an important social aspect, through multiplayer and the communities that form around games and games.

Disabilities can make it more difficult for people to share these experiences, but there are ways in which they can join. For people with mobility problems such as muscle dystrophy, control a game with ocular movement or adapted joysticks is a great step forward. A player with severe visual deterioration can benefit from audio games, only as the new voucher launch: the shadow of the crown.

Accessibility is important and is more important than ever, so it is reasonable that, even now, the games of the main AAA companies still leave with just any feature of accessibility at all?

Like Chris Cooke, co-founder of the Game Organization, All, Games, says: “What percentage of players play a game in Ultra-Hardcore mode? The disabled are easily a larger customer base, but I do not see a mode For them with the frequency with the configuration! “

Most frustrating for Chris is: “The times when a large budget game could have been done easily with more access with some adjustments, but they did not bother!”

Credit where it is due

 We would never touch the ways that games have become more accessible, what we have seen with the Xbox Microsoft adaptive driver that can be used in Windows 10 PC and Xbox consoles.

The subtitles are now common, as well as the colorblind modes and improved closed subtitles. VR games are also considered a real champion when it comes to accessible games, very suitable for many people with disabilities.

Game developers such as Naughty Dog, Volition, and others have also made progress to improve accessibility, including a more optional configuration to better improve players’ players with disabilities, including vision, hearing and coordination challenges Engines

Tools and resources

 There are many tools and resources available for developers who hope to improve the accessibility of their games.

One of these, the accessibility guidelines of the game clearly establish the balls and the whys, including the with motor, cognitive, visual, auditory and speech related disabilities. It is divided into basic, intermediate and advanced levels and even provides a downloadable Excel checklist to help keep developers on the track.

TOCTGAMERS, one of the US Disabled Game Organizations UU, has made a similar resource available through its AccessiAdgames project, which also helps developers to connect with players with disabilities to help inform their Game design. They have also created a Game Development Certification Program oriented to the accessibility known as the experience project in the accessible player who has trained developers of student games such as Ubisoft and other AAA costume