Top 3 Accessibility Features for Driving Games
6 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Sunday, December 2, 2007 at 12:31 AM.
For a lot of disabled gamers, many existing driving games are frustratingly difficult to play. However, a few adaptations can make all the difference for such people, between a game that is fun and one that is not played at all. Implementing these features won't remove all game barriers for all people, but it would be a fantastic start.
Driving Games Top 3 Accessibility Features List
1. Fully Re-definable Controls
The Problem: Many gamers struggle with preset controller layouts, as they just don't suit the way they play. Such people include gamers that might have the use of one hand only (e.g. people that have lost the use of a limb due to an injury or stroke). Other people just might not be able to reach all the buttons (e.g. people with hands that are too small to reach all the buttons comfortably such as young children). Gaming can be uncomfortable, painful and even impossible.
The Benefits: A much wider range of potential gamers will be able to play the game with this facility, using many different types of controllers. Greater comfort and playability for many.
Extra Suggestions: Offering a latching accelerator/gas button can help prevent cramps for many gamers. Enabling gamer control profiles to be auto-saved and loaded would add further convenience.
2. Compatibility with Alternative Controllers
The Problem: Many games do not recognise the fact that people may prefer to use an alternative controller to a standard joypad. This can rule out the use of simpler controllers such as arcade sticks to specialised controllers such as QuadController (a controller that is completely controlled by the mouth and head turns). Adding re-definable controls will solve many of these issues, but without also taking into account that many people can't cope with tilt, 16 buttons and two analogue sticks, nor anything like it, a game will remain frustratingly inaccessible for them.
The Benefits: A much wider range of potential gamers will be able to play the game with this facility, using many different types of controllers (hmm... a pattern seems to be emerging!).
Extra Suggestions: Making a game playable with a digital arcade stick or a single Wii remote controller for the Wii, will open the game up massively to many. Take a look at EA's Madden Family Play and Advanced modes for one great example of how to crack this nut.
3. Easy Play Modes
The Problem: For the vast majority of people, if a game is too hard, then it is not going to be much fun to play. If a game is impossibly hard from the start, then this just seems like a slap in the face. What makes a driving game too hard? Well, this is a larger than a top 3 list, but some examples are: no quick way to start a game, tracks are too difficult, opponents are too fast and/or aggressive, time limits are too tight and no assist modes exist for the driver.
The Benefits: Are for all non-hardcore gamers (see above).
Extra Suggestions: Many race game address some of these issues but not all. If you can, take a look at the PSone game Destruction Derby (Reflections) and PS2 and Dreamcast game F355 Challenge (Sega). Both feature quick start options, practice modes and a choice of tracks including simple oval designs. Destruction Derby features a Novice mode where if you start facing the wrong way around the track, a steering assist mode kicks in to help you face the right way again. It also features barriers that can help guide you around the entire track without slowing you to a crawl, nor jamming you frustratingly into scenery. F355 features training aids such as fastest line and verbal and visual prompts as to approaching corners. It also features an Intelligent Braking System that will slow your car down automatically if approaching a bend to fast.
More Help? Try: Game Over, Barriers in Games, Help You Play and the GASIG.
Top 3 Accessibility Features for Golf Games
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on at 12:30 AM.
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For a lot of disabled gamers, many games are frustratingly difficult to play, Golf included. Help is at hand though for developers interested in bringing their games to a wider audience. Implementing these few features won't remove all game barriers for all people, but it would be a fantastic start.
Golf Games Top 3 Accessibility Features List
1. Fully Re-definable Controls
The Problem: Many gamers struggle with pre-set controller layouts, as they just don't suit the way they play. Such people include gamers using just one or two accessibility switches (e.g. many quadriplegics and people with spinal injuries). Other people just might not be able to reach all the buttons (e.g. people with hands that are too small to reach all the buttons comfortably such as young children). Gaming can be uncomfortable, painful and even impossible.
The Benefits: A much wider range of potential gamers will be able to play the game with this facility, using many different types of controllers. Greater comfort and playability for many.
2. Compatibility with Alternative Controllers
The Problem: Many games do not recognise the fact that people may prefer to use an alternative controller to a standard joypad. This can rule out the use of simpler controllers such as arcade sticks to specialised controllers such as QuadController (a controller that is completely controlled by the mouth and head turns). Adding re-definable controls will solve many of these issues, but without also taking into account that many people would prefer to use the simple on/off digital controls, a game will remain frustratingly inaccessible for them.
The Benefits: A much wider range of potential gamers will be able to play the game with this facility, using many different types of controllers.
Extra Suggestions: Making a game playable with a digital arcade stick or a single Wii remote controller for the Wii, will open the game up massively to many. Take a look at EA's Madden Family Play and Advanced modes for one great example of how to crack this nut which uses game assist modes in basic mode.
3. Easy Play Modes
The Problem: For the vast majority of people, if a game is too hard, then it is not going to be much fun to play. If a game is impossibly hard from the start, then this just seems like a slap in the face. What makes a golf game too tricky? Some examples are: too much wind, too much hook and slice, too high a degree of skill needed just to hit a ball, no courses for beginners.
The Benefits: Including modes for easier play opens the game up to otherwise excluded gamers: the very young, certain disability groups and older people who may have slower reactions.
Extra Suggestions: Many golf games have got it right in some areas. Everybody's Golf (Clap Hanz) has some wonderful features. The "Easy Play" mode reduces wind(!) and removes hook and slice (i.e. when you hit your ball - it goes straight instead of going behind you). It features quick start modes, practice areas and lines you up with the hole on each shot. What would improve things further would be a reduced control mode for gamers using a single button (such as with Mini Golf 1 Button Style for the PC) or at least to keep the maximum number of controls needed to play a basic game to five (the D-pad and one extra button). See section three of Barriers in Games for the one-switch standard.
Top 3 Accessibility Features for Pinball Games
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on at 12:25 AM.
For a lot of disabled gamers, many games are frustratingly difficult to play. Pinball should not be one of them, but frequently is. Help is at hand though for developers interested in bringing their games to a wider audience. Implementing these features won't remove all game barriers for all people, but it would be a fantastic start.
Pinball Games Top 3 Accessibility Features List
1. Fully Re-definable Controls
The Problem: Many gamers struggle with preset controller layouts, as they just don't suit the way they play. Such people include gamers using just one or two accessibility switches (e.g. many quadriplegics and people with spinal injuries). Other people just might not be able to reach all the buttons (e.g. people with hands that are too small to reach all the buttons comfortably such as young children). Gaming can be uncomfortable, painful and even impossible.
The Benefits: A much wider range of potential gamers will be able to play the game with this facility, using many different types of controllers. Greater comfort and playability for many.
Extra Suggestions: Allow remapping of multiple controls onto a single button. If you can map both left and right flippers and the plunger too - you can make your game accessible to a person using just a single switch.
2. Compatibility with Alternative Controllers
The Problem: Many games do not recognise the fact that people may prefer to use an alternative controller to a standard joypad. This can rule out the use of simpler controllers such as arcade sticks to specialised controllers such as QuadController (a controller that is completely controlled by the mouth and head turns). Adding re-definable controls will solve many of these issues, but without also taking into account that many people would prefer to use the simple on/off digital controls, a game will remain frustratingly inaccessible for them.
The Benefits: A much wider range of potential gamers will be able to play the game with this facility, using many different types of controllers.
Extra Suggestions: Making a game playable with a digital arcade stick or a single Wii remote controller for the Wii, will open the game up massively to many.
3. Easy Play Modes
The Problem: For the vast majority of people, if a game is too hard, then it is not going to be much fun to play. If a game is impossibly hard from the start, then this just seems like a slap in the face. What makes a pinball game too hard? Well, this is a larger than a top 3 list, but some examples are: no quick way to start a game, game speed to fast, ball is hard to see.
The Benefits: Including modes for easier play opens the game up to otherwise excluded gamers: the very young, certain disability groups and older people who may have slower reactions.
Extra Suggestions: Ability to adjust the virtual slope of the table to slow the game down (and there's no such thing as too slow for some gamers). Include some basic uncluttered tables where it's really easy to see the ball at all times. One button play - whereby the entire game can be accessed using a single button (see section three of this link for the one switch standard). Simplified menu systems for all: Real pinball typically uses two buttons for flippers, a plunger and a start button. If the entire game play and menu system could be reduced to this (with optional nudging in game play) life would be easier for all.
More Help? Try: Game Over, Barriers in Games, Help You Play and the GASIG.
