Why Accessibility for Gamers is Important
Games have always been a source of entertainment and friendly competition, but not every individual was fortunate enough to experience this. Certain gamers dealt with barriers, be it physical, cognitive, or sensory hurdles.
Fortunately, the modern gaming industry has shifted its focus. More game developers are ensuring accessibility for everyone with a disability. This article discusses the evolution of accessibility in games while highlighting the importance of such advancements.
The Beginning Stages – Remained Ignored
During the initial stages, video games were not designed bearing accessibility standards in mind. There was an attempt to develop games with a sole approach to functionality. If a person was unable to hear sound cues, see flashing lights, or wasn’t able to swiftly press buttons, that individual would simply be alienated.
- Lack of subtitles – Text-based dialogue was missing in early gaming.
- No options for remapping controls – If a game was designed with complicated input requirements, there was no escaping the game.
- Complete absence of adjustable difficulty settings – Many games came with preset high difficulty levels and no options for flexible settings.
But as demand for gaming increased, people trying to bring about change also grew in number.
Turning Point: Advocacy And Awareness
Advocates along with players began voicing their concerns. They fought for games to be more accommodating. Major events included:
- Disability advocacy takes off – Gamers with different ability levels showcased their struggles on various social platforms which resulted in a lot of awareness.
- Microsoft’s Adaptive Controller (2018) – This was an action much ahead of its time as it brought with it devices that are configured with custom setups for those with limited movements.
- Legal advocacy – A number of countries started mandating that games and other digital products have accessibility sections.
Developers paid attention. The industry started changing.
Modern Game Accessibility: Features That Changed Everything
Most if not all games today have wonderful options to enhance accessibility. The following are some of the most notable features:
- Customizable Controls
- Adjustable Buttons
- Modes for people who use one hand
- Support for adaptive devices
- Visual and auditory changes
- High contrast mode
- Speech and text functions
- Color adjustment for colorblind people
- Difficulty and gameplay adjustments
- Easily Alterable Difficulty Levels
- Slow motion features
- Ability to skip steps in the game
- Cognitive and Motor assistance
- Straightforward menus
- Less motion
- Longer timers for puzzles
Overall, The Last of Us Part II, Forza Horizon 5, Celeste, The Last of Us Part II set the standard for accessibility in all games.
Why This Evolution is a Win For Everyone
However some skeptics say having accessibility features would make games and activities easier for other users. The answer is quite simple: No. These features enhance the experience of players rather than take away from it.
- Bigger communities are better – the more people that can participate in an activity, the more beneficial it is for multiplayer games and communities.
- Improved design – accessibility promotes constructive and holistic approaches to gameplay.
- Morally sound and profitable – Inclusive games tend to have more comprehensive audiences, which is good for business.
Where Game Accessibility Goes Next
The work isn’t done, but the future of game accessibility has even more potential with:
AI-enabled features – The ability to control the game using voice commands, automatic raising or lowering of difficulty levels.
Virtual Reality (VR) Accessibility. Eye gaze control is possible for those who are Deaf, and visually impaired, and haptic feedback can be used for those who are deaf.
Establishment of more practices for use in the industry – These should be including the best practices in the development of accessibility features for all studios.
Gaming Should Be for all
The transformation of game accessibility says one thing: gaming is best enjoyed when everyone comes together, be it for the first time or if you’ve played every title on the market. Changes to the diversity of access to gaming should enrich the experience for all.
So next time you turn on your favorite arcade title, take a moment to admire the progress we’ve made while being excited for what is yet to come.
What’s Your Favorite Accessibility Feature?
Comment below! Which other game do you think does this well? Let’s acknowledge the advancements made together.
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