[games_access] Game Accessibility Convention?

[AudioGames.net]

Hello,

For some time I have been thinking about (organizing) a "Game Accessibility"
convention here in the Netherlands. I've had a talk about game accessiblity
with Jeroen van Mastrigt, who is currently the new Chapter Coordinator of
the Dutch devision of IGDA (http://www.igda.org/amsterdam) and also
coordinator of the Game Design course over at the Utrecht School of the
Arts. Jeroen also organized last years Flux event during the Level Up games
research convention, also here in Holland (maybe some of you were there) and
he thought it was a good idea.

Instead of doing the brainstorming all by myself, I thought it would be a
nice idea to have a discussion about this with all the people on this list,
to see what your opinions/ideas of such a convention are.

My initial thoughts are about a "game accessibility" convention for
researchers, designers, students (with presentations of research and
round-table conversations) combined with a "accessible games" convention,
where various designers and students get the chance to display their games
to the (disabled) public. Currently the subject is raised at conventions
about assistive technologies (like the ICCHP and recently the ICDVRAT) and
as round-table conversations at game conventions like the GDC. I propose a
convention that is specifically about game accessibily and accessible
electronic entertainment.The goals of the convention would be to raise
awareness among 'regular' game developers, share research (get to see what
everyone else is doing) and also introduce disabled people to (electronic)
games. For instance, in my experience there are still hundreds of blind
children and adults who never heard that there is something as a "game for
the blind". And I think such a convention could get worldwide attention.
Although I'm thinking mostly "computer games" here, the festival doesn't
have to not limit itsself to this. It could maybe also include accessible
(electronic) toys (as far as I know there isn't a convention for accessible
toys yet) ? There are several accessible game designs I know of here in
Holland that I would like to include, such as a breath-controller game (for
asmatic children) and an installation with a game especially tailored for a
specific individual with a mental disability. And I wouldn't mind if
companies that develope hardware which is used for accessible gaming would
display their product as well.

Parties I know that would like to be involved would be the Utrecht School of
the Arts (my academy where I occasionaly give a lecture on game audio),
IGDA, DIGRA, the Dutch Accessibility foundation (where I work part-time and
with whom I co-developed Drive, a racing game for the blind), the University
of Utrecht (who also took part in last years Level Up convention), etc. Of
course, I still have to contact various parties for this idea but I already
know that some are enthousiastic about the idea. And of course there should
be a sponsor, preferably a big name like Sony or EA Games.

I don't even know if it's possible to setup a convention solely with this
subject. Maybe it can only exist if part of a bigger (game) convention.
However, I'm very interested in what your thoughts are, what is should be
about, how much potentional it could have, etc.

so...?

Richard

http://www.audiogames.net