From info at oneswitch.org.uk Mon Jan 3 10:32:00 2005 From: info at oneswitch.org.uk (Barrie Ellis) Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2005 15:32:00 -0000 Subject: [games_access] Checkpoints for game accessibility... References: <20041210170005.C781457093@seven.pairlist.net> Message-ID: <020a01c4f1a9$5e473af0$76f54d51@Skallagrigg> Picking up on Richard's thread on accessibility features, I remember Atari's old "Special Feature" Teddy Bear icon that adorned the front of some of their 2600 game boxes. Try: http://www.atariage.com/system_items.html?SystemID=2600&ItemTypeID=BOX Then search on Missile Command (or Warlords, Super Breakout, Pac-Man or Defender). What about using a standardised image representing "Accessibility Features" on the front of a game box, with some bullet points on the back - linking to a web-site for more details. Perhaps an IGDA database of accessibility information? Bullet points might include (taking into account what Richard has already said): - User definable controls (to include using much simplified controls - auto-rapid fire etc.). - Closed captioning. - Wide Difficulty level selection (speed control - variable invulnerability periods - etc.). - Gaming assistant modes. - Sight impairment tweaks (e.g. contrast / colour schemes / basic or detailed graphics etc.). - Simplified menus (see Metropolis Street Racer for epic menus before you can even race a car). I can't see game developers making their games accessible to all for a long, long time - but I can see them adding increasing numbers of features. In fact a number of games have what I'd describe as accessibility features already - e.g. the Sega game F355 Challenge on the Dreamcast has automatic braking, so you don't over shoot corners, auto-centering to line you up for corners and so on. Why not sell these as accessibility features? What do people think? Barrie www.OneSwitch.org.uk ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Now a question: did anyone here try to define a list of checkpoints for game accessibility already? Maybe we could discuss such a list on this emailgroup? Just in case, let's start here (this is just from the top of my head so we have something to talk about; some of the things are maybe absurd, let's hear it then!): - Provide a visual equavalent for any auditory information (which is the opposite to...) >>> subtitles - Provide an auditory equavalent for any visual information - Support controller alternatives: for any type of controller (mouse, joystick, game controller, etc... provide an alternative: keyboard, eye controller, speech commands) - Use clear language: avoid difficult language - Avoid color communication: make sure that any information provided by color has an alternative - Let players set the speed of the game - Let players set the difficulty of the game - Avoid flickering (includes heavy explosions?) - (anyone)" From hinn at uiuc.edu Sun Jan 9 18:44:17 2005 From: hinn at uiuc.edu (michelle hinn) Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2005 17:44:17 -0600 Subject: [games_access] Reminder: Online Meeting for Games Accessibility SIG is Monday 10 January In-Reply-To: <20041129012653.F11E857094@seven.pairlist.net> Message-ID: <20050109234222.70CDF570A1@seven.pairlist.net> Hi everyone -- Just a reminder that we have a meeting for the Game Accessibility SIG is tomorrow at 9am (US pacific time)/12noon (US east coast time). Please try to be there if you can! We'll catching up on recent SIG business including the Las Vegas conference paper, the proposed Game Accessibility Initiative that Thomas and others have spoke about, recent changes to the International Game Developers Association (our parent association!), and a few other items of SIG business. IMPORTANT (how to get to the meeting): If you aren't already on MSN Messenger, please sign up for an account as soon as possible. Then add me, vrgrrl at hotmail.com (that's right, vrgrrl), to your contacts list. I'll make sure that you are added to the conference room when I see you online right before the meeting. Email me at hinn at uiuc.edu if you have any problems. Hope to see you all tomorrow! Michelle IGDA Game Accessibility Committee Chair From hinn at uiuc.edu Sun Jan 9 18:47:00 2005 From: hinn at uiuc.edu (michelle hinn) Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2005 17:47:00 -0600 Subject: [games_access] IGDA Evolves: Changes to membership fees/program, plans for 2005 Message-ID: <20050109234503.E745C5703B@seven.pairlist.net> FYI everyone -- a few recent changes to our parent organization, the IGDA: -----Original Message----- From: IGDA [mailto:news at igda.org] Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2005 12:24 PM To: IGDA_List at igda.org Subject: IGDA Evolves - Part 2: Changes to membership fees/program, plans for 2005 Dear IGDA Members and Friends, The IGDA is starting the New Year off with a bang. For starters, to grow our community and increase accessibility for international members, we have significantly reduced our membership fees to the following (in US$): - $48: 1-year membership (previously $100) - $90: 2-year membership (previously $170) - $35: discounted 1-year membership for those from "developing countries" - $30: student membership (previously $35) These new fees will apply to all new and renewing memberships. Please jump to the site for further details on membership fees and the new "developing countries" rate: http://www.igda.org/join/ Fees for Studio Affiliates have dropped as well. Details online: http://www.igda.org/studios/affiliation.php As we mentioned in our previous letter, the IGDA is evolving and has ended its management agreement with CMP. In short, this means we'll be directly running our day-to-day operations from here on out. As part of our changing relationship with CMP, new members will no longer receive a free subscription to Game Developer magazine. Members who joined prior to 2005 will continue to receive their subscription for the duration of their current term (i.e., until their membership renews/expires). To learn more about how you may still qualify for a free or discounted subscription to this game industry magazine, visit: http://www.gdmag.com/subscribe/ Please note that IGDA members will still receive a $50 discount on registration for this year's Game Developers Conference (GDC), which takes place March 7-11 at San Francisco's Moscone West Convention Center. Full details online: http://www.gdconf.com/ To ensure that you continue to receive information about the products and services the CMP Game Group offers -- including the Game Developers Conference, Game Developer magazine, Gamasutra.com, the Game Developers Choice Awards and the Independent Games Festival -- visit: http://secure.halldata.com/CMPMediaWEB/IGDA.jsp On the community front, we are redoubling efforts to support local chapters, which for many of you, serve as the face of the IGDA around the world. We've also just launched a beta of our members-only profile and directory system. This new system allows members to easily connect, share ideas and do business. All members are encouraged to set up their profile and provide feedback on the beta. See details online: http://www.igda.org/Forums/showthread.php?threadid=13717 The IGDA has also secured a new vendor to produce/supply our membership cards. This means a much quicker turn-around on cards for new and renewing members. And, we'll be able to address the backlog of members who are, unfortunately, still waiting for their cards to arrive (sorry). In terms of advocacy, quality of life issues are at the top of the list. Our Quality of Life Summit, scheduled as a part of the GDC in March, will be an important milestone in moving things forward. Of course, we continue to fight for developers' creative freedoms by thwarting government intervention and educating the media. Advocacy efforts also continue through our outreach to students and the academic community, and our work on standardizing industry crediting practices, improving workforce diversity, and addressing business and legal issues relevant to developers. We thank you for your continued support as the IGDA grows and evolves to serve you best. Do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or comments. Best Regards and Happy New Year! Jason Della Rocca Executive Director PS: If you have not done so already, please take note of our new address and contact details: IGDA 870 Market Street, Suite 1181 San Francisco, CA USA 94102-3002 Phone: +1-415-738-2137 Fax: +1-415-738-2178 From rkimball at gmail.com Sun Jan 9 19:06:50 2005 From: rkimball at gmail.com (Reid Kimball) Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2005 19:06:50 -0500 Subject: [games_access] Reminder: Online Meeting for Games Accessibility SIG is Monday 10 January In-Reply-To: <20050109234222.70CDF570A1@seven.pairlist.net> References: <20041129012653.F11E857094@seven.pairlist.net> <20050109234222.70CDF570A1@seven.pairlist.net> Message-ID: Not sure if I'll be able to make it, I've got a docs appointment in the morning. Woohoo. -Reid On Sun, 9 Jan 2005 17:44:17 -0600, michelle hinn wrote: > > Hi everyone -- > > Just a reminder that we have a meeting for the Game Accessibility > SIG is tomorrow at 9am (US pacific time)/12noon (US east coast time). Please > try to be there if you can! We'll catching up on recent SIG business > including the Las Vegas conference paper, the proposed Game Accessibility > Initiative that Thomas and others have spoke about, recent changes to the > International Game Developers Association (our parent association!), and a > few other items of SIG business. > > IMPORTANT (how to get to the meeting): If you aren't already on MSN > Messenger, please sign up for an account as soon as possible. Then add me, > vrgrrl at hotmail.com (that's right, vrgrrl), to your contacts list. > I'll make sure that you are added to the conference room when I see you > online right before the meeting. Email me at hinn at uiuc.edu if you have any > problems. > > Hope to see you all tomorrow! > Michelle > IGDA Game Accessibility Committee Chair > > _______________________________________________ > games_access mailing list > games_access at igda.org > http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access > From rkimball at gmail.com Mon Jan 17 16:34:54 2005 From: rkimball at gmail.com (Reid Kimball) Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2005 15:34:54 -0600 Subject: [games_access] meeting notes Message-ID: Can someone send me the meeting notes for the last one we had please? Thank you, -Reid From hinn at uiuc.edu Sun Jan 30 23:40:58 2005 From: hinn at uiuc.edu (michelle hinn) Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2005 22:40:58 -0600 Subject: [games_access] FW: IGDA track schedule Message-ID: <20050131044106.DBB0A570B8@seven.pairlist.net> Hi everyone -- Just a head's up for those of you attending GDC in March. We have two roundtable time slots for our SIG. Please let me know if you are planning on attending GDC this year. I'd like to have an informal gathering of some sort one evening -- drinks or dinner or coffee. Something to keep the conversation going about games accessibility and to FINALLY meet some of you all face to face! :) Thanks, Michelle IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Chair -----Original Message----- From: Jason Della Rocca [mailto:jason at igda.org] Sent: Monday, January 24, 2005 12:57 PM To: jason at igda.org Subject: IGDA track schedule Hi, Just a quick FYI that most of the GDC schedule is up at the site. Please check your IGDA track session to make sure all is cool: http://www.igda.org/events/gdc_sessions.htm Note that they will only make changes for "severe" circumstances (ie, you won't be there on the scheduled day, etc). Jason ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jason Della Rocca Executive Director International Game Developers Association t: +1-514-426-1162 f: +1-514-426-1201 Montreal, Canada ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ http://www.realitypanic.com/ "Do or do not. There is no try." - Yoda From jason at igda.org Mon Jan 31 09:36:17 2005 From: jason at igda.org (Jason Della Rocca) Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2005 09:36:17 -0500 Subject: [games_access] FW: IGDA track schedule In-Reply-To: <20050131044106.DBB0A570B8@seven.pairlist.net> References: <20050131044106.DBB0A570B8@seven.pairlist.net> Message-ID: <6.1.2.0.0.20050131093531.0507fcf0@mail.igda.org> >of some sort one evening -- drinks or dinner or coffee. Something to keep Great idea! But, don't do it Wednesday night, as that's the big Game Developers Choice Awards ceremony and party :) Jason ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jason Della Rocca Executive Director International Game Developers Association t: +1-514-426-1162 f: +1-514-426-1201 Montreal, Canada ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ http://www.realitypanic.com/ "Do or do not. There is no try." - Yoda