From hinn at uiuc.edu  Wed Jun  1 02:39:14 2005
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (hinn at uiuc.edu)
Date: Wed, 1 Jun 2005 01:39:14 -0500
Subject: [games_access] games accessibility SIG
 happenings
Message-ID: <57af9bd6.576295c.8252200@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>

yes, that's right -- 9am pacific time. it's the same time we 
normally meet.

greetings from taipei everyone!! i'm extremly jet lagged...

---- Original message ----
>Date: Tue, 31 May 2005 22:06:15 +0200
>From: "Thomas Westin" <thomas at pininteractive.com>  
>Subject: Re: [games_access] games accessibility SIG 
happenings  
>To: "IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List" 
<games_access at igda.org>
>Cc: games_access at igda.org
>
>   June 13 is OK with me. If I'm correct, noon EST =
>   09.00 PST, i.e regular meeting time
>   Kind regards,
>   Thomas
>
>   IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
>   <games_access at igda.org> on den 29 maj 2005 at 22:44
>   +0100 wrote:
>   So let's
>   make the next SIG meeting on Monday, June 13 at noon
>   (US
>   eastern standard time).
>
>   Pin Interactive AB www.pininteractive.com
>   MSN ID:  thomas at pininteractive.com
>   Skype ID: thomaswestin
>   Time zone: CET (GMT+1, PST+9)
>   ____________________________________________________
>   Award Winning 3D Game for Blind and Sighted:
>   www.terraformers.nu 
>   IGDA Game Accessibility SIG
>   www.igda.org/accessibility/ 
>________________
>_______________________________________________
>games_access mailing list
>games_access at igda.org
>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access


From jason at igda.org  Thu Jun  9 16:37:27 2005
From: jason at igda.org (Jason Della Rocca)
Date: Thu, 09 Jun 2005 16:37:27 -0400
Subject: [games_access] Fwd: [game_diversity] Diversity where are you
Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.0.20050609163618.0439fbf8@mail.igda.org>

 From the game_diversity list...

Jason


>Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2005 16:24:44 -0400
>From: "Joseph Saulter - Faculty - AIU Buckhead" 
><Joseph.Saulter at buckhead.aiuniv.edu>
>To: <game_diversity at igda.org>
>Subject: [game_diversity] Diversity where are you
>List-Subscribe: <http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_diversity>
>
>
>Hello All,
>
>I had the opportunity to meet a young man in LA with a disability and it
>has changed my life. I guess we never think about the other guy until we
>are faced with the all consuming fact that, we all live in this world
>together, you're not alone and we really are connected to that universal
>strand. The young man has no arms and we happened to meet by chance.
>
>I met his father at a LA ATM, we started talking and some how we began
>talking about games and me being one of the first African American Game
>Developers in the country. The boys' father told me his son was an avid
>game player who had all the games but because of his disability he
>played games with his feet. "Evans in the car do you want to meet him".
>We proceeded to the car and I met a beautiful young man very much alive
>eyes bright with interest after his father told him I was a game
>developer. We talked for a while about his love for games and the game
>industry and the fact that he wanted so badly to be a part of our world.
>He wants to develop games for children like with disabilities. We
>finished talking I gave him my card and walked slowly back to my car
>where my wife was so patiently waiting. I told her about my experience
>and I began to cry and I couldn't stop. I explained to my wife that I
>was just at the ATM to get some cash.
>
>Well, when I got back to Atlanta in my office at the University I had a
>message from Evan. He said, he enjoyed our conversation and our website
>and he will continue working on the game he is developing for children
>like him. He wants to develop games for children with disabilities as I
>said before.
>
>Well, you know I started crying again in fact I was unable to sleep I
>woke up about 4:30 in the morning and started thinking. Hay! Evan plays
>games with a handheld what better person to design a foot held game
>controller. To make a long story short Evans is now designing a foot
>held game controller for Entertainment Arts Research. You never know
>when diversity will impact you.
>
>Peace,
>
>Joe Saulter
>
>
>
>Joseph Saulter AA,BA,MA:CEO
>Entertainment Arts Research
>Chairman American Intercontinental University
>Game Design and Development Department
>404.965.5937
>404.606.7383
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Game_Diversity mailing list
>Game_Diversity at igda.org
>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_diversity



From hinn at uiuc.edu  Fri Jun 10 00:03:55 2005
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (hinn at uiuc.edu)
Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2005 23:03:55 -0500
Subject: [games_access] Fwd: [game_diversity]
 Diversity where are you
Message-ID: <3757703c.a0a6d8d.8230300@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>

Hi Joseph,

I'm not sure if you knew this but the IGDA also has a game 
accessibility SIG that I think both you and the young man 
might be interesting in joining. We're always looking for 
new members passionate about making games more accessible 
for gamers with disabilities.

The group info is: 

>games_access mailing list
>games_access at igda.org
>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access

Hope to see the two of you active in the SIG! send me an 
email at hinn at uiuc.edu if you have any additional questions.

Cheers,
Michelle Hinn
Chair, IGDA Game Accessibility SIG

---- Original message ----
>Date: Thu, 09 Jun 2005 16:37:27 -0400
>From: Jason Della Rocca <jason at igda.org>  
>Subject: [games_access] Fwd: [game_diversity] Diversity 
where are you  
>To: games_access at igda.org
>
> From the game_diversity list...
>
>Jason
>
>
>>Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2005 16:24:44 -0400
>>From: "Joseph Saulter - Faculty - AIU Buckhead" 
>><Joseph.Saulter at buckhead.aiuniv.edu>
>>To: <game_diversity at igda.org>
>>Subject: [game_diversity] Diversity where are you
>>List-Subscribe: 
<http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_diversity>
>>
>>
>>Hello All,
>>
>>I had the opportunity to meet a young man in LA with a 
disability and it
>>has changed my life. I guess we never think about the 
other guy until we
>>are faced with the all consuming fact that, we all live in 
this world
>>together, you're not alone and we really are connected to 
that universal
>>strand. The young man has no arms and we happened to meet 
by chance.
>>
>>I met his father at a LA ATM, we started talking and some 
how we began
>>talking about games and me being one of the first African 
American Game
>>Developers in the country. The boys' father told me his 
son was an avid
>>game player who had all the games but because of his 
disability he
>>played games with his feet. "Evans in the car do you want 
to meet him".
>>We proceeded to the car and I met a beautiful young man 
very much alive
>>eyes bright with interest after his father told him I was 
a game
>>developer. We talked for a while about his love for games 
and the game
>>industry and the fact that he wanted so badly to be a part 
of our world.
>>He wants to develop games for children like with 
disabilities. We
>>finished talking I gave him my card and walked slowly back 
to my car
>>where my wife was so patiently waiting. I told her about 
my experience
>>and I began to cry and I couldn't stop. I explained to my 
wife that I
>>was just at the ATM to get some cash.
>>
>>Well, when I got back to Atlanta in my office at the 
University I had a
>>message from Evan. He said, he enjoyed our conversation 
and our website
>>and he will continue working on the game he is developing 
for children
>>like him. He wants to develop games for children with 
disabilities as I
>>said before.
>>
>>Well, you know I started crying again in fact I was unable 
to sleep I
>>woke up about 4:30 in the morning and started thinking. 
Hay! Evan plays
>>games with a handheld what better person to design a foot 
held game
>>controller. To make a long story short Evans is now 
designing a foot
>>held game controller for Entertainment Arts Research. You 
never know
>>when diversity will impact you.
>>
>>Peace,
>>
>>Joe Saulter
>>
>>
>>
>>Joseph Saulter AA,BA,MA:CEO
>>Entertainment Arts Research
>>Chairman American Intercontinental University
>>Game Design and Development Department
>>404.965.5937
>>404.606.7383
>>
>>
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>Game_Diversity mailing list
>>Game_Diversity at igda.org
>>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_diversity
>
>_______________________________________________
>games_access mailing list
>games_access at igda.org
>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access


From adam at igda.org  Fri Jun 10 16:40:39 2005
From: adam at igda.org (Adam Gourdin)
Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2005 13:40:39 -0700
Subject: [games_access] Survey
Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.0.20050610133909.01d23e50@mail.igda.org>

Hello, my name is Adam Gourdin, the summer intern at IGDA's office in San 
Francisco.  I am currently attempting to create a broad demographic survey 
for IGDA and would very much appreciate your input.  I would like to know 
(a) what is important to you in terms of diversity issues (b) questions you 
would like to see on the survey and (c) anything else you want to tell me 
that you think is relevant.

Sincerely
Adam Gourdin



From hinn at uiuc.edu  Sat Jun 11 01:52:35 2005
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (hinn at uiuc.edu)
Date: Sat, 11 Jun 2005 00:52:35 -0500
Subject: [games_access] Survey
Message-ID: <d9a24480.a98354e.8234600@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>

Hi Adam,

Can you tell us a little more about the goals of your 
survey? Are you constructing the survey to, say, find out 
how many people with disabilities work in the game 
development community? Or are you trying to get information 
on the audience of the game titles (ie, how many people are, 
say, blind and game and/or how many games have accessibility 
features built into them)?

BTW, we'll be having a meeting this monday at 9am (PST) on 
MSN messenger. If you'd like to attend and ask the meeting 
participants more questions, please do. Just let me know 
what your MSN login is and I'll add you to the meeting.

Best,
Michelle Hinn
Chair, IGDA Game Accessibility SIG



---- Original message ----
>Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2005 13:40:39 -0700
>From: Adam Gourdin <adam at igda.org>  
>Subject: [games_access] Survey  
>To: games_access at igda.org
>
>Hello, my name is Adam Gourdin, the summer intern at IGDA's 
office in San 
>Francisco.  I am currently attempting to create a broad 
demographic survey 
>for IGDA and would very much appreciate your input.  I 
would like to know 
>(a) what is important to you in terms of diversity issues 
(b) questions you 
>would like to see on the survey and (c) anything else you 
want to tell me 
>that you think is relevant.
>
>Sincerely
>Adam Gourdin
>
>_______________________________________________
>games_access mailing list
>games_access at igda.org
>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access


From rkimball at gmail.com  Sat Jun 11 21:34:42 2005
From: rkimball at gmail.com (Reid Kimball)
Date: Sat, 11 Jun 2005 21:34:42 -0400
Subject: [games_access] Survey
In-Reply-To: <d9a24480.a98354e.8234600@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>
References: <d9a24480.a98354e.8234600@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>
Message-ID: <a6673b8d050611183448a6772e@mail.gmail.com>

Uhm, lets not forget the survey I started up which hasn't gotten much
discussion at all which disappoints me.

http://game.rbkdesign.com/cc_survey/index.php?sid=1

-Reid

On 6/11/05, hinn at uiuc.edu <hinn at uiuc.edu> wrote:
> Hi Adam,
> 
> Can you tell us a little more about the goals of your
> survey? Are you constructing the survey to, say, find out
> how many people with disabilities work in the game
> development community? Or are you trying to get information
> on the audience of the game titles (ie, how many people are,
> say, blind and game and/or how many games have accessibility
> features built into them)?
> 
> BTW, we'll be having a meeting this monday at 9am (PST) on
> MSN messenger. If you'd like to attend and ask the meeting
> participants more questions, please do. Just let me know
> what your MSN login is and I'll add you to the meeting.
> 
> Best,
> Michelle Hinn
> Chair, IGDA Game Accessibility SIG
> 
> 
> 
> ---- Original message ----
> >Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2005 13:40:39 -0700
> >From: Adam Gourdin <adam at igda.org>
> >Subject: [games_access] Survey
> >To: games_access at igda.org
> >
> >Hello, my name is Adam Gourdin, the summer intern at IGDA's
> office in San
> >Francisco.  I am currently attempting to create a broad
> demographic survey
> >for IGDA and would very much appreciate your input.  I
> would like to know
> >(a) what is important to you in terms of diversity issues
> (b) questions you
> >would like to see on the survey and (c) anything else you
> want to tell me
> >that you think is relevant.
> >
> >Sincerely
> >Adam Gourdin
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >games_access mailing list
> >games_access at igda.org
> >http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
> _______________________________________________
> games_access mailing list
> games_access at igda.org
> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>


From hinn at uiuc.edu  Sat Jun 11 22:27:44 2005
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (hinn at uiuc.edu)
Date: Sat, 11 Jun 2005 21:27:44 -0500
Subject: [games_access] Survey
Message-ID: <1abf132d.b09494b.8198d00@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>

Good point, Reid. I'm sorry we haven't yet had a chance to 
go over it. Let's talk about it at the meeting on Monday. 
I'm not sure what the IGDA survey is attempting to cover -- 
I think it's trying to see what the diversity of the game 
dev workforce is. But I'm not sure. 

Please, everyone, take a look at Reid's survey so we can 
talk about it on Monday and/or give your feedback about it 
on this list. I think it's a great starting point for us and 
we should figure out how to advertise it and possibly expand 
it.

I'll be online on Monday a half hour before the meeting (so 
I'll be online starting at 11:30 EST) if anyone wants to 
test their connections or chat one-on-one.

BTW, I'm back from Taiwan now so I'm back online more 
frequently!!

Michelle

---- Original message ----
>Date: Sat, 11 Jun 2005 21:34:42 -0400
>From: Reid Kimball <rkimball at gmail.com>  
>Subject: Re: [games_access] Survey  
>To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List 
<games_access at igda.org>
>
>Uhm, lets not forget the survey I started up which hasn't 
gotten much
>discussion at all which disappoints me.
>
>http://game.rbkdesign.com/cc_survey/index.php?sid=1
>
>-Reid
>
>On 6/11/05, hinn at uiuc.edu <hinn at uiuc.edu> wrote:
>> Hi Adam,
>> 
>> Can you tell us a little more about the goals of your
>> survey? Are you constructing the survey to, say, find out
>> how many people with disabilities work in the game
>> development community? Or are you trying to get 
information
>> on the audience of the game titles (ie, how many people 
are,
>> say, blind and game and/or how many games have 
accessibility
>> features built into them)?
>> 
>> BTW, we'll be having a meeting this monday at 9am (PST) on
>> MSN messenger. If you'd like to attend and ask the meeting
>> participants more questions, please do. Just let me know
>> what your MSN login is and I'll add you to the meeting.
>> 
>> Best,
>> Michelle Hinn
>> Chair, IGDA Game Accessibility SIG
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> ---- Original message ----
>> >Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2005 13:40:39 -0700
>> >From: Adam Gourdin <adam at igda.org>
>> >Subject: [games_access] Survey
>> >To: games_access at igda.org
>> >
>> >Hello, my name is Adam Gourdin, the summer intern at 
IGDA's
>> office in San
>> >Francisco.  I am currently attempting to create a broad
>> demographic survey
>> >for IGDA and would very much appreciate your input.  I
>> would like to know
>> >(a) what is important to you in terms of diversity issues
>> (b) questions you
>> >would like to see on the survey and (c) anything else you
>> want to tell me
>> >that you think is relevant.
>> >
>> >Sincerely
>> >Adam Gourdin
>> >
>> >_______________________________________________
>> >games_access mailing list
>> >games_access at igda.org
>> >http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>> _______________________________________________
>> games_access mailing list
>> games_access at igda.org
>> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>>
>_______________________________________________
>games_access mailing list
>games_access at igda.org
>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access


From hinn at uiuc.edu  Sat Jun 11 23:10:37 2005
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (michelle hinn)
Date: Sat, 11 Jun 2005 22:10:37 -0500
Subject: [games_access] The next SIG meeting is Monday, June 13, 2005
In-Reply-To: <d360a817.1b5f2e8.8230100@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>
Message-ID: <20050612031048.36CCA570C8@seven.pairlist.net>

Hi all, just a reminder that the next SIG meeting will be on 
Monday, June 13 on MSN messenger at noon (EST) -- this is our usual time. 

Email me at accessibility at igda.org with any questions about logging on for
the meeting. We'll be talking about the presentation for the HCII conference
in Las Vegas (July!) as well as Reid Kimbell's survey:
http://game.rbkdesign.com/cc_survey/index.php?sid=1

I'll be online on Monday a half hour before the meeting (so I'll be online
starting at 11:30 EST) if anyone wants to test their connections or chat
one-on-one.

Thanks and hope to see many of you at the meeting!
Michelle




From adam at igda.org  Mon Jun 13 12:46:26 2005
From: adam at igda.org (Adam Gourdin)
Date: Mon, 13 Jun 2005 09:46:26 -0700
Subject: [games_access] Survey
In-Reply-To: <d9a24480.a98354e.8234600@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>
References: <d9a24480.a98354e.8234600@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>
Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.0.20050613094459.01cfc840@mail.igda.org>

The survey is really a demographic survey of the game development 
community.  This is of course includes those who may have disabilities and 
their reactions to working in the industry. Does that help?

Adam



At 10:52 PM 6/10/2005, you wrote:
>Hi Adam,
>
>Can you tell us a little more about the goals of your
>survey? Are you constructing the survey to, say, find out
>how many people with disabilities work in the game
>development community? Or are you trying to get information
>on the audience of the game titles (ie, how many people are,
>say, blind and game and/or how many games have accessibility
>features built into them)?
>
>BTW, we'll be having a meeting this monday at 9am (PST) on
>MSN messenger. If you'd like to attend and ask the meeting
>participants more questions, please do. Just let me know
>what your MSN login is and I'll add you to the meeting.
>
>Best,
>Michelle Hinn
>Chair, IGDA Game Accessibility SIG
>
>
>
>---- Original message ----
> >Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2005 13:40:39 -0700
> >From: Adam Gourdin <adam at igda.org>
> >Subject: [games_access] Survey
> >To: games_access at igda.org
> >
> >Hello, my name is Adam Gourdin, the summer intern at IGDA's
>office in San
> >Francisco.  I am currently attempting to create a broad
>demographic survey
> >for IGDA and would very much appreciate your input.  I
>would like to know
> >(a) what is important to you in terms of diversity issues
>(b) questions you
> >would like to see on the survey and (c) anything else you
>want to tell me
> >that you think is relevant.
> >
> >Sincerely
> >Adam Gourdin
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >games_access mailing list
> >games_access at igda.org
> >http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>_______________________________________________
>games_access mailing list
>games_access at igda.org
>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access



From hinn at uiuc.edu  Mon Jun 13 13:00:42 2005
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (hinn at uiuc.edu)
Date: Mon, 13 Jun 2005 12:00:42 -0500
Subject: [games_access] Survey
Message-ID: <6a4bf957.bdd09ba.82c7300@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>

Hi Adam, yes that helps. Well, as a SIG we're mainly focused 
on getting developers to create accessible games for the 
disabled more than the demographics of the dev community. 
However, it would be nice to know how many in the dev 
community has, say, visual, hearing, mobility, and cognitive 
disabilities and how the industry has (or has not) created a 
friendly work environment (ie, what accommodations are 
provided to them so that they can do their job).

Michelle

---- Original message ----
>Date: Mon, 13 Jun 2005 09:46:26 -0700
>From: Adam Gourdin <adam at igda.org>  
>Subject: Re: [games_access] Survey  
>To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List 
<games_access at igda.org>
>
>The survey is really a demographic survey of the game 
development 
>community.  This is of course includes those who may have 
disabilities and 
>their reactions to working in the industry. Does that help?
>
>Adam
>
>
>
>At 10:52 PM 6/10/2005, you wrote:
>>Hi Adam,
>>
>>Can you tell us a little more about the goals of your
>>survey? Are you constructing the survey to, say, find out
>>how many people with disabilities work in the game
>>development community? Or are you trying to get information
>>on the audience of the game titles (ie, how many people 
are,
>>say, blind and game and/or how many games have 
accessibility
>>features built into them)?
>>
>>BTW, we'll be having a meeting this monday at 9am (PST) on
>>MSN messenger. If you'd like to attend and ask the meeting
>>participants more questions, please do. Just let me know
>>what your MSN login is and I'll add you to the meeting.
>>
>>Best,
>>Michelle Hinn
>>Chair, IGDA Game Accessibility SIG
>>
>>
>>
>>---- Original message ----
>> >Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2005 13:40:39 -0700
>> >From: Adam Gourdin <adam at igda.org>
>> >Subject: [games_access] Survey
>> >To: games_access at igda.org
>> >
>> >Hello, my name is Adam Gourdin, the summer intern at 
IGDA's
>>office in San
>> >Francisco.  I am currently attempting to create a broad
>>demographic survey
>> >for IGDA and would very much appreciate your input.  I
>>would like to know
>> >(a) what is important to you in terms of diversity issues
>>(b) questions you
>> >would like to see on the survey and (c) anything else you
>>want to tell me
>> >that you think is relevant.
>> >
>> >Sincerely
>> >Adam Gourdin
>> >
>> >_______________________________________________
>> >games_access mailing list
>> >games_access at igda.org
>> >http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>>_______________________________________________
>>games_access mailing list
>>games_access at igda.org
>>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>
>_______________________________________________
>games_access mailing list
>games_access at igda.org
>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access


From hinn at uiuc.edu  Mon Jun 13 15:11:55 2005
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (hinn at uiuc.edu)
Date: Mon, 13 Jun 2005 14:11:55 -0500
Subject: [games_access] Fwd: [AGDev-discuss] Accessible Games Discussion
Message-ID: <3f898d35.be90cf1.8242c00@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>

FYI...from the AGDev discussion list. Check out the MP3 file 
of the talk -- interesting discussion! I'll summarize it as 
soon as I get some spare minutes for those who can't access 
it (ok, so the file isn't totally accessible for all of 
us...it was for a vision impairment conference). Might help, 
though, with some of the survey questions for those with 
visual impairments.

Michelle

---- Original message ----
>Date: Mon, 13 Jun 2005 14:03:32 -0400
>From: "Phil Vlasak" <phil at pcsgames.net>  
>Subject: [AGDev-discuss] Accessible Games Discussion  
>To: "AGDev discussion list" <agdev-discuss at lists.agdev.org>
>
>Hi Folks,
>I visited the OcuSource Expo
>http://www.ocusource.com/expo/expo.cfm
>Saturday, June 11, 2005
>10:45 - 11:30 AM
>Accessible Games Discussion
>by Michael Feir
>His talk lasts 47 minutes, and the file is about 21 mb in 
size.
>http://www.pcsgames.net/Michael_Feir12June2005.mp3
> He talks about several game companies and you are welcome 
to add the file
>to your web sites.
>I was the only other developer in the chat room, so that's 
probably why he
>talked about my company first.
>Or maybe it was because we have had articles in all but the 
first Audyssey
>magazine.
>
>sincerely,
>Phil
>
>_______________________________________________
>AGDev-discuss mailing list
>AGDev-discuss at lists.agdev.org
>http://lists.agdev.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/agdev-
discuss


From hinn at uiuc.edu  Mon Jun 13 17:55:50 2005
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (hinn at uiuc.edu)
Date: Mon, 13 Jun 2005 16:55:50 -0500
Subject: [games_access] Fwd: Re: [AGDev-discuss] Accessible Games Discussion
Message-ID: <89b73d4f.bf80e85.8234700@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>

More from the AGDev list....Ok, cool -- Tim Chase has 
started a transcription of the talk! Good stuff!

Michelle

---- Original message ----
>Date: Mon, 13 Jun 2005 16:47:29 -0500
>From: Tim Chase <agdev at thechases.com>  
>Subject: Re: [AGDev-discuss] Accessible Games Discussion  
>To: AGDev discussion list <agdev-discuss at lists.agdev.org>
>
>> Accessible Games Discussion
>> by Michael Feir
>
>I mirrored Phil & Michael's work as recorded at
>
>http://tim.thechases.com/Michael_Feir12June2005.mp3
>
>in case folks have hammered Phil's servers too much.
>
>I also started a transcript at
>
>http://oblique.agrip.org.uk/~gumnos/transcript.html
>
>if anybody wants to pick where I left off.  I tried to put 
in 
>time markers so you can follow along if you're listening at 
home. 
>    I made it about 33 minutes in before my mind started 
going a 
>bit numb :)
>
>Later,
>
>-tim
>
>
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>AGDev-discuss mailing list
>AGDev-discuss at lists.agdev.org
>http://lists.agdev.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/agdev-
discuss


From hinn at uiuc.edu  Fri Jun 17 00:03:09 2005
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (hinn at uiuc.edu)
Date: Thu, 16 Jun 2005 23:03:09 -0500
Subject: [games_access] Game Survey -- Places to target to get the word out
Message-ID: <45cab12.da52e33.81e3200@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>

Hi all,

I'm posting up a quick summary of this past monday's meeting 
on the sig website (http://www.igda.org/accessibility/). We 
mostly talked about Reid's survey 
that is going to try to get at how many people -- disabled 
or not -- would like to see game accessibility features 
brought into games. Next Monday's meeting will focus on the 
continued survey development.

One thing we want to do is start collecting media lists, 
gamer lists, disabled game groups -- places that we think 
might be responsive to a post or putting up a short blurb on 
their website about the survey. so we want this to be huge!

To get everyone thinking...here are a few places off the top 
of my head that we should hit just to get the ball rolling:

Gaming Organizations/Professional Game Dev Media:

* Gamasutra (http://www.gamasutra.com)
* IGDA (http://igda.org/) -- the IGDA also has a monthly 
newsletter that goes out to all members that we could add a 
little advert for the survey on

Game Media:

* GameSpot (http://www.gamespot.com/)
* IGN (http://www.ign.com/)

Accessible Game Media/Organizations:

* AGDev (http://www.agdev.org/)
* Deaf Gamers (http://www.deafgamers.com/)

Disability Organizations:

* American Foundation for the Blind (http://www.afb.org/)
* American Association for the Deaf-Blind 
(http://www.aadb.org/)
* American Association for Deaf Children 
(http://www.deafchildren.org/home/home.html)
* Center for Applied Special Technology 
(http://www.cast.org/)

Other Media?

* Wired Magazine (http://www.wired.com/)
* New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com)

Please -- keep adding your links and ideas -- we're trying 
to collect as many potential groups who might help us get 
the word out about our survey as possible! Thanks!

Michelle


From j.chetwynd at btinternet.com  Fri Jun 17 11:13:36 2005
From: j.chetwynd at btinternet.com (Jonathan Chetwynd)
Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2005 16:13:36 +0100
Subject: [games_access] Game Survey -- Places to target to get the word out
In-Reply-To: <45cab12.da52e33.81e3200@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>
References: <45cab12.da52e33.81e3200@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>
Message-ID: <17C73865-5C6B-4FDA-AF6C-3FEC567C4A2D@btinternet.com>

My apologies for being offline, current committments etc....

media literacy will provide a fount of compatible information in the  
near future... I'll post some links nearer the time ~:"

I've added a few more

Accessibility Groups

WAI         http://www.w3.org/WAI
WCAG         http://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG
GAWDS    http://www.gawds.org

Gaming Organizations/Professional Game Dev Media:



Game Media:



Accessible Game Media/Organizations:

RNIB http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/ 
PublicWebsite/public_rnib002958.hcsp


Disability Organizations:

Mencap http://www.mencap.org.uk
RNIB    http://www.rnib.org.uk
RNID    http://www.rnid.org.uk/

Other Media?

* Wired Magazine (http://www.wired.com/)
* New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com)

Please -- keep adding your links and ideas -- we're trying
to collect as many potential groups who might help us get
the word out about our survey as possible! Thanks!

Michelle
_______________________________________________
games_access mailing list
games_access at igda.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access


Jonathan Chetwynd
29 Crimsworth Road
SW8 4RJ

020 7978 1764



From hinn at uiuc.edu  Sun Jun 19 23:55:23 2005
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (hinn at uiuc.edu)
Date: Sun, 19 Jun 2005 22:55:23 -0500
Subject: [games_access] Reminder: GA SIG meeting Monday, June 20
 at 12noon (est) / 9am (pst)
Message-ID: <419acd1e.f2ff6db.8230400@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>

Hi all, just a reminder that the next SIG meeting will be on 
Monday, June 20 on MSN messenger at noon (EST). Email me at 
accessibility at igda.org with any questions about logging on 
for the meeting. 

We'll continue the talk about the survey we're going to 
administer in August that will help us get a start at 
figuring out some better gaming accessibility demographics. 
This will be the largest survey undertaken so far on the 
topic so this should be a real help!

I'd also like to talk for a few minutes during the meeting 
about forming some working groups. We have a lot of projects 
going on and it might be more efficient if we kept the 
general meeting as a place for everyone to check in with the 
whole sig while smaller "working groups" met at other times. 
That way the different projects get time to hash out 
details...which we always run out of during the monday 
meeting.

Other news: 

* Kevin Bierre is writing up an article for Gamasutra on 
Game Accessibility and will give a plug for the SIG there. 
Hopefully that will help us get more industry people 
involved! 

* Everything's all set for the HCII conference in Las Vegas. 
To my knowledge, only Kevin is going -- correct?

* We have the book proposal back in our hands to edit and 
give back to the publisher -- we got some great positive 
feedback from the publisher (yay!)

Hope to see most of you tomorrow!

Michelle
Chair, Game Accessibility SIG


From simon at ahbinnovision.com  Mon Jun 20 02:39:33 2005
From: simon at ahbinnovision.com (Simon van Dam)
Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2005 08:39:33 +0200
Subject: [games_access] Reminder: GA SIG meeting Monday,
	June 20 at 12noon (est) / 9am (pst)
In-Reply-To: <419acd1e.f2ff6db.8230400@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>
Message-ID: <0IID004BNBOL9PE0@mxout4.netvision.net.il>

Unfortunately, I have a conflicting obligation, so I can't make it this
time. I would love to participate, since I believe that we have something to
contribute, but that has to wait until next time.

Check out our website: www.ahbinnovision.com.

Regards,

Simon van Dam

-----Original Message-----
From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of hinn at uiuc.edu
Sent: Monday, June 20, 2005 05:55
To: games_access at igda.org
Subject: [games_access] Reminder: GA SIG meeting Monday, June 20 at 12noon
(est) / 9am (pst)

Hi all, just a reminder that the next SIG meeting will be on Monday, June 20
on MSN messenger at noon (EST). Email me at accessibility at igda.org with any
questions about logging on for the meeting. 

We'll continue the talk about the survey we're going to administer in August
that will help us get a start at figuring out some better gaming
accessibility demographics. 
This will be the largest survey undertaken so far on the topic so this
should be a real help!

I'd also like to talk for a few minutes during the meeting about forming
some working groups. We have a lot of projects going on and it might be more
efficient if we kept the general meeting as a place for everyone to check in
with the whole sig while smaller "working groups" met at other times. 
That way the different projects get time to hash out details...which we
always run out of during the monday meeting.

Other news: 

* Kevin Bierre is writing up an article for Gamasutra on Game Accessibility
and will give a plug for the SIG there. 
Hopefully that will help us get more industry people involved! 

* Everything's all set for the HCII conference in Las Vegas. 
To my knowledge, only Kevin is going -- correct?

* We have the book proposal back in our hands to edit and give back to the
publisher -- we got some great positive feedback from the publisher (yay!)

Hope to see most of you tomorrow!

Michelle
Chair, Game Accessibility SIG
_______________________________________________
games_access mailing list
games_access at igda.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access



From jason at igda.org  Tue Jun 21 10:23:49 2005
From: jason at igda.org (Jason Della Rocca)
Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 10:23:49 -0400
Subject: [games_access] academic researchers
In-Reply-To: <419acd1e.f2ff6db.8230400@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>
References: <419acd1e.f2ff6db.8230400@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>
Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.0.20050621100752.024a5e20@mail.igda.org>

Hi all,

Just got back from DiGRA, a conference for game academics/researchers.

http://www.gamesconference.org/


I did notice some SIG-relevant sessions on the program. But, sadly did not 
have time to attend any of those sessions.

Perhaps someone from the SIG can scan the program and build a list of the 
accessibility related papers and speakers.

http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/papers.php

For example:
http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/viewabstract.php?id=24
http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/viewabstract.php?id=213

(And, I do believe that most have their email listed)...

I am sure that academics involved in this area would be happy to get 
involved with the SIG.

Just a suggestion :)

Jason

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jason Della Rocca
Executive Director
International Game Developers Association

t: +1-514-426-1162
f: +1-514-426-1201
Montreal, Canada
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.igda.org/
http://www.realitypanic.com/

"Do or do not. There is no try."
- Yoda



From hinn at uiuc.edu  Tue Jun 21 14:15:29 2005
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (hinn at uiuc.edu)
Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 13:15:29 -0500
Subject: [games_access] News Feed: Japanese Game for the Blind
Message-ID: <63233cf8.100289b5.8443200@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>

Tim Chase sent this link to the AG-Dev list which I thought 
would be of interest to a lot of us:

http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/pp.php?
id=345629850&fp=512&fpid=406

I've copied and pasted the article below in case it "goes 
away" from the site before you've had a chance to read it!

Michelle

Researcher develops computer game for the blind
Martyn Williams, IDG News Service

15/06/2005 09:13:06

A Japanese researcher has developed a computer game in which 
the player becomes the game character, the game is played in 
real space and a pair of headphones substitute for a 
monitor. 

The game is called BBBeat and requires the player to wield a 
mallet and hit computer-generated bees in order to rack up 
points. The game has no screen. Instead, the player wears 
special headphones that makes the bees seem to buzz around 
the head, and the gamer must locate them based on sound 
alone. 

The game, developed by Makoto Ohuchi of Tohoku Fukushi 
University as part of his PhD project, is intended mostly as 
a training aid to heighten the ability of the visually 
impaired to locate the source of sounds. But it can be 
enjoyed by anybody, as Ohuchi showed during a demonstration 
Friday at the university, about 400 kilometers north of 
Tokyo in the city of Sendai. 

Playing the game means first getting kitted out. The 
computer needs to be able to follow the player's movements, 
so sensors are clipped to the player's upper arm and wrist, 
and also to the headphones and the mallet. The sensors 
communicate with a control box worn around the waist, which 
in turn routes the information to a Windows PC. 

There is a monitor showing the bees and the movements of the 
player, but it is meant for people accompanying the player 
rather than the player himself. 

The game not only helps players practice locating sounds but 
also hones their ability to reach out to the source of a 
sound -- and in this case bash it with a mallet. 

Preliminary tests suggest the game may be effective. Ohuchi 
tested it by giving 10 players a similar game to play for 10 
days. Their ability to locate the source of sounds was 
measured at the start and finish of the 10-day period. Those 
who had played the game showed significant improvement, 
while a control group with no access to the game registered 
virtually no change, Ohuchi wrote in a paper on the project. 

Further tests are needed to verify the preliminary findings, 
Ohuchi cautioned. 

Plans to commercialize the game are advancing and Ohuchi 
hopes it will be available before the end of the year. 

A consortium of four companies has been working with Ohuchi 
on the project for the last two years, said Keiki Hatakeyama 
president of P Softhouse, a Sendai-based software company 
that is one of the four. Tsuken Denki Kogyo, another Sendai-
based consortium member, will handle sales of the product, 
Hatakeyama said. 

The price for the game has not yet been decided, but it will 
not be cheap, Hatakeyama said. 

Ohuchi estimated that it will likely cost several thousand 
dollars. It will be targeted at schools and rehabilitation 
centers for the blind, he said. 

Details of Ohuchi's research are due to be published in the 
proceedings of the International Conference on Auditory 
Display, which is scheduled to take place from July 6 though 
July 9 in Limerick, Ireland.


From j.chetwynd at btinternet.com  Tue Jun 21 15:38:10 2005
From: j.chetwynd at btinternet.com (Jonathan Chetwynd)
Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 20:38:10 +0100
Subject: [games_access] academic researchers
In-Reply-To: <6.2.1.2.0.20050621100752.024a5e20@mail.igda.org>
References: <419acd1e.f2ff6db.8230400@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>
	<6.2.1.2.0.20050621100752.024a5e20@mail.igda.org>
Message-ID: <41C5AEF7-1EF2-47D1-B3E5-F71C8AB4393A@btinternet.com>

Jason,

thanks for those links, of the abstracts I read, this one also comes  
close to my area of interest:
http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/viewabstract.php?id=370

cheers

~:"

On 21 Jun 2005, at 15:23, Jason Della Rocca wrote:

Hi all,

Just got back from DiGRA, a conference for game academics/researchers.

http://www.gamesconference.org/


I did notice some SIG-relevant sessions on the program. But, sadly  
did not have time to attend any of those sessions.

Perhaps someone from the SIG can scan the program and build a list of  
the accessibility related papers and speakers.

http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/papers.php

For example:
http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/viewabstract.php?id=24
http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/viewabstract.php?id=213

(And, I do believe that most have their email listed)...

I am sure that academics involved in this area would be happy to get  
involved with the SIG.

Just a suggestion :)

Jason

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jason Della Rocca
Executive Director
International Game Developers Association

t: +1-514-426-1162
f: +1-514-426-1201
Montreal, Canada
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.igda.org/
http://www.realitypanic.com/

"Do or do not. There is no try."
- Yoda

_______________________________________________
games_access mailing list
games_access at igda.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access


Jonathan Chetwynd
29 Crimsworth Road
SW8 4RJ

020 7978 1764



From js at ea-research.com  Wed Jun 22 15:20:09 2005
From: js at ea-research.com (js at ea-research.com)
Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2005 15:20:09 -0400
Subject: [games_access] academic researchers
In-Reply-To: <6.2.1.2.0.20050621100752.024a5e20@mail.igda.org>
Message-ID: <000c01c57761$0a177650$4002330a@aiubuckhead.aiuniv.edu>

Thank You Jason,

This will be a great help in our initiative to move the Urban Video Game
Academy in to the national arena. Just to let you know I will be meeting
with Dr. Henry Jenkins and Alex sometime in July. 

Speak to you soon,

Joe Saulter



Joseph Saulter AA,BA,MA:CEO
Entertainment Arts Research
Chairman American Intercontinental University 
Game Design and Development Department
404.965.5937
404.606.7383

-----Original Message-----
From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Jason Della Rocca
Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2005 10:24 AM
To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
Subject: [games_access] academic researchers

Hi all,

Just got back from DiGRA, a conference for game academics/researchers.

http://www.gamesconference.org/


I did notice some SIG-relevant sessions on the program. But, sadly did not 
have time to attend any of those sessions.

Perhaps someone from the SIG can scan the program and build a list of the 
accessibility related papers and speakers.

http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/papers.php

For example:
http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/viewabstract.php?id=24
http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/viewabstract.php?id=213

(And, I do believe that most have their email listed)...

I am sure that academics involved in this area would be happy to get 
involved with the SIG.

Just a suggestion :)

Jason

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jason Della Rocca
Executive Director
International Game Developers Association

t: +1-514-426-1162
f: +1-514-426-1201
Montreal, Canada
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.igda.org/
http://www.realitypanic.com/

"Do or do not. There is no try."
- Yoda

_______________________________________________
games_access mailing list
games_access at igda.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access

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From hinn at uiuc.edu  Wed Jun 22 20:05:40 2005
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (hinn at uiuc.edu)
Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2005 19:05:40 -0500
Subject: [games_access] GA SIG Meeting Time/Place Survey
Message-ID: <652658a1.10a66def.8198e00@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>

Hi everyone,

I'd like to take a quick informal survey on meeting day/time 
as well as meeting "venues" (ie, MSN messenger, skype, etc)
preferences. So if you are interested in attending online 
game accessibility sig meetings, please answer the questions 
below and email the survey to me at hinn at uiuc.edu

Thanks everyone!
Michelle
Chair, GA SIG

Survey
-------

1) Pick your top FIVE (3) days of the week that would work 
for you for a meeting (rank your choices in order where "1" 
is your top choice):

___ Monday
___ Tuesday
___ Wednesday
___ Thursday
___ Friday
___ Saturday
___ Sunday

2) Pick your top FIVE (5) time slots that would work for you 
for a meeting (times are in US EST; rank your choices in 
order where "1" is your top choice, Here's a handy time 
converter 
(http://www.worldtimeserver.com/time_converter.aspx):

___ 10 am (EST)
___ 11 am (EST)
___ 12 pm (EST)
___ 1 pm (EST)
___ 2 pm (EST)
___ 3 pm (EST)
___ 4 pm (EST)
___ 5 pm (EST)
___ 6 pm (EST)
___ 7 pm (EST)
___ 8 pm (EST)

3) What country and time zone are you located in: _________

4) Pick your top THREE (3) online meeting place preferences 
(rank your choices in order where "1" 
is your top choice):

___  Yahoo Messenger
___  AOL Instant Messenger
___  MSN Instant Messenger (what we currently use)
___  ICQ
___  IRC
___  Skype
___  Other (Please Specify: _________ )

Thanks for your help! Please email this to hinn at uiuc.edu

Michelle


From hinn at uiuc.edu  Wed Jun 22 20:17:44 2005
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (hinn at uiuc.edu)
Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2005 19:17:44 -0500
Subject: [games_access] GA SIG Meeting Time/Place
 Survey
Message-ID: <904dd1e0.10a788c0.8234c00@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>

ha! well, my first question is supposed to read list your 
top 5 (5) -- not top 5 (3). so much for clarifying things! :)

michelle

---- Original message ----
>Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2005 19:05:40 -0500
>From: <hinn at uiuc.edu>  
>Subject: [games_access] GA SIG Meeting Time/Place Survey  
>To: games_access at igda.org
>
>Hi everyone,
>
>I'd like to take a quick informal survey on meeting 
day/time 
>as well as meeting "venues" (ie, MSN messenger, skype, etc)
>preferences. So if you are interested in attending online 
>game accessibility sig meetings, please answer the 
questions 
>below and email the survey to me at hinn at uiuc.edu
>
>Thanks everyone!
>Michelle
>Chair, GA SIG
>
>Survey
>-------
>
>1) Pick your top FIVE (3) days of the week that would work 
>for you for a meeting (rank your choices in order where "1" 
>is your top choice):
>
>___ Monday
>___ Tuesday
>___ Wednesday
>___ Thursday
>___ Friday
>___ Saturday
>___ Sunday
>
>2) Pick your top FIVE (5) time slots that would work for 
you 
>for a meeting (times are in US EST; rank your choices in 
>order where "1" is your top choice, Here's a handy time 
>converter 
>(http://www.worldtimeserver.com/time_converter.aspx):
>
>___ 10 am (EST)
>___ 11 am (EST)
>___ 12 pm (EST)
>___ 1 pm (EST)
>___ 2 pm (EST)
>___ 3 pm (EST)
>___ 4 pm (EST)
>___ 5 pm (EST)
>___ 6 pm (EST)
>___ 7 pm (EST)
>___ 8 pm (EST)
>
>3) What country and time zone are you located in: _________
>
>4) Pick your top THREE (3) online meeting place preferences 
>(rank your choices in order where "1" 
>is your top choice):
>
>___  Yahoo Messenger
>___  AOL Instant Messenger
>___  MSN Instant Messenger (what we currently use)
>___  ICQ
>___  IRC
>___  Skype
>___  Other (Please Specify: _________ )
>
>Thanks for your help! Please email this to hinn at uiuc.edu
>
>Michelle
>_______________________________________________
>games_access mailing list
>games_access at igda.org
>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access


From hinn at uiuc.edu  Wed Jun 22 21:26:02 2005
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (hinn at uiuc.edu)
Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2005 20:26:02 -0500
Subject: Correction: [games_access] GA SIG Meeting
 Time/Place Survey
Message-ID: <848cbd90.10adc970.8242200@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>

Just to be more clear -- what I meant when I said US EST is 
actually US ET (New York City Time). Sorry about that. Some 
Indiana SIG members pointed out my incorrect use of EST.

Thanks everyone!
Michelle

---- Original message ----
>Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2005 19:05:40 -0500
>From: <hinn at uiuc.edu>  
>Subject: [games_access] GA SIG Meeting Time/Place Survey  
>To: games_access at igda.org
>
>Hi everyone,
>
>I'd like to take a quick informal survey on meeting 
day/time 
>as well as meeting "venues" (ie, MSN messenger, skype, etc)
>preferences. So if you are interested in attending online 
>game accessibility sig meetings, please answer the 
questions 
>below and email the survey to me at hinn at uiuc.edu
>
>Thanks everyone!
>Michelle
>Chair, GA SIG
>
>Survey
>-------
>
>1) Pick your top FIVE (3) days of the week that would work 
>for you for a meeting (rank your choices in order where "1" 
>is your top choice):
>
>___ Monday
>___ Tuesday
>___ Wednesday
>___ Thursday
>___ Friday
>___ Saturday
>___ Sunday
>
>2) Pick your top FIVE (5) time slots that would work for 
you 
>for a meeting (times are in US EST; rank your choices in 
>order where "1" is your top choice, Here's a handy time 
>converter 
>(http://www.worldtimeserver.com/time_converter.aspx):
>
>___ 10 am (EST)
>___ 11 am (EST)
>___ 12 pm (EST)
>___ 1 pm (EST)
>___ 2 pm (EST)
>___ 3 pm (EST)
>___ 4 pm (EST)
>___ 5 pm (EST)
>___ 6 pm (EST)
>___ 7 pm (EST)
>___ 8 pm (EST)
>
>3) What country and time zone are you located in: _________
>
>4) Pick your top THREE (3) online meeting place preferences 
>(rank your choices in order where "1" 
>is your top choice):
>
>___  Yahoo Messenger
>___  AOL Instant Messenger
>___  MSN Instant Messenger (what we currently use)
>___  ICQ
>___  IRC
>___  Skype
>___  Other (Please Specify: _________ )
>
>Thanks for your help! Please email this to hinn at uiuc.edu
>
>Michelle
>_______________________________________________
>games_access mailing list
>games_access at igda.org
>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access


From hinn at uiuc.edu  Wed Jun 22 21:39:29 2005
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (michelle hinn)
Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2005 20:39:29 -0500
Subject: [games_access] GDC Europe 2005
In-Reply-To: <419acd1e.f2ff6db.8230400@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>
Message-ID: <20050623013940.0CFDD57183@seven.pairlist.net>

Hi everyone,

If you are planning to attend GDC Europe in London in Late Augst/Early
September (http://www.gdceurope.com/), please send me an email off list at
hinn at uiuc.edu

Thanks!
Michelle




From rkimball at gmail.com  Wed Jun 22 22:31:01 2005
From: rkimball at gmail.com (Reid Kimball)
Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2005 22:31:01 -0400
Subject: [games_access] Closed captioning mod for Doom3 is finished
In-Reply-To: <20050623013940.0CFDD57183@seven.pairlist.net>
References: <419acd1e.f2ff6db.8230400@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>
	<20050623013940.0CFDD57183@seven.pairlist.net>
Message-ID: <a6673b8d0506221931d15cbeb@mail.gmail.com>

Hey all,

My team, Games[CC] finished our work on Doom3[CC] which adds closed
captions to Doom3. Here are the notable features that make our Dynamic
Closed Captioning system the most comprehensive yet in any game.

- Options to caption only sound effects, only dialog, or both at the same time
- Color coded closed captions for characters and environmental sounds
- Support for multiple languages (English, Spanish, French, German and
Brazilian Portuguese)
- Easily modify text files to add or delete captions, change their
frequency of captioning, add additional language support and modify
color assignments
- A visual sound based radar on the HUD that simulates the basic
information of a sounds direction and distance of origin rather than
its exact location

The mod can be downloaded from: http://game.rbkdesign.com/doom3cc/

This version only works with Doom3 v1.3.

-REid


From hinn at uiuc.edu  Thu Jun 23 00:17:09 2005
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (hinn at uiuc.edu)
Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2005 23:17:09 -0500
Subject: [games_access] Closed captioning mod
 for Doom3 is finished
Message-ID: <e877b509.10bd73b4.821d300@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>

Awesome, Reid! I'm going to check it out this weekend. 
Thanks for letting us know that it's finished!

Michelle

---- Original message ----
>Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2005 22:31:01 -0400
>From: Reid Kimball <rkimball at gmail.com>  
>Subject: [games_access] Closed captioning mod for Doom3 is 
finished  
>To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List 
<games_access at igda.org>
>
>Hey all,
>
>My team, Games[CC] finished our work on Doom3[CC] which 
adds closed
>captions to Doom3. Here are the notable features that make 
our Dynamic
>Closed Captioning system the most comprehensive yet in any 
game.
>
>- Options to caption only sound effects, only dialog, or 
both at the same time
>- Color coded closed captions for characters and 
environmental sounds
>- Support for multiple languages (English, Spanish, French, 
German and
>Brazilian Portuguese)
>- Easily modify text files to add or delete captions, 
change their
>frequency of captioning, add additional language support 
and modify
>color assignments
>- A visual sound based radar on the HUD that simulates the 
basic
>information of a sounds direction and distance of origin 
rather than
>its exact location
>
>The mod can be downloaded from: 
http://game.rbkdesign.com/doom3cc/
>
>This version only works with Doom3 v1.3.
>
>-REid
>_______________________________________________
>games_access mailing list
>games_access at igda.org
>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access


From hinn at uiuc.edu  Thu Jun 23 01:40:52 2005
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (michelle hinn)
Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2005 00:40:52 -0500
Subject: [games_access] academic researchers
In-Reply-To: <41C5AEF7-1EF2-47D1-B3E5-F71C8AB4393A@btinternet.com>
Message-ID: <20050623054102.B2DEB5706E@seven.pairlist.net>

Hi All,

Here are some of the abstracts that I found most interesting for the SIG as
a whole (includes Jason's and Barrie's links in full):

Darryl Charles, dk.charles at ulster.ac.uk
Computing and Information Engineering, University of Ulster
http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/viewabstract.php?id=250

Paul Kearney, pkearney at unitec.ac.nz
School of Computing and Information Technology, Unitec New Zealand
Playing in the Sandbox: Developing games for children with disabilities.
http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/viewabstract.php?id=24

Tammy McGraw, tmcgraw at intelligen.net
Intelligen, LLC
The Effects of a Consumer-Oriented Multimedia Game on the Reading Disorders
of Children with ADHD
http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/viewabstract.php?id=370

Niklas R?ber, niklas at isg.cs.uni-magdeburg.de
Games Research Group, Department of Simulation and Graphics,
Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
Playing Audio-only Games: A compendium of interacting with virtual, auditory
Worlds
http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/viewabstract.php?id=213

I'll send them out an email to invite them to the SIG -- some interesting
reads for sure! Check them out when you get the chance.

Michelle

-----Original Message-----
From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Jonathan Chetwynd
Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2005 2:38 PM
To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
Subject: Re: [games_access] academic researchers

Jason,

thanks for those links, of the abstracts I read, this one also comes  
close to my area of interest:
http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/viewabstract.php?id=370

cheers

~:"

On 21 Jun 2005, at 15:23, Jason Della Rocca wrote:

Hi all,

Just got back from DiGRA, a conference for game academics/researchers.

http://www.gamesconference.org/


I did notice some SIG-relevant sessions on the program. But, sadly  
did not have time to attend any of those sessions.

Perhaps someone from the SIG can scan the program and build a list of  
the accessibility related papers and speakers.

http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/papers.php

For example:
http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/viewabstract.php?id=24
http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/viewabstract.php?id=213

(And, I do believe that most have their email listed)...

I am sure that academics involved in this area would be happy to get  
involved with the SIG.

Just a suggestion :)

Jason

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jason Della Rocca
Executive Director
International Game Developers Association

t: +1-514-426-1162
f: +1-514-426-1201
Montreal, Canada
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.igda.org/
http://www.realitypanic.com/

"Do or do not. There is no try."
- Yoda

_______________________________________________
games_access mailing list
games_access at igda.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access


Jonathan Chetwynd
29 Crimsworth Road
SW8 4RJ

020 7978 1764

_______________________________________________
games_access mailing list
games_access at igda.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access




From hinn at uiuc.edu  Thu Jun 23 02:46:57 2005
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (michelle hinn)
Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2005 01:46:57 -0500
Subject: [games_access] FW: IGDA Newsletter - June 2005
Message-ID: <20050623064708.4AF1457109@seven.pairlist.net>

Just as a reminder :) The Game Accessibility SIG is sponsored by the
International Game Developers Association and here's this month's IGDA
newsletter that you might be interested in. IGDA helps provide things like
this mailing list, our wiki, our forums, and our blog (all on
www.igda.org/accessibility) as well as helping us with countless other
things that help us get noticed and keep us visible! Without the helpful
staff of the IGDA, we definitely would not have gotten as far as we have in
the last two years! 

Check out the IGDA site (www.igda.org) for information on how to join the
IGDA. I'm a member! Are you?

Michelle
Chair, IGDA GA SIG

-----Original Message-----
From: IGDA [mailto:news at igda.org] 
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2005 4:12 PM
To: IGDA_List at igda.org
Subject: IGDA Newsletter - June 2005

===========================
IGDA Newsletter - June 2005
===========================

=================
Table of Contents
=================
0: A Word From Jesse Schell

1: Quality of Life Summit Session Videos Now Online

2: Promising Students to be Awarded with GDC Europe Scholarships

3: 2005 Mobile Games White Paper Hot off the Press

4: Member Offers: Euro Industry Report, Difficult Questions Book

5: Columns Update

6: Chapter Meetings/Reports

x: Logistical Bits & Subscription Info
=================


===========================
0: A Word From Jesse Schell
===========================

Dear Members and friends,

I have felt quite privileged to spend the last year as IGDA Chairperson - 
it has given me a chance to learn more about the ins and outs of the 
organization, and to meet with more members than ever. I am glad to say 
that the experience has made me all the more proud to be a game developer, 
and proud to be a part of the IGDA. I've never, anywhere, seen a community 
so driven and passionate about creating incredible things, while 
simultaneously being so sharing and open.

For my final act as chair, I would like to thank you all for supporting the 
IGDA through this transitional year. The IGDA is nothing without its 
members and supporters, and I have every confidence that in the coming 
years, you will be quite surprised at the new ways the IGDA gives back to 
the members that have given it so much.

And with that said, I will pass the baton to our newly appointed chair: Bob 
Bates! With Bob's vast experience, endless patience, and atomic-powered 
enthusiasm, the IGDA is in excellent hands. Let me also congratulate our 
other elected officers: Secretary Mitzi McGilvray and Treasurer (and former 
chair) Kathy Schoback. Finally, please welcome our newest board member, Tom 
Buscaglia.

See the press release for more details:
http://www.igda.org/newsroom/press_062205.php

While this is my last intro letter, you aren't rid of me yet. I am pleased 
to say I'll be staying on the board for the coming year as "Chair Emeritus" 
to help ensure a smooth transition, so feel free to drop me a line. And 
have a great summer!

- Jesse Schell
Chairperson Emeritus, IGDA
Asst. Professor of Entertainment Technology, Carnegie Mellon University
CEO, Schell Games


**************************************************************************
** Ad: GDC Europe Announces Premier Keynote Lineup, 10% Member Discount **
**************************************************************************
The 5th Annual GDC Europe has announced both the keynote and conference 
line up for the 30 August to 1 September, 2005 event in London, UK. 
Industry veteran and Sony executive Phil Harrison and Katamari Damacy 
creator Keita Takahashi will deliver keynote addresses on 31 August and 1 
September respectively.

IGDA members receive a 10% discount on conference pass pricing. Early 
registration rates expire 3 August. Be sure to use priority code PIENXX to 
activate your discount. IGDA membership will be verified. Register today at:
http://www.gdceurope.com/
**************************************************************************


===================================================
1: Quality of Life Summit Session Videos Now Online
===================================================
To share the valuable knowledge that was generated during its Quality of 
Life Summit, the IGDA has made available recorded videos from the entire 
event. Additional Summit materials, including conference proceedings, 
slides, papers and reports, are also available free of charge.

The Summit, held at GDC, was the first of its kind to address the work 
environment and related issues for game development professionals. Experts 
discussed factors effecting poor working conditions, labor relations 
theories, legal issues surrounding overtime and case studies on how to 
overcome the hurdles preventing a better work atmosphere.

QoL Summit Videos:
http://www.igda.org/qol/vids.php

QoL Summit Materials (ie, slides, reports, etc):
http://www.igda.org/qol/events.php



*****************************************
** Ad: Upcoming Game Initiative Events **
*****************************************
CASUAL GAMES CONFERENCE
July 19-20, 2005 - Seattle, Washington
http://www.CasualGamesConference.com

Insights to the business opportunities and design considerations required 
for Developers, Publishers and Distributors to succeed in this 
rapidly-expanding game industry segment. Sponsored in part by MSN Games.

ADVERTISING IN GAMES WEST
July 28, 2005 - San Francisco, California
http://www.advertisingingames.com/west

Understand the opportunities and pitfalls the driving forces that are 
shaping the market. For game developers and publishers. Meet with ad 
agencies and technology companies. Sponsored in part by MSN Games.
*****************************************************



================================================================
2: Promising Students to be Awarded with GDC Europe Scholarships
================================================================
The IGDA will award qualified university students the chance to attend this 
year's Game Developers Conference Europe (GDCE). The scholarship will 
provide students with full access to all sessions, roundtables and keynotes 
at GDCE, offering a unique opportunity to meet with professionals and learn 
valuable industry skills.

The deadline to enter is Wednesday, July 20, 2005. Recipients will be 
announced by August 3rd. Applicants are required to be full-time university 
students (or in an equivalent educational program) and IGDA student members 
for consideration.

Complete information on the scholarship program and requirements are online:
http://www.igda.org/scholarships

Information on the 2005 GDC Europe can be found at:
http://www.gdceurope.com/



**********************************************
** Ad: SIGGRAPH 2005: The Smart place to be **
**********************************************
You'll find all the data, techniques, people, and inspiration you need for 
another successful year of research, development, production, and
creativity.

SIGGRAPH 2005 Keynote Address from world-renowned director, producer and 
screenwriter George Lucas. More than 300 presentations on leading edge 
technologies and techniques. An Exhibition with the largest international 
display of next-generation tools required for achievement in computer 
graphics and interactive techniques.

Five days only, 31 July-4 August 2005 in Los Angeles. Visit:
http://www.siggraph.org/s2005
**********************************************



==================================================
3: 2005 Mobile Games White Paper Hot off the Press
==================================================
The IGDA's Online Games SIG has recently published the "2005 Mobile Games 
White Paper", freely available in PDF format from the SIG site:
http://www.igda.org/online/papers.php

Prepared by industry volunteers, the 54 page report covers all aspects of 
the mobile game space, including the market and technology of mobile games, 
as well as insights on how to develop mobile games and start a new studio.



================================================================
4: Member Offers: Euro Industry Report, Difficult Questions Book
================================================================
The following offers are being provided to IGDA members:

Report: European Interactive Games - The 2005 State of the Industry
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This Screen Digest report is a key source of data on the structure and 
dynamics of the games industry in Europe and contains a thorough analysis 
of the changing factors affecting the key players throughout the games 
value chain. IGDA members are being offered a 20% discount. For more 
details, contact Jonathan Fletcher (+44 207 424 2820 or 
jonathan.fletcher at screendigest.com).

http://tinyurl.com/dqt6a


Book: Difficult Questions about Videogames
------------------------------------------
Difficult Questions About Videogames is a unique and vital book on the 
state of contemporary thinking and opinion on this most pervasive, 
important and misunderstood of popular cultural forms. PublicBeta, an 
organization dedicated to videogame culture, are giving away this book for 
FREE for a short time.

http://tinyurl.com/9rj7m



************************************************
** Ad: Video Games Live at the Hollywood Bowl **
************************************************
Video Games Live is the first major U.S. video game music concert tour. 
Think music concert, theatrical stage show, and interactive video game all 
wrapped into one! Video Games Live will feature the best music and video 
clips from the most popular games from the beginning of video gaming to the 
present: Mario, Zelda, Halo, Metal Gear Solid, Warcraft, Myst, Final 
Fantasy, etc...

The first show will be held on July 6th at the Hollywood Bowl in Los 
Angeles, California.
http://videogameslive.com/
************************************************



=================
5: Columns Update
=================
Monthly columns have been updated:

Famous Last Words
-----------------
"By Any Other Name..."
http://www.igda.org/columns/lastwords/lastwords_Jun05.php


Culture Clash
-------------
"W00T, Suxx0rz - The consequences of consequence-free communication"
http://www.igda.org/columns/clash/clash_Jun05.php


The Games Game
--------------
"Focus on the Job at Hand"
http://www.igda.org/columns/gamesgame/gamesgame_Jun05.php



===========================
6: Chapter Meetings/Reports
===========================
Complete list of chapter reports and upcoming meetings:
http://www.igda.org/chapters/updates.php


Colorado
Monday, July 11 > General discussion and networking meeting
http://coloradogamedev.org/


Dallas
Thursday, June 30 > Mobile Gaming: Status, Challenges and Opportunities
http://www.dallasigda.org/


London
Wednesday, June 29 > Meeting - Crises in Creativity?
http://www.igda.org/london/next/


Brighton
Monday, June 27 > Social
http://www.igda.org/brightonuk


Malaysia
Saturday, June 25 > Malaysian Chapter June Meeting Announcement
http://www.igda.org/malaysia/


Hamburg
Thursday, June 23 > Inaugural Hamburg Chapter Meeting
http://www.igda.org/hamburg


Vienna
Thursday, June 23 > June Chapter meeting
http://www.igda.org/vienna/vienna_meeting_06_2005.htm


Israel
Wednesday, June 22 > IGDA Israel Social Meeting
http://www.cfxweb.net/igda/meetings.php


Atlanta
Report, June 15 > June Chapter Meeting Summary
http://www.igda.org/atlanta


Montreal
Report, June 15 > Next-Gen Buzz or Bust?
http://www.igda.org/montreal/reports/summary_Jun05.htm


New Jersey North
Report, June 11 > May Meeting Report
http://blender.rutgers.edu/~njigda/meetings/2005/200505.php


Guildford
Report, June 8 > Max 7.5 presentation and the challenges facing next-gen AI
http://www.igda.org/guildford/080605event.htm


Colorado
Report, June 6 > E3 Slideshow and Miner Madness
http://coloradogamedev.org/meetings.php?20050606



==================
x: Logistical Bits
==================

Newsletter Subscription
-----------------------
You can update your newsletter subscription details via your MyProfile page:
http://www.igda.org/membership/myprofile.php

If you need help, contact us.


Thanks to our Partners
----------------------
The IGDA extends its sincerest thanks to all our Partners! Especially those 
who just joined us, or recently renewed their commitment to support the 
game development community:

- Algoma University College
- Austin Community College
- Autodesk Media and Entertainment
- Digital River, Inc.
- GameJobs.com
- ionForge
- Korea IT Industry Promotion Agency
- Mary-Margaret.com
- Microsoft Research
- NVIDIA Corporation
- Suffolk College
- University of Derby
- Web Technology Corp.
- Xbox

Without their support the IGDA simply would not survive - let alone thrive.

Further details and a complete list of Partners are available online:
http://www.igda.org/partners



Contact Information
-------------------
Please contact us if you have questions, comments or input:
http://www.igda.org/contact.php



RSS Feeds for IGDA News and Chapter Updates
-------------------------------------------
The IGDA web site has RSS feeds for IGDA news (eg, org announcements, 
committee work, etc) and chapter updates (eg, upcoming meetings, event 
reports). Those using RSS readers can point to:

IGDA News: http://www.igda.org/igda_news_rss.php

IGDA Chapter Updates: http://www.igda.org/igda_chapters_rss.php


-------
- end -
------- 





From richard at audiogames.net  Thu Jun 23 04:05:30 2005
From: richard at audiogames.net (AudioGames.net)
Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2005 10:05:30 +0200
Subject: [games_access] academic researchers
References: <20050623054102.B2DEB5706E@seven.pairlist.net>
Message-ID: <003101c577ca$52c44220$b31ca33e@Delletje>

Just as a reminder, you can find a lot of articles on game accessibility and 
audio games (including project research reports) over at

http://www.audiogames.net/page.php?pagefile=articles

We're still updating links to some of the older articles on the new website. 
You can still finding working links for articles of 2003 and 2004 here:

http://student-kmt.hku.nl/~audiogam/ag/articles2003.php
http://student-kmt.hku.nl/~audiogam/ag/articles.php

And for anyone able to read Dutch (or who would like to try using 
Bablefish - http://world.altavista.com/) I've recently written an article on 
game accessibility for the Accessibility Foundation:

http://www.accessibility.nl/algemeen/nieuws?id=51

Greets,

Richard


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "michelle hinn" <hinn at uiuc.edu>
To: "'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'" <games_access at igda.org>
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2005 7:40 AM
Subject: RE: [games_access] academic researchers


Hi All,

Here are some of the abstracts that I found most interesting for the SIG as
a whole (includes Jason's and Barrie's links in full):

Darryl Charles, dk.charles at ulster.ac.uk
Computing and Information Engineering, University of Ulster
http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/viewabstract.php?id=250

Paul Kearney, pkearney at unitec.ac.nz
School of Computing and Information Technology, Unitec New Zealand
Playing in the Sandbox: Developing games for children with disabilities.
http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/viewabstract.php?id=24

Tammy McGraw, tmcgraw at intelligen.net
Intelligen, LLC
The Effects of a Consumer-Oriented Multimedia Game on the Reading Disorders
of Children with ADHD
http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/viewabstract.php?id=370

Niklas R?ber, niklas at isg.cs.uni-magdeburg.de
Games Research Group, Department of Simulation and Graphics,
Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
Playing Audio-only Games: A compendium of interacting with virtual, auditory
Worlds
http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/viewabstract.php?id=213

I'll send them out an email to invite them to the SIG -- some interesting
reads for sure! Check them out when you get the chance.

Michelle

-----Original Message-----
From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Jonathan Chetwynd
Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2005 2:38 PM
To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
Subject: Re: [games_access] academic researchers

Jason,

thanks for those links, of the abstracts I read, this one also comes
close to my area of interest:
http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/viewabstract.php?id=370

cheers

~:"

On 21 Jun 2005, at 15:23, Jason Della Rocca wrote:

Hi all,

Just got back from DiGRA, a conference for game academics/researchers.

http://www.gamesconference.org/


I did notice some SIG-relevant sessions on the program. But, sadly
did not have time to attend any of those sessions.

Perhaps someone from the SIG can scan the program and build a list of
the accessibility related papers and speakers.

http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/papers.php

For example:
http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/viewabstract.php?id=24
http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/viewabstract.php?id=213

(And, I do believe that most have their email listed)...

I am sure that academics involved in this area would be happy to get
involved with the SIG.

Just a suggestion :)

Jason

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jason Della Rocca
Executive Director
International Game Developers Association

t: +1-514-426-1162
f: +1-514-426-1201
Montreal, Canada
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.igda.org/
http://www.realitypanic.com/

"Do or do not. There is no try."
- Yoda

_______________________________________________
games_access mailing list
games_access at igda.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access


Jonathan Chetwynd
29 Crimsworth Road
SW8 4RJ

020 7978 1764

_______________________________________________
games_access mailing list
games_access at igda.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access


_______________________________________________
games_access mailing list
games_access at igda.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access 



From j.chetwynd at btinternet.com  Thu Jun 23 07:04:29 2005
From: j.chetwynd at btinternet.com (Jonathan Chetwynd)
Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2005 12:04:29 +0100
Subject: [games_access] GDC Europe 2005
In-Reply-To: <20050623013940.0CFDD57183@seven.pairlist.net>
References: <20050623013940.0CFDD57183@seven.pairlist.net>
Message-ID: <3E041C51-017B-4892-BBB7-6DE90992D0FB@btinternet.com>

Michelle,

I'm not planning a trip as such, but as I'm based in London I am  
willing to be delegated ~:"

In fact it was the possibility of presenting at GDC and the time it  
took... I had been a regular attendee for over ten years...
that eventually led me to joining IGDA.

cheers

Jonathan

On 23 Jun 2005, at 02:39, michelle hinn wrote:

Hi everyone,

If you are planning to attend GDC Europe in London in Late Augst/Early
September (http://www.gdceurope.com/), please send me an email off  
list at
hinn at uiuc.edu

Thanks!
Michelle


_______________________________________________
games_access mailing list
games_access at igda.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access


Jonathan Chetwynd
29 Crimsworth Road
SW8 4RJ

020 7978 1764



From j.chetwynd at btinternet.com  Thu Jun 23 10:16:30 2005
From: j.chetwynd at btinternet.com (Jonathan Chetwynd)
Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2005 15:16:30 +0100
Subject: [games_access] gender divide in the UK
Message-ID: <9FB96785-7C6E-403E-A398-47559006124C@btinternet.com>

gender divide in the UK

http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/story/0,,1511985,00.html

Jonathan Chetwynd
29 Crimsworth Road
SW8 4RJ

020 7978 1764



From richard at audiogames.net  Thu Jun 23 14:20:45 2005
From: richard at audiogames.net (AudioGames.net)
Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2005 20:20:45 +0200
Subject: [games_access] gender divide in the UK
References: <9FB96785-7C6E-403E-A398-47559006124C@btinternet.com>
Message-ID: <006801c57820$45fad440$b31ca33e@Delletje>

Hi,

What have gender issues got to do with game accessibility? 

Greets,

Richard


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jonathan Chetwynd" <j.chetwynd at btinternet.com>
To: "IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List" <games_access at igda.org>
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2005 4:16 PM
Subject: [games_access] gender divide in the UK


> gender divide in the UK
> 
> http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/story/0,,1511985,00.html
> 
> Jonathan Chetwynd
> 29 Crimsworth Road
> SW8 4RJ
> 
> 020 7978 1764
> 
> _______________________________________________
> games_access mailing list
> games_access at igda.org
> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access


From hinn at uiuc.edu  Thu Jun 23 22:05:40 2005
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (michelle hinn)
Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2005 21:05:40 -0500
Subject: [games_access] academic researchers
In-Reply-To: <003101c577ca$52c44220$b31ca33e@Delletje>
Message-ID: <20050624020551.A87275715F@seven.pairlist.net>

Ah, great, Richard! Thanks for the reminder -- a lot of good stuff there,
too, everyone!

Michelle

-----Original Message-----
From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of AudioGames.net
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2005 3:06 AM
To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
Subject: Re: [games_access] academic researchers

Just as a reminder, you can find a lot of articles on game accessibility and

audio games (including project research reports) over at

http://www.audiogames.net/page.php?pagefile=articles

We're still updating links to some of the older articles on the new website.

You can still finding working links for articles of 2003 and 2004 here:

http://student-kmt.hku.nl/~audiogam/ag/articles2003.php
http://student-kmt.hku.nl/~audiogam/ag/articles.php

And for anyone able to read Dutch (or who would like to try using 
Bablefish - http://world.altavista.com/) I've recently written an article on

game accessibility for the Accessibility Foundation:

http://www.accessibility.nl/algemeen/nieuws?id=51

Greets,

Richard


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "michelle hinn" <hinn at uiuc.edu>
To: "'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'" <games_access at igda.org>
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2005 7:40 AM
Subject: RE: [games_access] academic researchers


Hi All,

Here are some of the abstracts that I found most interesting for the SIG as
a whole (includes Jason's and Barrie's links in full):

Darryl Charles, dk.charles at ulster.ac.uk
Computing and Information Engineering, University of Ulster
http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/viewabstract.php?id=250

Paul Kearney, pkearney at unitec.ac.nz
School of Computing and Information Technology, Unitec New Zealand
Playing in the Sandbox: Developing games for children with disabilities.
http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/viewabstract.php?id=24

Tammy McGraw, tmcgraw at intelligen.net
Intelligen, LLC
The Effects of a Consumer-Oriented Multimedia Game on the Reading Disorders
of Children with ADHD
http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/viewabstract.php?id=370

Niklas R?ber, niklas at isg.cs.uni-magdeburg.de
Games Research Group, Department of Simulation and Graphics,
Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
Playing Audio-only Games: A compendium of interacting with virtual, auditory
Worlds
http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/viewabstract.php?id=213

I'll send them out an email to invite them to the SIG -- some interesting
reads for sure! Check them out when you get the chance.

Michelle

-----Original Message-----
From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Jonathan Chetwynd
Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2005 2:38 PM
To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
Subject: Re: [games_access] academic researchers

Jason,

thanks for those links, of the abstracts I read, this one also comes
close to my area of interest:
http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/viewabstract.php?id=370

cheers

~:"

On 21 Jun 2005, at 15:23, Jason Della Rocca wrote:

Hi all,

Just got back from DiGRA, a conference for game academics/researchers.

http://www.gamesconference.org/


I did notice some SIG-relevant sessions on the program. But, sadly
did not have time to attend any of those sessions.

Perhaps someone from the SIG can scan the program and build a list of
the accessibility related papers and speakers.

http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/papers.php

For example:
http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/viewabstract.php?id=24
http://www.gamesconference.org/digra2005/viewabstract.php?id=213

(And, I do believe that most have their email listed)...

I am sure that academics involved in this area would be happy to get
involved with the SIG.

Just a suggestion :)

Jason

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jason Della Rocca
Executive Director
International Game Developers Association

t: +1-514-426-1162
f: +1-514-426-1201
Montreal, Canada
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.igda.org/
http://www.realitypanic.com/

"Do or do not. There is no try."
- Yoda

_______________________________________________
games_access mailing list
games_access at igda.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access


Jonathan Chetwynd
29 Crimsworth Road
SW8 4RJ

020 7978 1764

_______________________________________________
games_access mailing list
games_access at igda.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access


_______________________________________________
games_access mailing list
games_access at igda.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access 

_______________________________________________
games_access mailing list
games_access at igda.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access




From rkimball at gmail.com  Fri Jun 24 22:58:48 2005
From: rkimball at gmail.com (Reid Kimball)
Date: Fri, 24 Jun 2005 21:58:48 -0500
Subject: [games_access] XBox 360 TCR
Message-ID: <a6673b8d050624195886469a8@mail.gmail.com>

OK, I am not going to divulge any confidential information but I would
like feedback on what I am going to try to discuss with MS regarding
their XBox360 Technical Certification Requirements list.

I think we should suggest that they develop game accessibility
features into the XBox 360 control panel. Right now for XBox, you can
use the control panel to set the system date, access saved games (I
think) and such. It would be helpful if the control panel allowed
gamers to choose various accessibility features that will be
automatically active when a game is played. Each game will check with
the control panel's accessibility features and activate the options
chosen. For example, this will let someone turn on closed captioning
in one place and every game played will have it active. Players waste
a lot of time turning on captioning for each game they play and they
also are forced to skip opening cinematics because captioning is not
turned on by default in most games.

Here's what I'd like to send to XBox 360 Certification team:

Dear XBox 360 Certification team,

I am a game developer at Ritual Entertainment and I am also a member
of the IGDA special interest group regarding Game Accessibility
(http://www.igda.org/accessibility/). Our group aims to educate
developers about various ways to make games more accessible to those
who may have a disability. We research and develop solutions so that
other developers may implement them into their games and thus reach a
larger audience. We feel that the XBox 360 has an opportunity to do
what no console has done before, to provide developers and gamers with
specifically design game accessibility features that will improve the
quality of experience many gamers will have with your XBox 360
product. Features such as closed captioning, scalable UI/text and
changes in speed of rendering can greatly improve the accessibility of
a game to someone who may have hearing, sight, mobility or cognitive
disabilities. Below, I have written several additions for the TCR list
that I would like your team to consider for inclusion into the XBox
360's Control Panel options. We firmly believe that the inclusion of
such accessiblity features into the console directly will enable
developers to take advantage of them without sacrificing development
time and in doing so, reach a much wider audience than ever before.

TCR additions:
Game Accessibility Features
The following requirements provide the gamer with a set of
standardized features that make the game more accessible if they are a
disabled gamer or one who is new to the activity of playing games.


Xenon Control Panel
Requirement: The Game Accessibility Features are located both in the
Xenon Control Panel and within each game's Game Options menu. This
allows the user to setup accessibility options in one place before any
game is played. Those options are applied to each game played and work
from the very first launch of the game. This will eliminate the need
for players to skip opening cinematics in order to turn on
accessibility features before watching.


Closed Captioning
Requirement: From within the Xenon Control panel the user can enable
Closed Captioning options that are applied to each game played. The
Game Accessibility Panel provides choices for SFX and Dialog as
separate check box options. Checking both options will enable full
closed captioning for the game. Only checking Dialog will display
subtitles for spoken dialog.

Remarks: Spoken dialog includes dialog in cinematics, pre-rendered
movies, and in game encounters with enemies, NPCs and so on.

Most sound effects should be captioned whether they are from
cinematics, pre-rendered movies and in game encounters with enemies,
NPCs and objects.


UI/Text Legibility
Requirement: The Game Accessibility Features provides the user with
the ability to scale UI/text that is rendered within games.

Remarks: GUI elements should be scalable to allow the text to fit
properly if a large size is needed for someone who may be legally
blind.

Game Speed Variation
Requirement: This option is presented as a slider and allows the gamer
to slow down or speed up the rendering of the game. Players with
mobility or cognitive disabilities will benefit from a game that is
rendered slower than normal. The effect of this may resemble the
popular "bullet time" as seen in games such as Max Payne.

This concludes the additional material that the IGDA Games
Accessibility SIG would like to see supported by the XBox 360. If you
have any questions or would like to discuss this further you can
contact Michelle Hinn (chair of the SIG) at hinn at uiuc.edu. Thank you
for your time,

-IGDA Game Accessibility SIG

--------------------------------------------------

Michelle, if don't want to be the point contact, I don't mind doing that.

-Reid


From deano at rattie.demon.co.uk  Sat Jun 25 05:10:54 2005
From: deano at rattie.demon.co.uk (Deano Calver)
Date: Sat, 25 Jun 2005 10:10:54 +0100
Subject: [games_access] Implementing Closed Caption
Message-ID: <42BD1F9E.4070902@rattie.demon.co.uk>

Hello,
I'm working on a PS3 action game (Heavenly Sword) and I'm looking for
information on Closed Captioning.

I've already mentioned the subject of Closed Caption support to the
bosses, and I'm now looking for actual implementation details.
Particularly regard how much extra work for the schedules etc. My
initial thoughts are that there is some extra code work for the run-time
captioning system, some tools work to enhance the sounds tools and then
work for the sound designers actually adding the captions, then there is
extra QA work. Anything I've missed?

I've seen the CC faq, but I've not seen any real guides to how to
caption? (Colour, placement and reading level).

Are there different standards for different countries? (i.e. is red
unacceptable in country X) Any links for international closed caption?

I've noticed the Doom3[CC] has an audio radar, I'm curious to know how
important such a feature is?

Any help would be much appreciated,
Deano

Dean Calver,
Senior Programmer,
Ninja Theory Ltd.


-- 
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.8.1/28 - Release Date: 24/06/2005



From j.chetwynd at btinternet.com  Sat Jun 25 09:01:45 2005
From: j.chetwynd at btinternet.com (Jonathan Chetwynd)
Date: Sat, 25 Jun 2005 14:01:45 +0100
Subject: [games_access] XBox 360 TCR
In-Reply-To: <a6673b8d050624195886469a8@mail.gmail.com>
References: <a6673b8d050624195886469a8@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <275851E6-A08D-42B5-92B6-C3AA643DC622@btinternet.com>

Reid,

Would it be worth asking - what 'accessibility' features are  
available? - in the first instance.

cheers

~:"

On 25 Jun 2005, at 03:58, Reid Kimball wrote:

OK, I am not going to divulge any confidential information but I would
like feedback on what I am going to try to discuss with MS regarding
their XBox360 Technical Certification Requirements list.

I think we should suggest that they develop game accessibility
features into the XBox 360 control panel. Right now for XBox, you can
use the control panel to set the system date, access saved games (I
think) and such. It would be helpful if the control panel allowed
gamers to choose various accessibility features that will be
automatically active when a game is played. Each game will check with
the control panel's accessibility features and activate the options
chosen. For example, this will let someone turn on closed captioning
in one place and every game played will have it active. Players waste
a lot of time turning on captioning for each game they play and they
also are forced to skip opening cinematics because captioning is not
turned on by default in most games.

Here's what I'd like to send to XBox 360 Certification team:

Dear XBox 360 Certification team,

I am a game developer at Ritual Entertainment and I am also a member
of the IGDA special interest group regarding Game Accessibility
(http://www.igda.org/accessibility/). Our group aims to educate
developers about various ways to make games more accessible to those
who may have a disability. We research and develop solutions so that
other developers may implement them into their games and thus reach a
larger audience. We feel that the XBox 360 has an opportunity to do
what no console has done before, to provide developers and gamers with
specifically design game accessibility features that will improve the
quality of experience many gamers will have with your XBox 360
product. Features such as closed captioning, scalable UI/text and
changes in speed of rendering can greatly improve the accessibility of
a game to someone who may have hearing, sight, mobility or cognitive
disabilities. Below, I have written several additions for the TCR list
that I would like your team to consider for inclusion into the XBox
360's Control Panel options. We firmly believe that the inclusion of
such accessiblity features into the console directly will enable
developers to take advantage of them without sacrificing development
time and in doing so, reach a much wider audience than ever before.

TCR additions:
Game Accessibility Features
The following requirements provide the gamer with a set of
standardized features that make the game more accessible if they are a
disabled gamer or one who is new to the activity of playing games.


Xenon Control Panel
Requirement: The Game Accessibility Features are located both in the
Xenon Control Panel and within each game's Game Options menu. This
allows the user to setup accessibility options in one place before any
game is played. Those options are applied to each game played and work
from the very first launch of the game. This will eliminate the need
for players to skip opening cinematics in order to turn on
accessibility features before watching.


Closed Captioning
Requirement: From within the Xenon Control panel the user can enable
Closed Captioning options that are applied to each game played. The
Game Accessibility Panel provides choices for SFX and Dialog as
separate check box options. Checking both options will enable full
closed captioning for the game. Only checking Dialog will display
subtitles for spoken dialog.

Remarks: Spoken dialog includes dialog in cinematics, pre-rendered
movies, and in game encounters with enemies, NPCs and so on.

Most sound effects should be captioned whether they are from
cinematics, pre-rendered movies and in game encounters with enemies,
NPCs and objects.


UI/Text Legibility
Requirement: The Game Accessibility Features provides the user with
the ability to scale UI/text that is rendered within games.

Remarks: GUI elements should be scalable to allow the text to fit
properly if a large size is needed for someone who may be legally
blind.

Game Speed Variation
Requirement: This option is presented as a slider and allows the gamer
to slow down or speed up the rendering of the game. Players with
mobility or cognitive disabilities will benefit from a game that is
rendered slower than normal. The effect of this may resemble the
popular "bullet time" as seen in games such as Max Payne.

This concludes the additional material that the IGDA Games
Accessibility SIG would like to see supported by the XBox 360. If you
have any questions or would like to discuss this further you can
contact Michelle Hinn (chair of the SIG) at hinn at uiuc.edu. Thank you
for your time,

-IGDA Game Accessibility SIG

--------------------------------------------------

Michelle, if don't want to be the point contact, I don't mind doing  
that.

-Reid
_______________________________________________
games_access mailing list
games_access at igda.org
http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access


Jonathan Chetwynd
29 Crimsworth Road
SW8 4RJ

020 7978 1764



From rkimball at gmail.com  Sat Jun 25 14:06:36 2005
From: rkimball at gmail.com (Reid Kimball)
Date: Sat, 25 Jun 2005 14:06:36 -0400
Subject: [games_access] Implementing Closed Caption
In-Reply-To: <42BD1F9E.4070902@rattie.demon.co.uk>
References: <42BD1F9E.4070902@rattie.demon.co.uk>
Message-ID: <a6673b8d05062511066abf700e@mail.gmail.com>

Hello Dean,

As the designer of the Doom3[CC] mod I am very please to see that you
are interested in adding closed captions into Heavenly Sword. I will
try answer all your questions below.

There isn't much public knowledge regarding how long it takes to
develop a closed captioning system since very few developers have done
it. I've asked Ken over at Valve Software if he can share with me
Valve's experience in designing their closed captioning system. I'll
relay the info to everyone as soon as I get a response.

There were two programmers, both full time college students that
worked on implementing my ideas for the Dynamic Closed Captioning
system which took them about 2 weeks. There were many bugs and almost
no captioning, but what we did have, worked as intended. We spent the
next two months tweaking the system and mostly creating the closed
captions for the game.

We were able to utilize Doom3's GUI system to print text to the
screen. Not having to write the GUI system saved us a lot of time, how
much, I don't know to be sure, you may have a better answer than I.

One of the programmers developed a tool that's currently in beta right
now that took him about a month to do. It's hard to know for sure
because he wasn't working on it full time.

If you'd like to see the tool we developed you can download it from
http://game.rbkdesign.com/doom3cc/mod/ccedit.exe

You will need Beta 2 of Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 to run it.

To type in all the captions, it can take one person a couple week and
that's for dialog alone if the script is over 10k words, which Doom3
is. Then there are monster and environment sounds that need to be
closed captioned. I think the script writer for your game should think
about ways to make it easier to use the script as a starting point for
the dialog captions. Copy and paste is the most basic way.

You'll also need someone to manage the localization of the captions
into other languages. On the mod, I outsourced that to other people
who knew the languages better than I. The French translation team had
1 person that did most of the work, the german translation team had 2,
spanish had 1, portuguese 1, and english had the largest team of 3 for
most of the project.

As for implmentation guidelines:
Doom3 is a fast paced game that requires the player to focus on the
screen at all times. I tried to design a captioning system that
provided information as quickly as possible without being distracting.
I also wanted it to be compact, not to obscure HUD elements or the
first person view of the game world. but it couldn't be so compact
that the text was too small to read, it's a fine line to balance
between compactness and ledgibility.

We thought about color but didn't have time to research how other
cultures may perceive the chosen colors. We assigned evil characters
with the color red according to American color psychology. but the DCC
system allows each language to have it's own color definitions. In
color definition file it's easy to change the color that is
represented by various characters or game entities when they emit
sound.

I recommend that all closed captioning appear on a black background
which may be transparent to a degree. The reason for this is so that
text is not hard to read on the game background or HUD.

Another option that I think should be standard in the future is for
games to use a widescreen aspect video mode. The top and bottom of the
screen have black bars being used for HUD elements or closed
captioning areas. This will leave the game view completely clear of UI
elements.

As for the radar, that feature is new for version 2.0 and we don't
have a lot of feedback on how useful it is. The usefulness of it will
probably vary from game to game. Doom3 is one where the attacks can
come from any direction so I personally felt it was helpful when I
used it. I also wanted the DCC system to allow hard of hearing/deaf
gamers access to the same information that hearing people have. I
determined that hearing people only know the distance and general
direction of where a sound is located and not the exact location. I
hope the radar provides those two bits of information without allowing
the player to cheat.

Please any other questions you may have and thanks for considering
closed captioning in your game. :)

-Reid

On 6/25/05, Deano Calver <deano at rattie.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> Hello,
> I'm working on a PS3 action game (Heavenly Sword) and I'm looking for
> information on Closed Captioning.
> 
> I've already mentioned the subject of Closed Caption support to the
> bosses, and I'm now looking for actual implementation details.
> Particularly regard how much extra work for the schedules etc. My
> initial thoughts are that there is some extra code work for the run-time
> captioning system, some tools work to enhance the sounds tools and then
> work for the sound designers actually adding the captions, then there is
> extra QA work. Anything I've missed?
> 
> I've seen the CC faq, but I've not seen any real guides to how to
> caption? (Colour, placement and reading level).
> 
> Are there different standards for different countries? (i.e. is red
> unacceptable in country X) Any links for international closed caption?
> 
> I've noticed the Doom3[CC] has an audio radar, I'm curious to know how
> important such a feature is?
> 
> Any help would be much appreciated,
> Deano
> 
> Dean Calver,
> Senior Programmer,
> Ninja Theory Ltd.
> 
> 
> --
> No virus found in this outgoing message.
> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
> Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.8.1/28 - Release Date: 24/06/2005
> 
> _______________________________________________
> games_access mailing list
> games_access at igda.org
> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>


From jason at igda.org  Mon Jun 27 07:53:47 2005
From: jason at igda.org (Jason Della Rocca)
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2005 07:53:47 -0400
Subject: [games_access] Implementing Closed Caption
In-Reply-To: <a6673b8d05062511066abf700e@mail.gmail.com>
References: <42BD1F9E.4070902@rattie.demon.co.uk>
	<a6673b8d05062511066abf700e@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.0.20050627075228.0403e580@mail.igda.org>


>As for implmentation guidelines:

If this advice/guide isn't already up at the SIG site (or some other web 
site), I highly recommend that this goes up as an article (or resource or 
whatever)!

Jason

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jason Della Rocca
Executive Director
International Game Developers Association

t: +1-514-426-1162
f: +1-514-426-1201
Montreal, Canada
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.igda.org/
http://www.realitypanic.com/

"Do or do not. There is no try."
- Yoda



From hinn at uiuc.edu  Mon Jun 27 10:45:26 2005
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (hinn at uiuc.edu)
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2005 09:45:26 -0500
Subject: [games_access] Implementing Closed Caption
Message-ID: <260c9558.13064c81.856b500@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>

What do you think, Reid? I could put this up as a report 
and/or put it on the wiki and put a blog entry to point to 
it. Let me know!

Michelle

---- Original message ----
>Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2005 07:53:47 -0400
>From: Jason Della Rocca <jason at igda.org>  
>Subject: Re: [games_access] Implementing Closed Caption  
>To: Reid Kimball <rkimball at gmail.com>, IGDA Games 
Accessibility SIG Mailing List <games_access at igda.org>
>
>
>>As for implmentation guidelines:
>
>If this advice/guide isn't already up at the SIG site (or 
some other web 
>site), I highly recommend that this goes up as an article 
(or resource or 
>whatever)!
>
>Jason
>
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>Jason Della Rocca
>Executive Director
>International Game Developers Association
>
>t: +1-514-426-1162
>f: +1-514-426-1201
>Montreal, Canada
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>http://www.igda.org/
>http://www.realitypanic.com/
>
>"Do or do not. There is no try."
>- Yoda
>
>_______________________________________________
>games_access mailing list
>games_access at igda.org
>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access


From hinn at uiuc.edu  Mon Jun 27 10:56:25 2005
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (hinn at uiuc.edu)
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2005 09:56:25 -0500
Subject: [games_access] meeting reminder -- 12noon ET, Monday 27
 June
Message-ID: <4d4f6e1f.13074dcf.8234900@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>

Hi all,

I forgot to send out the usual meeting reminder but we'll be 
meeting today (Monday, 27 June) at 12noon ET. Sorry for the 
late notice! Email me at hinn at uiuc.edu if you'd like to join 
in but haven't been to a meeting before -- I'll give you the 
info on how to get there.

We'll be talking about the survey again, the book, and a few 
other opportunities that have come up in the last week.

I'll post an announcement in a day or so about the new 
meeting time/day etc. This is the last time we'll meet at 
the "regular" time -- we'll soon have a new "regular" 
time! :) 

Michelle


From rkimball at gmail.com  Mon Jun 27 11:16:53 2005
From: rkimball at gmail.com (Reid Kimball)
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2005 10:16:53 -0500
Subject: [games_access] Implementing Closed Caption
In-Reply-To: <260c9558.13064c81.856b500@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>
References: <260c9558.13064c81.856b500@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>
Message-ID: <a6673b8d050627081632c2db97@mail.gmail.com>

I'd like to make a more formal CC guideline for games. I'm going to
pursue this CC stuff more aggressively, which I can talk about at the
meeting today 6/27/05. So, as soon as I get that done, we can post it
wherever it can posted, including bathrooms and tree houses. Spread
the word! :)

-Reid

On 6/27/05, hinn at uiuc.edu <hinn at uiuc.edu> wrote:
> What do you think, Reid? I could put this up as a report
> and/or put it on the wiki and put a blog entry to point to
> it. Let me know!
> 
> Michelle
> 
> ---- Original message ----
> >Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2005 07:53:47 -0400
> >From: Jason Della Rocca <jason at igda.org>
> >Subject: Re: [games_access] Implementing Closed Caption
> >To: Reid Kimball <rkimball at gmail.com>, IGDA Games
> Accessibility SIG Mailing List <games_access at igda.org>
> >
> >
> >>As for implmentation guidelines:
> >
> >If this advice/guide isn't already up at the SIG site (or
> some other web
> >site), I highly recommend that this goes up as an article
> (or resource or
> >whatever)!
> >
> >Jason
> >
> >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> >Jason Della Rocca
> >Executive Director
> >International Game Developers Association
> >
> >t: +1-514-426-1162
> >f: +1-514-426-1201
> >Montreal, Canada
> >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> >
> >http://www.igda.org/
> >http://www.realitypanic.com/
> >
> >"Do or do not. There is no try."
> >- Yoda
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >games_access mailing list
> >games_access at igda.org
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From hinn at uiuc.edu  Mon Jun 27 15:43:50 2005
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (hinn at uiuc.edu)
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2005 14:43:50 -0500
Subject: [games_access] Next GA SIG meeting: Tuesday, 5 July at 2pm
 US ET
Message-ID: <512cce9a.13219e06.8252c00@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>

Hi everyone!

Well, I am pumped after today's SIG meeting. It was so great 
to see so many of you there today!

To review what was discussed...

* We talked about plans for GDC 2006 (it's never too early!) 
and brainstormed a bit about the tutorial session we're 
planning for and a "meet and greet" at the conference that 
will allow us to reach out to the non-giga pass attendees 
(ie, the students!). We'll be brainstorming more in future 
meetings so there's still plenty of time to give us your 
ideas! We really want to present an interactive session that 
includes game demos that let people know what it's like to 
play a game with a disability (blindfolds were suggested by 
one person). So start thinking about things to do at the 
tutorial session (we have 6 hours to fill!) and we'll be 
talking more about it soon.

* We talked about the book -- at the moment we are waiting 
for the final go ahead from the publisher. Looking good!

* We talked briefly about some upcoming articles for the 
Journal of Game Development (Thomas and Michelle), Gamasutra 
(Kevin), and the ACM Computers in Entertainment Magazine 
(Michelle). Please...if any of you have articles in the 
works or just published, let me know! We love to give props 
to all the SIG members helping to get the word out on game 
accessibility!

* I am working on a template for those of us doing 
conference presentations to use -- it definitely helps to 
have a nice shell to work with! Thomas has sent me a past 
template that he's used that I'll modify for general use. 
Let me know if you need a powerpoint template for a SIG-
related conference talk!

* We're going to have a GDC volunteer assisting us with the 
design overhaul of our website! Yay!!!

* We're getting some general SIG business cards for people 
to hand out at conferences. Email me at hinn at uiuc.edu with 
your snail mail address if you'd like for me to mail you 
some. It will have the SIG website address plus the SIG 
email address on it. 

* The SIG will be sending Microsoft an email quoting Reid on 
his great letter he sent to us on the list and talking about 
things that could be done on Xbox 360 and/or future Xbox 
iterations to improve accessibility. We also talked about 
emailing Sony and Nintendo as well at a (near) future date.

* Again, you are asked to take a look at Reid's survey at 
http://game.rbkdesign.com/cc_survey/index.php?sid=1 and let 
him know your suggestions as soon as possible at 
rkimball at gmail.com

So the next SIG meeting will be held on Tuesday, 5 July 2005 
at 2pm US ET. This will be our new time slot for the near 
future. I'm still analyzing the feedback on meeting venues 
so for now we'll continue using MSN Messenger just so we 
don't change too many things all at once. ;)

Thanks everyone and hope to see you next week!

Michelle
Chair, IGDA Game Accessibility SIG


From hinn at uiuc.edu  Mon Jun 27 18:11:49 2005
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (hinn at uiuc.edu)
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2005 17:11:49 -0500
Subject: [games_access] Intellectual Property Rights
Message-ID: <625f0747.132f2a29.8234800@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>

Hi everyone --

Another thing that came up at the meeting today was 
intellectual property rights. I Just wanted to point out 
that the IGDA Business and Legal group has a nice whitepaper 
on Intellectual Property Rights available for download at 
http://www.igda.org/biz/ipr_paper.php -- so for those of you 
concerned with accessible game development might want to 
take a look at it!

Michelle


From jason at igda.org  Mon Jun 27 23:08:35 2005
From: jason at igda.org (Jason Della Rocca)
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2005 23:08:35 -0400
Subject: [games_access] XBox 360 TCR
In-Reply-To: <a6673b8d050624195886469a8@mail.gmail.com>
References: <a6673b8d050624195886469a8@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.0.20050627230700.040bff90@mail.igda.org>


>I think we should suggest that they develop game accessibility
>features into the XBox 360 control panel.

This is another awesome resource. Once refined, it would be great to get 
this into a more formal looking format (ie, in PDF, with logo, etc) and 
posted to the web, in additional to actually sending it to MS (I have 
contacts if needed, BTW).

Also, once posted, I can see this being mentioned in the IGDA member 
newsletter, 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.igda.org/
http://www.realitypanic.com/

"Do or do not. There is no try."
- Yoda



From hinn at uiuc.edu  Mon Jun 27 23:27:02 2005
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (hinn at uiuc.edu)
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2005 22:27:02 -0500
Subject: [games_access] XBox 360 TCR
Message-ID: <c9a5b42a.134c05e1.8198e00@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>

>>I think we should suggest that they develop game 
accessibility
>>features into the XBox 360 control panel.
>
>This is another awesome resource. Once refined, it would be 
great to get 
>this into a more formal looking format (ie, in PDF, with 
logo, etc) and 
>posted to the web, 

Yep -- it's in the works. :) Seems like we have a nice 
whitepaper "mini series" (without the evil twin returning 
from the dead) in the works.

>in additional to actually sending it to MS (I have 
>contacts if needed, BTW).

I have a few contacts but please pass along any that you 
have -- the more the merrier. Also, if you happen to have 
any appropriate Sony and Nintendo contacts we'd like to send 
a similar letter their way.

>Also, once posted, I can see this being mentioned in the 
IGDA member 
>newsletter, etc.

Cool!

Michelle


From rkimball at gmail.com  Tue Jun 28 23:25:01 2005
From: rkimball at gmail.com (Reid Kimball)
Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2005 22:25:01 -0500
Subject: [games_access] Answers from Valve about Closed Captioning
In-Reply-To: <DA10586A6DF8AA4C86FEE81051CD46E40CB8BD@ex2003.ritual.com>
References: <DA10586A6DF8AA4C86FEE81051CD46E40CB8BD@ex2003.ritual.com>
Message-ID: <a6673b8d05062820256a4f2425@mail.gmail.com>

Below you'll find 5 questions I sent to Valve that are answered by
Yahn Bernier about their closed captioning experience with HL2. He's
got some really good answers and he gave us permission to post them.
Feel free to put them on the game accessiblity site, wiki, etc.

His answers are very similar to my experience with the Doom3[CC] mod.
It also took us 2 weeks (with two programmers on the weekends) to get
the fundamentals working and then it took us a lot longer to fine tune
the system.

-Reid 

-----Original Message-----
 From: Yahn Bernier [mailto:YahnBernier at valvesoftware.com]
 Sent: Mon 6/27/2005 1:18 PM
 To: Reid Kimball
 Cc: Ken Birdwell; Bill Van Buren; Greg Coomer; Marc Laidlaw
 Subject: RE: Questions regarding closed captioning system
 
 1. How long did it take to design and program the captioning system,
the system that recognizes a sound has played and to display it's
relevant text on screen given various criteria (if any, such as
distance away from player).
 
 It probably took two weeks of my time to implement and refine the
systems code part of this. Because we changed all of our sounds to
play via an EmitSound() call and that call takes a shorthand 'name'
for the sound, it was easy to make that name be the captioning lookup
key as well. We also knew that we wanted certain sounds to display in
different colors (effects versus npc's speaking, etc.) so we added the
ability to embed simple HTML like tags into the actual localized
caption text (including coloration, bold/italics, line breaks,
non-default "linger" time, etc.). All of the code for the system is
built into the game and client .dlls and is in the public part of the
SDK code. I'd look there to see how we implemented this stuff.
Specifically hud_closecaption.cpp/.h in the cl_dll and the EmitSound
code and EmitCloseCaption code in the game .dll (sceneentity.cpp makes
use of this for acting scenes). Also we drew a distinction between
subtitling and close captioning (subtitling just being dialogue, as if
you weren't hearing impaired but were listenining to the dialogue in a
foreign language for instance).
 
 2. What was the most difficult aspect of the system to implement?
 
 Tuning the system was much harder than actually programming it. Marc
Laidlaw, our writer, and Bill Van Buren, who worked closely with our
voice actors, had to go through and tag a lot of the dialog in the
script. Luckily everything was in one centralized Unicode text file so
he could work in there as needed. Marc and Bill had to spend a lot of
time watching the captions in the game and tuning them, especially
captions for weapon and environmental sounds. We allowed each caption
to specify how long had to transpire before the same caption would be
seen again. Something like a machine gun, therefore, would show up
with a single line caption every few seconds instead of a steady
scroll of captions.
 
 3. I believe Valve has a custom tool that allows captions to be
created for a sound file. How long did that take to develop? Was the
development worth it, did it save time in the creation of the closed
captions?
 
 We used faceposer to extract phoneme data for sound files (the
extractor part of it is actually a separate .dll, so we have some
command line tools to do batch processing which we used for phonemes
in the localized versions of the game). One of the steps was to type
in the text of a .wav as an initial hint to the extraction system.
That system drives the facial animation. The text and phonemes are
stored directly in the .wav file (the .wav file format is RIFF which
allows custom chunks to be embedded in the .wav). We were able to use
one of our tools to extract the phoneme related text from these .wav
files and use that as a first pass at the english captioning data. It
was an unintentional benefit of the facial animation system that we
had most of the English captions roughed out automatically.
 
 4. Is there anything you would design/implement differently if you
were to design another captioning system?
 
 There were a few things I read about on-line at deafgamers.com. The
main thing we didn't put in the UI was a history view or a way to dump
out the captions to a text file so you could read through the
transcript like a screenplay.
 
 5. Was there any discussion about the use of colors in the captioning
text and how other cultures may perceive those color assignments?
 
 Yes, actually. We initially only colored world effects differently
from speech. All speech was white. When we had hearing impaired
testers come in, their feedback was that it was difficult to figure
out who was speaking since all of the text was white. At that point,
we went back into the captions and added coloration tags to each main
NPC in the game to differentiate them from each other during acted
scenes. I don't believe that we looked at cultural perception issues
with the colors when they were chosen. That would be a good question
for Greg Coomer and Marc Laidlaw.


From hinn at uiuc.edu  Wed Jun 29 19:41:54 2005
From: hinn at uiuc.edu (hinn at uiuc.edu)
Date: Wed, 29 Jun 2005 18:41:54 -0500
Subject: [games_access] Apple iPods and Podcasting -- [cc] related
 issue
Message-ID: <dfe79831.143f1372.81e3400@expms2.cites.uiuc.edu>

Hi everyone,

I was reading a news blurb on Apples upgraded iPods and 
iTunes and at the end of the blurb was this bit about a 
company, Blinkx, who is trying to open up closed captioning 
for podcasts. So off of the "games" topic but interesting 
none the less with regard to another "entertainment" field:

The quoted material below appears online at 
http://www.salon.com/tech/wire/2005/06/29/apple_upgrade/index
.html

"As Apple introduced its podcasting features, search company 
Blinkx Inc. was expected Wednesday to begin making podcasts 
and their video counterparts fully searchable using its 
speech-recognition software to transcribe and index feeds. 

Suranga Chandratillake, the company's founder and chief 
technology officer, said Tuesday the company's indexing 
software has identified about 20,000 channels of user-
generated audio and video, generating about 500 hours of 
programming a day. 

Search engines and podcast directories generally index audio 
and video by analyzing text that appears near the file or 
using humans to create summaries. Some also pull closed-
captioning transcripts from video programming, but user-
generated content generally carries no closed captioning. 

Chandratillake said Blinkx attempts to fill the gap by using 
speech-recognition softwre to transcript feeds when closed 
captioning is unavailable. It already indexes feeds, mostly 
video, from companies with which it has deals, including 
CNN, the British Broadcasting Corp. and Movielink LLC."


From rkimball at gmail.com  Thu Jun 30 14:20:52 2005
From: rkimball at gmail.com (Reid Kimball)
Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 13:20:52 -0500
Subject: [games_access] Games[CC] site is active
Message-ID: <a6673b8d0506301120689731e7@mail.gmail.com>

Hey everyone,

I've launched the new Games[CC] website that will become a resource to
game developers who wish to use closed captioning in their games. In
the next few days I'll post information/guidelines and that CCEdit
tool.

http://gamescc.rbkdesign.com/

We're currently working to close caption a Doom3 expansion pack and
develop the open source Dynamic Closed Captioning system.

We're looking for sponsorships and if anyone has advice/words of
wisdom regarding development of open source projects I'd be thankful
for that.

Also, if you can recommend other places I can notify people about this
I'd like to know. I emailed shacknews.com and bluesnews.com but
neither have posted news about this. *CLAP CLAP*

Spread the word please!

-Reid