[games_access] sign language characters? Reid, Richard, Anyone

[Reid Kimball]

Richard,
Nice animation! Certainly gets the idea across better. I thought you
meant characters in the world actually signing during gameplay and I
was only thinking about slower, adventure type games doing that.
However, for a faster game, maybe a person in a bubble using sign
language could work. I have my doubts because as you mention, the
player needs to concentrate on the action, but then again, the
Doom3[CC] mod has the same fundamental problem yet it works pretty
well. I'm not that well versed in American Sign Language, so my
comprehension of ASL is much slower than I can read text. Someone who
is fluent in ASL might actually prefer a person signing in a bubble
window on the HUD instead. It's something worth researching I think.

Robert,
Yeah, your ideas sound similar to mine for the game. Some references
you may want to look at are the game ICO. In that game, you have to
save a girl to escape a dangerous castle, yet there is a verbal
communication barrier. It gets broken down at the end when the
characters actions speak the mutual language of love. That sounds
cheesy, but it's true. A movie you might want to watch that features
communication difficulties between those that speak orally and those
that speak ASL is called "Children of a Lesser God".

There are many many forms of sign language. Native americans have
their own, different countries in Europe have their own, and different
parts of Asia have their own. They are like dialects I think. They all
use the same grammatical rules (I believe) but the hand shapes and
motions might be very different for the same word. Facial expressions
play a HUGE part in sign language. Even in spoken dialog, facial
expressions play a big part. Body language is a universal language and
facial expressions are included in that.

-Reid

On 4/13/06, AudioGames.net <richard at audiogames.net> wrote:
>
> *Quote*
>
> I enjoyed the little quick animation Richard that you gave me the mayhem in
> the bottom right corner he is pulling his column is that supposed to
> represent pulling out a sword because the other woman isn't doing sign
> language is that what you're referring to as an animated character using
> sign language?
>
> *Quote end*
>
> Hahaha, yes he's killing her because she's not using sign language ;) ...
> and yes, the character in the bottom right corner should represent the idea
> of a game character in a HUD (Head Up Display) doing sign language ... I
> just added the "No-You Don't"-text box to amplify that he's signing this
> message... could oly do so much in just two frames ;)
>
> Greets,
>
> Richard
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Robert Florio
> To: games_access at igda.org
> Sent: Thursday, April 13, 2006 8:09 PM
> Subject: [games_access] sign language characters? Reid, Richard, Anyone
>
>
> I enjoyed the little quick animation Richard that you gave me the mayhem in
> the bottom right corner he is pulling his column is that supposed to
> represent pulling out a sword because the other woman isn't doing sign
> language is that what you're referring to as an animated character using
> sign language?
>
> Reid thanks for suggesting using characters at least one that communicates
> using sign language.  I will keep their mind when I create videogames having
> at least one character may be the love interest of my main character for a
> game I'm developing throughout my videogame classes have her to the sign
> language as a deaf lover that would definitely sparked a lot of
> communication translation and interest in that community I think.  It forces
> the main character who always reverts back to his goal saving her, being
> with her to communicate with her in a way that many relate to which is sign
> language or other methods so it would be cool to implement something I
> didn't think of before and sharing the beautiful communication as Reid
> suggests learning about how sign language can be beautiful.  I wasn't aware
> of that.  I guess it strengthens the bond when you don't have a traditional
> way of communication it forces two people in a relationship to learn more
> about each other and could strengthen even the relationship in my character
> store development.  I'm thinking that might even increase the interest of
> female characters to my games to see this love interest love situation
> evolve from not be able to communicate to communicating on a very emotional
> female interest level driven toward that market.  Could that be possible?  I
> certainly think so.  One
>
> Thank you Richard for those links about software that translates text into
> virtual sign language in.  It's a great resource and I hope to start filling
> in the gamers with physical disabilities forum section soon.  A lot of what
> we talk about will be translated in those forums I think here from this
> newsletter.
>
> For an animated I think it would be easy to incorporate those hand motions
> into a character using motion tracking and gloves to pick up hand /finger
> detail.  Is there a lot of emotion translated through the face in sign
> language also and I didn't know there were different languages. I thought
> sign language was universal but that's something to learn about I guess the
> American version would be standard?
> Robert
>
>
> AI online SGA President
>
> arthit73 at cablespeed.com
>
> www.RobertFlorio.com
>
>
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