[games_access] Retro Remakes 2006 Q&As: "Action Captioning"

[Reid Kimball]

Boring huh? There's a reason captions are "boring". Visual words are
not "historically much better". Granted I'm assuming here, but I
imagine the "ActionCaptions" will feature words like BOOM that have an
iconic graphic of an explosion surrounding the letters. For visual
accessibility, this is not ideal as it can make reading the word more
difficult. It's also more of a challenge to fit those larger captions
on the screen. Another option is to place them in the 3D environment.
Actually attaching the visual captions to the sound origin. The game
VIII (Thirteen) is a good example. Enemy footsteps would create a
"TAP" caption that was positioned at their feet. One problem with this
is having captions overlapping each other because they are positioned
in a 3D world. Or perhaps the enemy is behind you, you won't see their
captions and miss out on the important info.

Having said that, I do want to see what Rogue comes up with.

-Reid

On 6/17/06, Barrie Ellis <barrie.ellis at oneswitch.org.uk> wrote:
> This sounds fun: http://www.retroremakes.com/forum2/showthread.php?t=6774
>
>
> "So I was pondering... Why use all that BORING close captioning as used in
> some of those games like Doom3, when historically there's a much better way
> to visualize the mood of sound effects?
>
> Something comics have been utilizing for decades?
>
> I'm talking about the WHOOSH, WALLOP , CRASH effect balloons. I'm thinking
> of incorperating those in my Heavy on the Magick remake.
>
> What do you think?
>
> R."
>
>
> I think straight-laced Closed Captioning is the right thing to do for some
> games, but Rogue's "Action Captioning" has got definite potential.
>
>
>
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