[games_access] GDC 2008

[d. michelle hinn]

Great question -- So the SIG proposals aren't all IGDA track -- one 
will be game audio for visually impaired gamers (one similar to what 
Richard and I did at AGDC), another in the game education/curriculum 
track, etc. With the exception of maybe the GA = Games for All track, 
we will only plan for the IGDA track if proposals get bumped (we 
might have to change them for IGDA but we'll deal with that as things 
play out). That's the way things have changed over the years -- we 
used to just submit to the IGDA track (GDC 2005/6) but starting last 
year most of our stuff has had to go (at least first) through other 
tracks.

The main point by submitting it all at once is to ensure that we have 
enough passes (for example, Eelke who might not have a proposal or 
see a fit in this year's SIG proposals but would benefit from a less 
restrictive pass than an Expo pass). So if I were the one to turn in 
your proposal, I would put my name on it as well and then substitute 
it later or remove it if there's no need for an extra pass. Another 
(perhaps better) idea is to have someone intro you and someone (or 
the same person) assist in the Q & A at the end. So I'm not saying my 
name is super valuable but there is consistency because I've been 
involved with so many past presentations over the years. Also adding 
in the "SIG sponsorship" does seem to help as well. My main objective 
is for us to get as many GA talks integrated into the GDC program as 
possible, while maintaining the "ownership" of the session to the 
person who is the main content presenter (ie, for this session, it 
would be you). I want to help in any way that I can.

Others may just want to turn in a proposal that doesn't mention the 
SIG at all in its description because it's not exactly related to GA, 
the SIG, or it's part of another large project. That's not to say we 
wouldn't include it in our promo materials if the person wanted us to 
-- just that it might be that the session might already be related to 
another established group and it makes sense to take it down that 
path.

I can see where you could fit into either production or game design. 
I wouldn't go for audio because when I mentioned [cc] in one slide it 
was the only case of trying to convince people who are already on 
board with the idea that we had in the presentation. There isn't 
(yet) a usability track, which is where I think your idea would fit 
in as well. Have you tried to get this presentation in for other 
GDCs? If so, which track(s)? I'm thinking that if it was design that 
you might try making the case to the production people and emphasize 
the localization aspects in your description.

Michelle

>I'd like to do a presentation on closed captioning in games, but I'm
>not sure what you mean by some presentations are part of the SIG while
>others are not? Is the SIG only doing presentations that are part of
>the IGDA track? For example, if I wanted to put my presentation in the
>Production track (as an example) then my presentation will be
>independent of the SIG?
>
>Which brings me to my next question. What audience should I present
>closed captioning to? Michelle and Richard had a great response from
>the audio designers, which is wonderful. What's unfortunate about
>closed captioning is that, while it has been supported by audio
>designers, it doesn't present them with anything new. It's not a new
>idea in game design concepts like audio games for the blind are. It's
>really about conveying audio in a different medium (text or gfx). Is
>that message useful for audio designers? I'm leaning towards not so
>much. Because, whether or not closed captions are used in a game,
>doesn't affect the audio design of a game. Closed captions affect
>production budgets in localization and UI graphic designs the most I
>think. Last, but not least, they do directly affect the enjoyment of
>the game from a deaf player's experience. Not sure what track
>"enhancing player experience" would fall into, probably game design.
>
>Should I give the talk to UI designers? A UI designer at LucasArts
>loves the idea of closed captioning in games and Marc Laidlaw, writer
>of Valve Software has said he really likes the aesthetic of seeing
>text match the chaos of the gameplay on screen.
>
>Any opinions on who my audience should be?
>
>-Reid
>
>On 9/15/07, d. michelle hinn <hinn at uiuc.edu> wrote:
>>
>>
>>  Hi all,
>>
>>
>>  So as you know (or not) the GDC final proposals that go through the system
>>  (not the IGDA track) are due Oct 1st. I've set up a page on the wiki that
>>  I'll be filling in over the weekend with proposals that I know of that are
>>  going through the regular review system:
>>
>>
>>  http://www.igda.org/wiki/GASIG_GDC_San_Francisco_2008
>>
>>
>>  If you have an idea for a session that WE (ie, the SIG) should turn in,
>>  please also add that to the list.
>>
>>
>>  If you are planning to put in a session that you DON'T want turned in with
>>  the SIG proposals, please add them to this list with a short description
>>  with a note saying that you are turning that in independently just so that I
>>  know how many game accessibility proposals are out there. This will also
>>  help me keep an eye out for them, as some, if rejected, might be able to be
>>  put in through the IGDA track (there might have to be a presentation format
>>  change but it's a "second chance" opportunity).
>>
>>
>>  Finally -- to ensure that I have an idea about how many passes we will need
>>  for GDC, please send me an email and/or post it on the wiki if you are
>>  planning on attending GDC 2008. That way I can distribute names across the
>>  proposals as needed to ensure that as many people who want to attend as
>>  possible will be able to gain access to the GDC without worry.
>>
>>
>>  As you know, we are using a different method for GDC 2008, replacing the
>>  really exhausting daily set up and take down of the accessibility arcade
>>  with an expo booth (also allows us to get the message across to those who
>>  only have very limited GDC access). We're also distributing the work of the
>>  sessions more so that I'm not "in charge" of all of the presentations. I
>>  might be in many of them but I won't be the one doing the main planning for
>>  all of them once we get past the submission process.
>>
>>
>>  Thanks everyone!
>>  Michelle
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>>
>>
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