[games_access] Translation of "Game Accessibility" to German

[D. Michelle Hinn]

Barrier Free Gaming is what they call "accessible gaming" in Asia (or  
at least that's what it translates to as Richard and I learned at GDC  
about 5 years ago) at a reception for Asian and US/European  
attendees. So it would be interesting to find out what other  
languages call "accessibility" in different areas and how it is  
perceived. But the Koreans, Chinese, Japanese, and other Asian  
attendees did not know what we were talking about when we said  
"accessibility" until we gave them an example of, say, someone who  
was blind playing a game. Then the term they were familiar came out  
(via the translators that they had at the party! It's a shame that  
the economy has shut down that reception -- it was really very cool!

Michelle

On Apr 9, 2010, at 2:57 AM, Sandra Uhling wrote:

> Hi,
>
> The translation of the definition is no problem.
> But it looks like that the translation of "Game Accessibility" is a  
> problem.
>
> Web Accessibility is translated to "Barrierefreies Web"
> = websites that are without barriers
>
> Cultural background:
> The term "barrier" is linked to people with a disability.
> The good point is, that people know what stands behind this term.
> And they know that it should be important. But on the other side
> the people exclude all non disabled people.
>
> The imagination that non disabled people also have advantages of this
> or that they can also be sometimes in a situation where they need it,
> is some kind of a "no-go". People usually think that a limited non  
> disabled
> person
> can remove this limitation without problems. (Also my HCI prof  
> thinks this)
>
> => "Barrierefrei" is limited to people with a disability and  
> exclude non
> disabled people.
>
>
> The Term Accessibility can also be translated to "Zugänglich" (=  
> accessible)
> But this term is not linked to people with a disability.
> It is not often used. People think about an area that be entered by  
> going,
> Walking, ... they do not need a key or a password.
>
>
> A choice could be "Barrierearme and zugängliche Computer- und  
> Videospiele".
> = Accessible games without barriers
> But maybe this would be too confusing?
>
>
> Best regards,
> Sandra
>
>
>
>
>
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