[games_access] Judge Tosses Blind Gamer's Suit vs. Sony

Sun Feb 28 01:26:52 EST 2010

I can't say anything about purchasing but if you have been on here for 6 
months you will notice that in December the "review" on AbleGamers was 
mentioned:

---- Original message ----

> >Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 23:12:10 -0500
> >From: "Steven Spohn" <steve at ablegamers.com>  
> >Subject: Re: [games_access] Game Informer - Accessibility Buyer's Guide  
> >To: <inrnette at aol.com>, "'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'" <games_access at igda.org>
> >
> >Hi Josh,
> >
> >AbleGamers did a exclusive on the game which you can see here
> >http://www.ablegamers.com/game-news/my-football-game-and-they-said-it-could-
> >not-be-done.html - if you need more specifics email Mark Barlet.  He
> >personally worked with the creators.  
> >
> >Steve Spohn

Sheri


Chuck wrote:
> Hi all.
>
>  I am not part of your group. but I do have a few questions????
>
> 1. Have any of you purchased My Football Game????
>
>   The reason I asked is that I have invested 600K in making this game 
> as accessible as any game ever developed and to my knowledge NOT ONE 
> OF YOU HAVE PURCHASED IT
>
> 2. You all love to write these email's either complaining or bitching 
> about main stream developers but yet when they (EA & Vtree) develop a 
> game, none of you have said 1 word about it.
>
>
> Here's the long and short of it.
>
>
>  I have been reading your emails for 6 months now and for the most 
> part outside of reading you bullshit emails complaining about video 
> game developers NOT ONE ONE OF YOU have purchased or reviewed "MY 
> FOOTBALL GAME" which is by far and away a video game with everything 
> designed into it with what"YOU GUYS" complain about that main stream 
> developers don't do.
>
>
> So "IF YOU GUYS WON'T SPEND 40.00 BUCKS to support a company that is 
> doing more than "WHAT YOU ARE DOING" shut the hell up and disband this 
> group because besides writing "EMAILS" complaining about developers 
> you guys "DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING" to support the people who are 
> spending their money to "ACTUALLY HELP" special needs individuals to 
> enjoy video gaming.
>
> I DARE ONE OF YOU TO DISPUTE WHAT I HAVE SAID ABOVE. YOU LOVE YOUR 
> EMAIL'S BUT DO NOTHING TO SUPPORT THE COMPANIES THAT ARE SPENDING 
> THEIR MONEY TO ACTUALLY IMPROVE THE LIVES OF SPECIAL NEEDS INDIVIDUALS
>
> Sincerely,
> Chuck Bergen
> President
> VTree LLC
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
> cess] Judge Tosses Blind Gamer's Suit vs. Sony
>
> Maybe it's time for my petition that I wrote to finally be put into play?
>
> I've always wanted to bring that back in  to this group.
>
> Now that it's heated again at least in me, LOL, I might have the 
> energy for it.
>
> Robert
>
>  
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> *From:* games_access-bounces at igda.org 
> [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org] *On Behalf Of *sheryl Flynn
> *Sent:* Saturday, February 27, 2010 6:37 PM
> *To:* IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
> *Subject:* Re: [games_access] Judge Tosses Blind Gamer's Suit vs. Sony
>
>  
>
> universal design?
>
> some of us are trying really hard to make great games that folks with 
> disabilities will enjoy...its hard, but we are passionate and won't 
> stop until there is a world wide effort to make great games that folks 
> with all kinds of abilities will enjoy! 
>
> hugs
>
>  
>
> *~Sheryl Flynn PT, PhD*
>
>  
>
>  
>
> *CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: *
>
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> If you are not the intended recipient, (or authorized to receive for 
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>  
>
>  
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> *From:* Robert Florio <arthit73 at cablespeed.com>
> *To:* IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List <games_access at igda.org>
> *Sent:* Sat, February 27, 2010 2:07:25 PM
> *Subject:* Re: [games_access] Judge Tosses Blind Gamer's Suit vs. Sony
>
> Thanks John and Janet I agree with what you guys say.  It's just
> frustrating.  From the years I have been involved with the special 
> interest
> group, with Michelle, creating my documentary I created called Robert
> Florio: a New Way to Live, my game design degree, I think by now there
> should be a wide range knowledge meant by developers and producers.
>
> I think if they would at least come out publicly and say, we 
> understand the
> struggle, we are humans too, and maybe created like a summit like what
> president of vomited the other day with Democrats and Republicans 
> broadcast
> live for six hours for the health-care bill.  That's just an idea.
>
> To me it is a philosophical issue now not anymore a technical or economic
> issue.  Believe me I know the technical and economic problems.  Like John
> was saying, we wouldn't be profitable for a developer to make an 
> accessible
> game, denying it to the people who already buy the game in a way I guess.
>
> But I believe the issue is, philosophical. I don't think any human being
> would deny the fact that videogames are in the world's greatest 
> congressman
> for entertaining our physical needs. If I can see, if I can't hear or 
> move,
> actually I can't move a lot, that does not mean it shouldn't be 
> marketed to
> me.  Why is it we are so far away from people actually using common sense?
> Is this part of humanity completely gone? Why is it we get it but no one
> else does?  In any answers, I shouldn't be grasping for questions but 
> you're
> right John, we are doing a lot.
>
> Reiterating, I just want the big names, Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, and 
> say,
> we hear you loud and clear.  Then what?  Then they don't do anything about
> it that would look bad maybe that's why they came admit it.lol
>
> Thanks
> Robert Florio
> www.RobertFlorio.com <http://www.RobertFlorio.com>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: games_access-bounces at igda.org 
> <mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org> 
> [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org 
> <mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org>]
> On Behalf Of John Bannick
> Sent: Saturday, February 27, 2010 4:30 PM
> To: games_access at igda.org <mailto:games_access at igda.org>
> Subject: [games_access] Judge Tosses Blind Gamer's Suit vs. Sony
>
> Folks,
>
> There is a middle way.
> ADA requires "reasonable accommodation"
> Some games cannot be made accessible to a particular need.
> Just as some jobs cannot be made accessible to a particular need.
>
> The judge could have required that Sony put into place a program that at
> least attempted ADA compliance.
> For example, applying VPAT
> (http://www.itic.org/resources/voluntary-product-accessibility-template-vpat
> /)
> and explaining why items were not VPAT compliant.
>
> Thus, a spelling bee game could not reasonably be made blind-accessible.
> One of Jim Kitchen's audio games could not reasonably be made
> deaf-accessible.
> Nor could a musical game requiring chords reasonably be made one-switch
> accessible.
> (Forgive me Barrie, Mark, etc. if it's been done.)
>
> Reasonable meaning without major changes, possibly changing the nature
> of the game.
> Reasonable could also include economic viability.
>
> Furthermore, and significantly, If adding ADA compliance, or a specific
> remediation, would add cost such as to make a game unprofitable, then by
> definition it is not reasonable, in that it denies the game to those not
> requiring that accommodation. Mark's point exactly, I think.
>
> What that requirement would do is inject the accessibility issue into
> the developers' business process. Not a bad thing.
>
> Robert's anger is understandable.
> And I'm leery of government intervention, especially in anything that
> could be close to censorship, or is economically unviable, as were price
> controls.
> But VPAT's being applied to general software; ESRB is being applied to
> games.
>
> Perhaps the judge could have applied a middle way.
>
> In any event, what this SIG is doing, and the individual efforts of
> Mark, Barrie, Brian, Dark, Robert, and others is making a difference in
> the developer community.
> Developers, some at least, are more aware of accessibility needs.
> Some are actually making specific changes (Niels Bauer games and some of
> the folks Mark and Barrie work with come to mind.)
> It ain't perfect; it ain't enough. But it is progress.
>
> John
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>  
>
>
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>
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-- 
*Sheri Rubin*
CEO and Founder

*Design Direct Deliver*
Website: www.designdirectdeliver.com <http://www.designdirectdeliver.com>
Email: sheri at designdirectdeliver.com <mailto:sheri at designdirectdeliver.com>
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