[games_access] Marketing, and PR Support

Sun Feb 28 12:19:32 EST 2010

Hi,

Oh I did not saw that there was the question for support in PR and
Marketing.
I can give you the contact data for the person who organize "Silver Gaming"
in Germany.
In the next meeting (April) they plan to show some senior friendly games.
So people can try it out. One of the biggest question often is: Where do I
find senior friendly games?
This is often a big problem with serious games. Where do I find a game, that
I am looking for.

I have also another contact who is looking for senior friendly games for his
game event.
I also would like to try it out and write about it. But study is expensive,
so I cannot buy it :-(
I tried to write about it, but it was too difficult. I can only write when I
know something very well.

There is also the possibility to present the game as game accessibility
example.
On my list are only game over, terrestrial invaders and some audiogames.

There is also the possibility to ask the IGDA if they are interested in an
article for the newsletter.
www.makinggames.de is also looking for interesting articles about games.
Did you contact someone from eSport? I can give you also my eSport contact.
They are always looking for new type of games.
Games for Health Conference could also be very interesting.

I do not know much about this and about the condition, but sometimes free
copies are available on conferences.
I will go to the serious games conferences (on the Cebit next week). At the
last silver gaming conference, a company also used it to present the games
with free copies. Maybe that would also be useful? Ask for allowance and
give someone who goes to a conference some free copies.

Best regards,
Sandra

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org] Im
Auftrag von Barrie Ellis
Gesendet: Sonntag, 28. Februar 2010 11:33
An: Chuck at vtreellc.com; IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
Betreff: Re: [games_access] Judge Tosses Blind Gamer's Suit vs. Sony

Hi Chuck,

I think we have failed to back up your game at the GASIG, so personally, I'm
very sorry for that. When I first became aware of the story, it was through
AbleGamers being all over it. Perhaps at the time I was in a state of mind
to feel that they had covered it well enough, and that I didn't want to be
accused of pinching their story. That sounds silly now I realise.

>From a personal stand-point, I do spend a fair bit of money buying
controllers and games that are deemed to be accessible. Coming from the UK
where there is little interest in American Football, unsurprisingly the game
is just not my cup of tea. If it had a one-switch mode I'd most likely have
bought it though. Maybe a few complimentary review / demo copies would have
seen you receive extra support? None of us are getting paid for our GASIG
efforts, so our time given is for our belief in wanting to see more
accessible games out there. We don't always get it right.

As you will hopefully recall, I did e-mail you with interest about your My
Golf game, with some straight-forward accessibility ideas that would improve
things. Despite what you may think this is support. The various web-sites
out there are support
(http://switchgaming.blogspot.com/2009/07/game-accessibility-sites.html).
The mailing list does help to get info out there. Support isn't solely
financial.

Looking at your site again (http://www.vtreellc.com/
<http://www.vtreellc.com/> ) My Football Game does sound like it has some
really good accessibility features. Maybe "everyone can play" is a bit of a
steep claim, but nonetheless you've obviously made some huge efforts. Again,
I don't think we've supported you as well as we should have.

Why not contact SpecialEffect's GameBase (www.gamebase.info) which didn't
exist when you were first promoting your game? I'm sure they would support
you (especially if you'd send them a free trial copy) and likely knock up a
YouTube video as well if you asked them which you could use on-site?

Like AbleGamers, I can't guarantee any sales, but I'd be happy to review a
copy at the GASIG Blog. I really hope that you're not too disheartened with
the field of Game Accessibility, as people like you are making a real
difference. Maybe though if you'd written that you'd appreciate some extra
help, you'd have got it earlier?

Barrie
www.OneSwitch.org.uk

From: Chuck <mailto:chuck at vtreellc.com>  
Sent: Sunday, February 28, 2010 6:46 AM
To: Sheri Rubin <mailto:sheri at designdirectdeliver.com>  ;
games_access at igda.org 
Cc: chuck at vtreellc.com 
Subject: Re: [games_access] Judge Tosses Blind Gamer's Suit vs. Sony

No offense, but I know about "Ablegamers" review and it generated not "1"
purchase. So again I ask YOU and the rest of your group 'WHAT IS IT YOU
WANT"  When someone puts their money where their mouth is and does
everything they can to bring video gaming to individuals with special needs
"WHERE IS YOUR GROUP" to support this product???? PLEASE ANSWER THIS
QUESTIONS?????? NOT ONE OF YOU HAVE PURCHASED THIS PRODUCT. PROVE ME WRONG

________________________________

From: "Sheri Rubin" <sheri at designdirectdeliver.com>
Sent: Sunday, February 28, 2010 1:27 AM
To: Chuck at vtreellc.com, games_access at igda.org
Subject: Re: [games_access] Judge Tosses Blind Gamer's Suit vs. Sony

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>
<mailto:steve at ablegamers.com>   
	>Subject: Re: [games_access] Game Informer - Accessibility Buyer's
Guide  
	>To: <inrnette at aol.com> <mailto:inrnette at aol.com> , "'IGDA Games
Accessibility SIG Mailing List'" <games_access at igda.org>
<mailto: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

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	From: Robert Florio <arthit73 at cablespeed.com>
<mailto:arthit73 at cablespeed.com> 
	To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
<games_access at igda.org> <mailto: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 

	-----Original Message-----
	From: 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
	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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-- 
Sheri Rubin
CEO and Founder

Design Direct Deliver
Website: www.designdirectdeliver.com
Email: sheri at designdirectdeliver.com

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