[games_access] What Would You Like to See on Our Website?

Mon Nov 15 18:18:44 EST 2010

Hi,

Great list, Thomas - like it alot. Would like to add my "9+1 Game 
Accessibility Keypoints" to 2. How To...

Greets,

Richard

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Thomas Westin" <thomas at pininteractive.com>
To: "IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List" <games_access at igda.org>
Sent: Monday, November 15, 2010 11:18 PM
Subject: Re: [games_access] What Would You Like to See on Our Website?

> Hi Tara,
>
> I think a possible structure of the website could be something like this 
> (I have certainly missed many resources, this is just an outline / draft 
> for my idea of how to make the content approachable for a wide audience.
>
> Start page:
> Motivations - why game accessibility. Statistics, easy to get numbers. 
> Show potential market. Perhaps a link to a revamped IGDA white paper.
>
> Menu:
> 1. Start page
>
> 2. How to (ordered from approx. newbie to geek level)
> 2.1 Game Accessibility Top Ten (low hanging fruit, easy to implement to 
> reach more)
> 2.2 Design for all/Universal access (Dimitris work and game examples)
> 2.2 Game Accessibility Patterns (Eelkes approach of putting guidelines 
> into contexts)
> 2.3 Game Accessibility Guidelines (MediaLTs guidelines)
> 2.4 Development frameworks (GAIM and AGA)
> 2.5 CiteULike Research articles collection
>
> 3. Success cases (in case a game targets multiple disabilities, it may 
> occur on several pages)
> 3.1 Hearing limitations
> Here we might list and reference work about Doom3[CC], Half-Life 2 etc
> 3.2 Visual limitations
> Here we might list and reference work about AudioQuake etc
> 3.3 Motoric limitations
> Here we might list and reference work about many one-switch examples
> 3.4 Mental limitations
> etc
>
> 4. Community (ordered alphabetically)
> 4.1 AbleGamers
> 4.2 AudioGames
> 4.3 DeafGamers
> 4.4 IGDA GA-SIG mailing list
> 4.4 and so on...
>
> 5. Conferences and events
> Different GDCs - where the SIG will/has present(ed)
> Research conferences - where the SIG will/has present(ed)
>
> 6. Downloads
> The IGDA GA-SIG DVD content
>
> Best wishes,
> Thomas
>
> --Do("orDoNot(" & QUOTE & "there is no try{}" & QUOTE & ")")
>
>
>
>
>
> On 15Nov 2010, at 5:00 PM, Tara Tefertiller wrote:
>
>> For me, I am constantly around people who have no idea about
>> accessibility.  Like, don't know the definition sort of don't know. A
>> problem I have always ran into is I start talking to teachers, who
>> want to share the information with their students. They ask for a
>> website or something to help them, and there a bunch- but not
>> anything that covers the basics to show their class or to link them
>> to. So then they just ask me to come speak because they feel like
>> they don't know enough about it, but want their students to learn.
>> Then I come in and start talking, students seem interested... but I
>> don't want to join a mailing list or look through forums or search
>> through the blog... They want something simple. Being able to walk in
>> and be like- here is a place where you can find all the basics- and
>> then links to other stuff when you've mastered that would be super
>> helpful.
>>
>> Here's an example of how I'm currently working with students:
>>
>>  I am working with some students for a project for the Orlando
>> Science Center's Otronicon (it's like a video game education week for
>> all ages. It is being sponsored by UCF and EA Tiburon). It's a really
>> nice symbiotic relationship. I tell students I need accessible games.
>> I put the word out to local gaming colleges that I will be accepting
>> the 3 most accessible games submitted (or whatever) and display them
>> at Otronicon.
>>
>> This does 3 things
>> 1) Provides us with new and interesting accessibility based games to
>> show off
>> 2) Give the students a really nice portfolio piece and something to
>> put on a resume
>> 3) Teaches the future developers (today's students) to be
>> accessibility aware
>>
>>
>> If we had a simple site, students interested in the accessibility
>> could go to the website and poke around, find what they need, and so
>> on. Like I said, the real goal is to not overwhelm. If there it too
>> much accessibility will look like it's hard or time consuming and
>> people won't be interested.
>>
>> Sadly right now most of my communications with the students are done
>> by text or Facebook message, when a lot of it is simple stuff that a
>> site could cover.
>>
>>
>> Did that make sense or was I just rambling?
>>
>> On a side note, I will later be sending out information about the
>> first game selected to be displayed at Otronicon!
>>
>> On Nov 15, 2010, at 10:33 AM, AudioGames.net wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Tara,
>>>
>>> Great, finally ;) At first glance, your site page-brainstorm looks
>>> as if it's going in the right direction. Facebook/Twitter/LinkedIn/
>>> etc. connectivity is VITAL nowadays so I would definitely suggest
>>> looking into as much functionality from that as possible. For
>>> instance using OpenID, Twitter streams on the site from
>>> AudioGames.net, AbleGamers, etc.
>>>
>>> *quote*
>>> The goal is to not overload those who are new to learning about
>>> accessibility. If they read the stuff on the site, and are
>>> interested in learning more, they can join the email list, check
>>> out the blog, and so on. This is key since we plan on working with
>>> developers, teachers and colleges- most  of whom are new and could
>>> become great resources for the SIG.
>>> *quote end*
>>>
>>> Do you have any ideas on or can you tell me how you plan on working
>>> with developers, teachers and colleges and how the website will fit
>>> into this? I mean - how do you picture the website playing a role
>>> for future collaborations?
>>>
>>> "Resources" - could turn out to be a pretty big page, if no the
>>> biggest (at least, that's what I learned from building http://
>>> audiogames.net/page.php?pagefile=articles and http://audiogames.net/
>>> page.php?pagefile=links and http://www.game-accessibility.com/
>>> index.php?pagefile=papers ). Perhaps you could divide it into
>>> something like:
>>>
>>> - 'literature resources' -> articles, papers, etc.
>>> - 'repetoire resources' -> example accessibility methods, games, etc.
>>> - 'tool resources' -> tools for testing/designing accessibility
>>>
>>> Mmm... pretty overwhelming still - any suggestions?
>>>
>>> Greets,
>>>
>>> Richard
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tara Tefertiller"
>>> <tara.tefertiller at gmail.com>
>>> To: "IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List"
>>> <games_access at igda.org>
>>> Sent: Monday, November 15, 2010 3:50 PM
>>> Subject: [games_access] What Would You Like to See on Our Website?
>>>
>>>
>>>> Hey everyone,
>>>>
>>>> The steering committee has been working hard, and we are still
>>>> working to revamp our web presence.
>>>>
>>>> I would first like to tell you about some of the decisions that
>>>> we  have already made.
>>>>
>>>> Firstly, we plan to keep our blog running as it is. We think it's
>>>> been working great, and is an awesome place for those to already
>>>> know  about accessibility to look for the latest news and what
>>>> other  members are doing. Remember- if you would like to be able
>>>> to post on  the blog contact Barrie! We also plan to make sure
>>>> that all these  posts are also appearing as links on our new
>>>> Facebook so that they  get more traffic.
>>>>
>>>> Secondly, we plan to move off the IGDA's website. We want everyone
>>>> to  be able to see our website, not just IGDA members. Pushing
>>>> for  accessibility is our main goal- not pushing IGDA memberships.
>>>> Having  a membership is great, but we don't want to punish those
>>>> who don't.  We plan for those who visit the current website to
>>>> either be  redirected or see a link to click. Further more, we
>>>> want more control  over the look and be able to address any
>>>> website issues ourselves  rather than wait for IGDA- who is
>>>> running low on people to manage the  IGDA website.
>>>>
>>>> The main goal of the website will be to have our mission
>>>> statement,  give basic information on accessibility, and be
>>>> attractive to new  members. It isn't going to have all of the in
>>>> depth information- but  it will tell people how to get it and
>>>> where. The goal is to not over  load those who are new to learning
>>>> about accessibility. If they read  the stuff on the site, and are
>>>> interested in learning more, they can  join the email list, check
>>>> out the blog, and so on.  This is key  since we plan on working
>>>> with developers, teachers and colleges- most  of whom are new and
>>>> could become great resources for the SIG.
>>>>
>>>> The website will also link to the blog, Facebook and Twitter.
>>>> Getting  the Twitter running again is on the list of things to do.
>>>> Be patient!
>>>>
>>>> We are currently deciding what pages we would like to feature.
>>>>
>>>> I am in favor of a (this is me just brainstorming):
>>>>
>>>> Welcome Page-
>>>> Standard Welcome to the Site. Possible a mission statement here?
>>>> Maybe recent news?
>>>>
>>>> Contact Page-
>>>> Info about how to contact leadership, the email list in general.
>>>> Maybe some of the chapters where members frequent. (Like I attend
>>>> every Orlando Chapter meeting, so that is a place I could be
>>>> contacted, so on.) We could put individual's emails on here if
>>>> wanted. Maybe have like a city name/ country name and then the
>>>> contact. Like I could be the Florida/ Orlando contact. Sandra
>>>> could  be the Germany contact, and so on. That way if there is
>>>> some local  organization (maybe like a college) they can find
>>>> someone near by to  talk to.
>>>>
>>>> Thoughts?
>>>>
>>>> About SIG Page-
>>>> Mission Statements. Mentioning being a part of IGDA. Current
>>>> Leadership. Membership list. How to join. Email list. Some history
>>>> of  past events (not too much though)
>>>>
>>>> About Accessibility Page-
>>>> Basic accessibility info. Definition. Who it effects, Solutions.
>>>> Nothing too in depth - like I said, it's for new members. Don't
>>>> want  to scare them away!
>>>>
>>>> Event Page-
>>>> IDGA Chapter meetings, Presentations (like I'm speaking at Full
>>>> Sail soon), GDC, so on
>>>> Would have the date, location, details, who to contact about the
>>>> event
>>>>
>>>> Resources/Links/Etc-
>>>> Links to the blog/ IGDA site/ Other websites we work with/support
>>>> (Special Effect, AbleGamers, etc)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Like I said, that was just me brainstorming. What are your ideas?
>>>> What would you like to see featured?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> We are also calling any artists out there to make some art for
>>>> the  site and the blog. Headers/banners especially! If you're
>>>> interested,  feel free to email Kevin, Barrie, and me off thread
>>>> so we can discuss  it.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Please share your thoughts right away. The sooner we know what
>>>> you  want, the sooner we can get the SIG a new website.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Have a great day everyone,
>>>>
>>>> Tara
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> games_access mailing list
>>>> games_access at igda.org
>>>> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> games_access mailing list
>>> games_access at igda.org
>>> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> games_access mailing list
>> games_access at igda.org
>> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>
> _______________________________________________
> games_access mailing list
> games_access at igda.org
> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access 