[games_access] My Golf Game - released

Thu Sep 23 19:45:35 EDT 2010

Hi all,

First, NO ONES accessibility is more important than anyone else's.
Ablegamers rates for VI games but not for the blind gamer.  We turn to the
experts such as AudioGames and Eleanor at 7128 for blind gaming concerns.

Ablegamers has had a beta build of my golf game for three weeks, and we
received a copy of the gold build last week.  All of the information in the
article and the game review will be doing this weekend are the result of 100
hours of game time.  Many of the changes including voice recognition and
windowed mode were added through our feedback.

Chuck was also at games for health where many people were given the
opportunity to test out a very early version of the game. 

Barrie these should answer your questions. They are 100% fact.  I hope they
help.

  1. Yes the game can be started in "windows mode"

  2. While playing the game you can take a golf shot using you keyboard,
then the next shot using your mouse, the next shot using speech recognition,
the next shot using an accessible device like (any product Broaden Horizon
manufactures), the next shot using a joystick, etc, etc.. The above can all
be accomplished without having to do "anything additional" in the game.

Michelle is right, there will probably never be a universally accessible AAA
mainstream game.  But as far as Ablegamers criteria goes, this game is as
fully accessible as any of us can ask for.  You can play it using any
assistive technology, you can use anything you want to access the game, and
this was designed from the ground up specifically for our target audience.

Seriously, when developers do what we want, we should support them verbally
by informing people who need the game about the game or financially by
purchasing the game (I ordered mine today) so the publishers will give the
go-ahead to keep developing more.  

This in-fighting over words is getting ridiculous.

Steve Spohn
Associate Editor
The AbleGamers Foundation

www.ablegamers.com
www.ablegamers.org

Find me on Skype!  Username: Steve_Spohn

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------
I don't think anyone is saying that this isn't a great thing -- just that no
one has played it yet because it's still a few weeks away from being
finished. "Fully accessible" is a tricky term as well -- it gives the
impression that it is "universally accessible," which I think many would
agree is something that for mainstream games many never be possible. 

Don't get me wrong -- I'm really excited about this game and have been
talking with Chuck about it as his team puts the final touches on it! I
think it will be accessible for quite a large number of people -- perhaps
the largest for a mainstream game title!

Michelle
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--------------

Hi,

A game is usually never "fully accessible" or "playable by everyone".
Imagine a blind deaf gamer. Can he/she play it too?

I personally do not like "everyone".
You do ignore people or exclude them. That is not nice.
You do discriminate them. And it is wrong customer information.

A good way could be:
We would love that everyone can play our game.
Of course we know that this will stay a dream, but we work hard for it, to
make our games as much as accessible as possible and we are open for
feedback and ideas.
(is the English ok?)

Of course the game is fantastic amazing, great, ...
But we should still use words carefully.

Best regards,
Sandra

-----Original Message-----
From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Sandra Uhling
Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2010 12:26 PM
To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [games_access] My Golf Game - released

Hi Barrie,

I would say: 
Ask for a copy. I think they will give you one.
Test it, you are the expert :-)
And then write easy to understand information what can be done better in the
next version.

I would say:
They need our/your input and feedback and easy to understand information to
move forward.
And the good point: they will listen to you.

Think positive :-)

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: Donnerstag, 23. September 2010 18:11
An: Steve Spohn; games_access at igda.org
Betreff: Re: [games_access] My Golf Game - released

That's fair enough, Steve! I do have a slightly different view of what is a 
"fully accessible game" (i.e. - there isn't one in existence, and maybe 
there never will be beyond life itself), but yes this looks like a fantastic

thing. Have also heard a rumour that it might be getting a tweak to make 
those menus one-switch accessible down the line anyway.

Few more questions....

Can you run it in a window? Can you reconfigure the Xbox 360 controls? Do 
you need to access a pointer-based menu system between shots? I.e. imagine 
I'm using a one-switch interface, can I play 9 or 18 holes throughout, or 
would I need someone to assist between holes?

Best wishes,

Barrie

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Steve Spohn" <steve at ablegamers.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2010 4:39 PM
To: "'Barrie Ellis'" <oneswitch at gmail.com>; "'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG 
Mailing List'" <games_access at igda.org>
Subject: RE: [games_access] My Golf Game - released

> Hi Barrie and all,
>
> As far as AbleGamers criteria goes, my golf game is fully accessible.  As 
> I
> explained in the article at
>
http://www.ablegamers.com/game-news/vtree-and-ernie-els-launches-first-fully
> -accessible-golf-game.html you can use the mouse, keyboard, Xbox 360
> controller, touch screen, and/or voice recognition technology - basically
> anything to play this game.
>
> The game play is near one switch, with the arrow slowly sweeping until you
> click (mouse, spacebar, X button) then the power goes up and down once you
> set the arrow and you click to stop it.  The menus are not one switch but
> you can use the keyboard or voice recognition or mouse to jump right in 
> and
> start playing.
>
> This game is absolutely the first and only mainstream golf title built 
> from
> the ground up specifically to be played by disabled gamers.  This is not 
> an
> indie title or something run on an emulator, Vtree went out and convinced 
> EA
> to publish a game specifically targeted to the people we fight for 
> everyday.
> If that's not a win, I don't know what to call it.
>
> Perhaps our versions of "fully accessible" are slightly different but I
> don't know many disabilities that won't be able to play.  Even those who
> could only literally use one of your big red buttons will be able to play
> this once someone clicks on start for them.
>
> And for the record, I have to have people put DVDs in my DVD-ROM to play 
> but
> I don't count that against the accessibility.  It would be nice to have 
> the
> menus be completely one switch friendly, I agree with you, but in my 
> opinion
> that's kind of like someone giving you a Ferrari and telling you that it's
> completely free but you have to pump your own gas.
>
> I'm just grateful for the Ferrari :)
>
> Steve Spohn
> Associate Editor
> The AbleGamers Foundation
>
> www.ablegamers.com
> www.ablegamers.org
>
> Find me on Skype!  Username: Steve_Spohn
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
> On Behalf Of Barrie Ellis
> Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2010 4:56 AM
> To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [games_access] My Golf Game - released
>
> Would have to play it first to say for sure. I would like to see a
> one-switch 3D golfing game where you can navigate the menus, and restart a
> game with the same interface. Don't know if it has or hasn't, but would 
> like
>
> a easy quick-start menu system too.
>
> Not sure if you can reconfigure the Xbox 360 control set-up either. Guess
> I'll wait and see from a proper accessibility review via AbleGamers, the
> Accessible GameBase, Game FWD or Deaf Gamers.
>
> I did like the look of things from this video clip though:
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FL9gDtUkt8 - But can you play 9, 18 holes
> like that, or are you forced to use a point-and-click or Xbox 360 
> controller
>
> interface? At this stage, I don't know. I'm hopeful.
>
> Barrie
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Sandra Uhling" <sandra_uhling at web.de>
> Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2010 8:33 AM
> To: "'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'" <games_access at igda.org>
> Subject: Re: [games_access] My Golf Game - released
>
>> Hi Barrie,
>>
>> well they are talking with other (great) guys about more features :-)
>> There is a vision and they are working to make great high quality
>> accessible
>> games!
>>
>> What would you change at the current games when you could?
>>
>> 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: Donnerstag, 23. September 2010 09:02
>> An: games_access at igda.org
>> Betreff: [games_access] My Golf Game - released
>>
>> I'll let the links do the talking here. VTree's "My Golf Game"....
>>
>> VTree's web-site: http://www.vtreellc.com/
>>
>> AbleGamers run down + money off:
>>
>
http://www.ablegamers.com/game-news/vtree-and-ernie-els-launches-first-fully
>> -accessible-golf-game.html
>>
>> IGDA GASIGS's 2007 Top 3 Accessibility Features for Golf Games:
>>
>
http://gameaccessibility.blogspot.com/2007/12/top-3-accessibility-features-f
>> or-golf.html
>>
>> One-Switch take on Release:
>> http://switchgaming.blogspot.com/2010/09/my-golf-game.html
>>
>> It's not a fully accessible golf-game, but it is a highly-accessible
>> looking
>> golf-game. I'm looking forward to reading a good accessibility review
>> before
>> buying personally.
>>
>> Barrie
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> games_access mailing list
>> games_access at igda.org
>> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>
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