[games_access] The AbleGamers Foundation 2010 Accessible Mainstream Game of the Year Award

Mon Jan 24 15:56:27 EST 2011

You know, not spam, but I wanted to say I agree with you.  I used to love
racing games and up until this one, they were completely out of reach for
anyone who asked me what they could play with very limited mobility.  I
mean, who doesn't love fast sleek cars?

I'm glad to see they included options to make the game accessible while not
interfering with the gameplay. If only we could get all developers to do
that.

Steve Spohn

Editor

The AbleGamers Foundation

www.ablegamers.com

www.ablegamers.org

Find me on Skype!  Username: Steve_Spohn

From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Tara Tefertiller
Sent: Monday, January 24, 2011 3:45 PM
To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
Subject: Re: [games_access] The AbleGamers Foundation 2010 Accessible
Mainstream Game of the Year Award

Thanks Steve!

I actually saw the link off Facebook and forwarded it around my office, who
specialize in making racing games. I thought it was awesome I could show
them that there is an awesome main stream title that was in our same genre
that was accessible. It was sort of a "Hey look! Accessible racing games are
possible!" kind of thing.

-- 
Tara Tefertiller - Chairperson
IGDA Game Accessibility SIG

igda-gasig.org <http://igda-gasig.org/> 
http://gameaccesssig.forumotion.com/

On Mon, Jan 24, 2011 at 3:39 PM, Steve Spohn <steve at ablegamers.com> wrote:

Greetings all,

The AbleGamers Foundation announced the winner of this year's accessible
mainstream game of the year award this morning and I wanted to pass that
along with the press release. Forza motorsports 3 has proven to be a very
accessible console game and Microsoft was very pleased to receive the award.

Please see below for more details, if you have any questions, comments, or
concerns please e-mail me off list.

Thank you for your time,

Steve Spohn

Editor

The AbleGamers Foundation

www.ablegamers.com

www.ablegamers.org

Find me on Skype!  Username: Steve_Spohn

Error! Filename not specified.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Mark Barlet

mark at ablegamers.org

(703) 891-9017 ext:102

The AbleGamers Foundation Gives the 2010 Accessible Mainstream Game of the
Year Award to First Console Game Ever 

Forza Motorsports 3 earns the annual award for extreme accessibility in a
videogame for Microsoft and Turn 10 

Harper's Ferry, WV - January 24, 2011 - The AbleGamers Foundation
<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=85613693&msgid=994590&act=HWN4&c=
369830&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ablegamers.org%2F>  is proud to announce
Turn 10 and Microsoft's Forza Motorsports 3 is the winner of this year's
Accessible Mainstream Game of the Year award.  Each year, the AbleGamers
Foundation looks at all of the mainstream video game titles released from
Oct. to Oct. for the best use of accessibility in a game. Recipients must
demonstrate excellence in accessibility by including options that allow for
gamers with a wide range of disabilities to fully enjoy the game.

One of the most inaccessible genres to a major part of the disabled gaming
community is the racing genre due to the need to react quickly and make
split-second decisions all while operating multiple buttons to play at even
the most basic level.  On top of that, console games almost always lag
behind the accessibility options computer games can provide through
third-party software, peripherals and assistive technology.

"We are thrilled to see developers finally including accessibility options
in console games," said Mark Barlet, President of the AbleGamers Foundation.
"Microsoft and Turn 10 really impressed us with the extreme flexibility and
number of ways you can play Forza 3 thanks to the options included in the
game. Many of the gamers with disabilities in our community were unable to
play racing games easily before this title."

Forza 3 incorporates many accessibility features including auto braking,
which enables the ability of gamers to concentrate on steering alone. While
the accelerator is held down by either a latching switch or simply taping
down the button, the entire game can be played with only two buttons. That
kind of accessibility allows almost any mobility impaired gamer to enjoy the
game. Not to mention the "rewind" feature that allows gamers to "do over"
parts of the race, which is extremely useful for the cognitively impaired
and those with low reaction time or dexterity.

"Microsoft is honored and delighted to accept the Accessible Game of the
Year Award from AbleGamers for Forza Motorsport 3," said Aaron Kornblum,
Director Security Policy, Interactive Entertainment Business, which includes
Xbox and Xbox Live. "We believe that making technology as accessible as
possible will enable people throughout the world to realize their full
potential, regardless of their abilities" 

You can read the whole story, and see a video of some of the flexibility
offered http://ablegamers.com/u1a91
<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=85613693&msgid=994590&act=HWN4&c=
369830&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ablegamers.com%2Fu1a91> 

About The AbleGamers Foundation 

The AbleGamers Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity that runs
AbleGamers.com provide news, reviews, and advice on disabled technology and
the accessibility of mainstream video game titles. Eligible titles for this
award are games published between Oct 2009 to Oct 2010.  As an alternative
to Serious Gaming, mainstream video games supply many disabled individuals
and veterans with rehabilitation as well as social stimulation in situations
where they may be otherwise shut out of society's idea of normal everyday
life. Find out more at
<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=85613693&msgid=994590&act=HWN4&c=
369830&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ablegamers.org>
http://www.ablegamers.org

### 

For more information about this topic, the AbleGamers foundation,
AbleGamers.com, donating, or to schedule an interview with Mark Barlet,
President of The AbleGamers Foundation, call (703) 891-9017 ext:102 or email
Steve Spohn at press at AbleGamers.com 

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