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

Mon Jan 24 15:58:08 EST 2011

Worthy winner. I didn't personally mention it in the IGDA piece as I considered it a 2009 game (saw the AbleGamers explanation), but it certainly deserves accolades. 

For Forza 4, I'd love to see an Oval track with barriers and auto-correction for steering (as with Destruction Derby). Fully reconfigurable controls (poss. like Gran Turismo 5 - yet to try it out) and like no game I'm aware of - a way to restrict the top speeds of your opponents as well as your own car. And maybe less likely - a one-switch mode.

Barrie

From: Steve Spohn 
Sent: Monday, January 24, 2011 8:39 PM
To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List' 
Subject: [games_access] The AbleGamers Foundation 2010 Accessible MainstreamGame of the Year Award

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

                              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 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

                              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://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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