[games_access] games_access Digest, Vol 111, Issue 1

[Ian Hamilton]

I completely agree with Sandra, awards are a fantastic way not just to give some positive reinforcement to people already making efforts, but also to raise awareness, and to give some extra motivation to people who might have an interest but are too busy to care enough otherwise... certainly I've worked with several producers and execs who would always take the course of action that's most likely to win them an award.
Specialist game of the year awards such as Dual Ring's, DAGERS',  and especially AbleGamers' have clearly shown the potential and how much recipients value the recognition. 
Specialist awards are great and have their own benefits, but to take it to the next level there really also needs to be some recognition of accessibility in general industry awards. Industry awards have far greater awareness raising potential, and also greater weight if coming from within the industry and recognised at an equal level to other industry-wide award categories.
It's already a proven thing. Other industries, from quite different ones such as architecture and arts through to more closely related to gaming such as web and educational technology all have categories for inclusive design in general industry awards, awarded by industry bodies, in addition to ones awarded by individual advocacy groups.
It has already kind of happened in the games industry for games aimed at specific disabled demographics, through the games for health category at the dutch game awards. 

There hasn't though (as far as I'm aware at least) been any recognition in industry awards for a mainstream game that is inclusive as possible, although a couple have expressed an interest at least.
So if anyone has any links with awards either in their own country or internationally it's certainly something that's worth getting in touch with them about and working towards.
Ian

> From: games_access-request at igda.org
> Subject: games_access Digest, Vol 111, Issue 1
> To: games_access at igda.org
> Date: Sat, 9 Mar 2013 10:00:04 -0500
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> Today's Topics:
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>    1. German Computer Award: (Sandra Uhling)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 8 Mar 2013 20:57:23 -0000
> From: "Sandra Uhling" <sandra_uhling at web.de>
> Subject: [games_access] German Computer Award:
> To: "'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'"
> 	<games_access at igda.org>
> Message-ID: <000d01ce1c3f$8979eeb0$9c6dcc10$@de>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
> 
> German Computer Award:
> 
>  
> 
> Die Kriterien, die die Jury ihrer Arbeit zugrunde legen, umfassen ein gro?es
> Spektrum an Qualit?ten, die ein auszuzeichnendes Spiel aufweisen kann. Die
> Jury wei? Faktoren wie Game Accessibility daher in jedem Fall zu w?rdigen.?
> 
>  
> 
> Google translate:
> 
> The criteria that define the jury based their work include a wide range of
> qualities that may have a auszuzeichnendes game. The jury knows factors like
> Game Accessibility, in each case, to appreciate. "
> 
>  
> 
> Well, I do not believe them. There is no checklist available at the moment.
> 
> Do they really know what blind, deaf, .... gamers need?
> 
>  
> 
> Anyway Game Accessibility needs its own category!
> 
> An the best are two: One for mainstream Games with accessibility features,
> and another one for special games.
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> Sandra
> 
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