Hi Richard,
It looks like you and I are on the same page so to speak. I don't buy 
the not enough resources argument either.
 As a developer I know resources is an issue for any kind of project, 
and it ends up being an issue of deciding weather to scrap this cool 
killer graphic to add a targeting beep, or whatever.... Allot of times 
the developer, company, etc may be stating a fact, but in the end it is 
really a decision to add or not add it.
 We all know that the 3D and graphics animation is what eats the 
resources like mad, and why games need more and more CPU power etc... 
Companies/developers have decided to pack as much animation in to their 
games as possible, ignoring accessibility concerns, and since all the 
resources have been used clame they don't have them for accessibility.
Also I agree with you our biggist problem is erroneous assumptions on 
part of those involved. They lack the experience and knolege to adapt 
games to our needs and they inflate and exadurate time, cost, research, 
development to an unrealistic estimation, and use it as an excuse not to 
do so.
Sadly, this problem is not held by just game developers. It is a total 
misperception on behalf of a large majority of sighted people around the 
world. Some hold a visually handicapped person as something near 
helpless needing to be taken care of, and the other majority see some of 
us as supermen when we do something we are skilled at. It is our job to 
begin to bring sighted comunity at large around to a realistic view of 
us as people.
I do think MGS and other game companies are interested in accessibility 
but fears of how it may effect there budget, how to actually do it, 
abound and is holding them back from attempting it.

AudioGames.net wrote:
> Hi Liam,
>
> Please name names and companies? Did you talk to *developers* or 
> "publishers*?
>
> Because I have talked to Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo (publishers) as well 
> as various game developers at E3, GDC, direct email and more and the 
> majority of them were all interested in expanding their audience through 
> accessibility....
> Yes, of course I also received responses referring to "lack of resources" 
> (whether money or memory or knowledge or ...)
> But I also received many positive replies.... talking to "a few different 
> people" may not represent the game industry, you know...
>
> The thing is, when I get an answer like "lack of resources", I don't simply 
> buy it. Resources are *ALWAYS* an issue (please read an earlier post in 
> which I describe an issue concerning a 3kb sound in an interface which was a 
> serious issue in PS2's KillZone) and thus always an easy answer for game 
> developers. When it comes to resources, it basically comes to priorities. 
> Did you tell the "different people" you talked to that they can actually 
> *get* money for adding accessibility to their games 
> (http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20060428/buscaglia_01.shtml )?
>
> The thing is, many people ASSUME a lot: "it can't be done", "it's too 
> costly", "etc etc". That's because they don't have experience with it. You 
> have to break through that...
>
> Richard
>   


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