Hi Dark, Sure. However, my basic point is that you have some vision therefore simple 2d graphics vs 3d graphics makes a huge difference in how you play said games. I have absolutely no site so the graphical representation on the screen makes absolutely no difference to me. I have to put the same effort into playing no matter what kind of graphics are used because all I have is the audio output. If the audio output is terrible I have no access at all and if the audio output is great then there is a higher degree of access.
I do agree in some cases some things are equally accessible between sighted and blind consumers, but I still maintain most things do require more effort as a rule of thumb. If we use your example of text games with NVDA I have to route the review cursor to the bottom of the screen, arrow up to where the text begins, and begin reading it line by line. This doesn't make text games unaccessible to play, but is a lot more inconvenient than reading it with your eyes. Therefore with some screen readers, the way the text is presented, may require a bit more effort to get access to than your average sighted user. Then, of course, we are over looking the big issue itself. Playing text games, gamebooks, whatever requires a screen reader. Up until very recently when screen readers like NVDA were developed a person would have to shell out a lot of cash for Window-Eyes, Jaws, Supernova, etc which would be considerably more cost to the enduser. While we can't measure that as extra effort per say it is a factor in determining accessibility. The price or cost of access is as bad as extra effort in my book. Cheers! On 7/25/12, dark <d...@xgam.org> wrote: > Hi Tom. > I'm afraid I utterly disagree that everything! takes more effort for a > visually impared person. Even if we restrict ourselves to just games, > something like boppit, a mainstream audio game, or indeed any audio game is > > by it's very nature equal. Also, though some brouser games and games that > rely on apprehending a complex layout of information might be said to > require somewhat more effort, the case seems less so for somethin that is > purely text based and completely accessible, ie the screen reader can access > > the text instantly with one key press. thus a lot of interactive fiction, > games like Eamon, gamebooks with good layouts and buttons such as lone wolf, > > choiceof games or the ff project wouldn't seem to be this way. > > though it is true that audio games are often developed and played by > visually impared people, there is nothing to stop sighted people from > playing them either, as proved by the few sighted people who do! play and > develope audio games such as Richard and Sander from audiogames.net, , which > > is exactly why they are accessible, and also why I'd strongly encourage > audio games to be considdered as simply a genre of games with merit on their > > own groundds, rather than just! an accessible alternative for the poor > segrigated blind people to play in their little getto. > > As to sound in 3D games, the issue certainly isn't that I can't! it's simply > > that the amount of effort involved as compared to playing a graphical game, > > even with my extremely limited vision makes the games not only not worth > playing, but also frankly frustrating as hell due to low information. > > if I play a game, i don't want to have to use guess work about what is > happening, or keep hitting directions at random to work out where I should > go, then use massive memorization for game objects, such a thing goes beyond > > the point of fun for me. > > Yes, i might have to play more slowly, and occasionally I'll get hit or > otherwise run into something and think "what the hell was that" and need to > > take time learning how to avoid it, but I generally want the possibility to > > sit down to a game and actually perceive most of it's objects and > atmosphere, rather than always be at the level of guess work. > > This is why I'd much rather play something like original Mega man, than a 3D > > brawler, sinse in Mega man, most of the objects in the game will be > instantly visible and I can work out my own stratogies and ways of dealing > with them. > > This isn't a cryticism of anyone's playing method, just an explanation. > > Beware the grue! > > Dark. > > > --- > Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org > If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to > gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. > You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at > http://mail.audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. > All messages are archived and can be searched and read at > http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. > If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, > please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. > --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://mail.audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
