Disabled gamers can now check out reviews of videogames done expressly with them in mind thanks to the AbleGamers Foundation.
Reviews featured on the main AbleGamers website are ranked, from 1 to 10, in terms of how the game performs for those with visual, hearing or motion impaired disabilities. These numbers are then factored in with additional ratings for closed captioning, speed settings, difficulty settings and options for colorblindness, among others, before a final grade is calculated.
AbleGamers Foundation Presiden Mark Barlet added, “There are countless sites out there that review games for their graphics and sound, but no one is looking at the game from the standpoint of accessibility. With 63 million Americans with disabilities this is a focus that is needed and who better to do it than the flagship site for disabled gamers, AbleGamers.com.”
16 game reviews are currently up on the site. BioWare’s Dragon Age for the PC is currently the highest-rated game to-date, garnering a 9.8. From the Game Accessibility section of the review:
One-handed gamers and the mobility impaired will have no problems playing at all. If you can only play with one hand or have difficulty playing many mainstream games, such as only being able to play with a mouse or a keyboard, this is a game for you. If you can play titles such as World of Warcraft, Aion, and Guild Wars then you will be able to play Dragon Age.
The lowest rated game so far is Nintendo’s Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Story for the DS, which received a 4.5 score. The reviewer enjoyed the game, but noted, “I pretty much can't recommend it to anyone with just about any disability.”
Comments
Re: Rating Games for a Different Audience
Thank you for noticing our review system. http://AbleGamers.com has been around for 5 years, we formed the non-profit to support our growth earlier this year. Thank you all for the kind words and sane comments on our endeavors (you should see what some sites say about disabled gamers, needless to say I am embarrassed for the entire gaming community)
If there's something missing, or there is something that needs to be added, please let us know. We are gamers with disabilities working to make gaming better for everyone.
Mark Barlet http://www.AbleGamers.com http://www.AbleGamers.org
Re: Rating Games for a Different Audience
Sane? Us? Must be the holidays. :)
C'mon, share with us some links to those sites that have negative opinions of disabled gamers.
And I did make a comment two posts up about the review site.
Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
http://www.facebook.com/nightwing2000
Nightwng2000 is now admin to the group "Parents For Education, Not Legislation" on MySpace as http://groups.myspace.com/pfenl
Re: Rating Games for a Different Audience
This is a great idea. I've been a bit worried about what the vogue for motion controls will mean for accessibility, so I'm glad to see people doing something like this.
Check out my video game humor and commentary blog, Pointless Side Quest!
Re: Rating Games for a Different Audience
Of course, one odd issue, though I may have missed it somewhere on the page, is that the site itself doesn't appear to be accessible friendly. It seems to rely heavily on graphics and, contrary to many sites heavy into disable users, doesn't offer a text or accessible friendly link.
Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
http://www.facebook.com/nightwing2000
Nightwng2000 is now admin to the group "Parents For Education, Not Legislation" on MySpace as http://groups.myspace.com/pfenl
Re: Rating Games for a Different Audience
It's an interesting concept. One wonders if such a review system will catch on in the eyes of the industry, thereby affecting future design.
It's not likely to catch on to the general population immediately. But the more interest, even through mere curiosity, the more both the general consumer and the general industry will pay attention and start to make some changes. Or, if not all out change, provide the ability for adaptability for their hardware/software.
Indeed, if the review site receives a large number of hits over time, it would show that there is a greatere population of those interested in, if not in need of, hardware/software which can be modified through options or more specialized equipment access. The general industry may find itself with increased revenue through increased accessability. After all, that's what the industry is about, making money.
Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
http://www.facebook.com/nightwing2000
Nightwng2000 is now admin to the group "Parents For Education, Not Legislation" on MySpace as http://groups.myspace.com/pfenl
Re: Rating Games for a Different Audience
They also rate games on whether or not you can play them with one hand. Yeah...
---You are likely to be eaten by a Grue.
Re: Rating Games for a Different Audience
So its bad a single handed person or person with bad motor skills can play a game?
Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy! Stop supporting big media and furthering the criminalization of consumers!! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/
Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Let's renegotiate them.
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Re: Rating Games for a Different Audience
I'm pretty sure he was referencing masturbation, Zip.
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He was dead when I got here.
Re: Rating Games for a Different Audience
Sorry its hard to change from serious mode to lulz mode as my gears are not greased to offten....or even turned on for that matter...........
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oh gaaaaa I am going to hell......but at least thats where all the fun people go!!
Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy! Stop supporting big media and furthering the criminalization of consumers!! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/
Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Let's renegotiate them.
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Re: Rating Games for a Different Audience
What about with a left foot?
Re: Rating Games for a Different Audience
I like the move towards captions in games lately. It's generally hard to hear characters talking over explosions, caves imploding, etc. Just keep it optional for those who want or need it while making sure they know it's an available option.
Unfortunately, games by their very nature are not going to be the most accessible medium for people who are partially or completely blind, and depending on the colors used, people who are color blind. Although there was that one completely blind guy who could play Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance fairly well by the game's sounds alone.
"That's not ironic. That's justice."
Re: Rating Games for a Different Audience
All gaming needs to be more accessible is more control options like button mapping and more save options like control over check points time based saves and quick saves. Not to mention audio options like independent volume control for voice,sound and music. That with caption options for size and pause the game to read thigns like this open the door to more gamers, open it a bit more by adjusting difficulty settings independently gravity, damage done,damage taken, location damage effects(head shot instant kill,leg shot trip),fall damage and such(not to mention would open up all games to more consumers the esier to paly the more people will play them over time) would make the game accessible to anyone who can hold a controller.
To finish off the accessibility to the most widest audience possible open up controller design license's for free or cheap to anyone who builds them specifically for the disabled.
It would not take much on the part of the industry to do this but they are simply not interested beyond lip service....
Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy! Stop supporting big media and furthering the criminalization of consumers!! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/
Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Let's renegotiate them.
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http://zippydsm.deviantart.com/
Re: Rating Games for a Different Audience
Mmmmmm nice uplifting and oh so PC friendly title....dissaed gamers sounds cooler >>
They have the basics covered at elast fine motor/gross morot but no learning impaired...
Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy! Stop supporting big media and furthering the criminalization of consumers!! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/
Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Let's renegotiate them.
---
http://zippydsm.deviantart.com/
Re: Rating Games for a Different Audience
You keep spelling "diseased" like that and you'll qualify yourself for your own title.
Re: Rating Games for a Different Audience
Pronouced diss'aid, MR troll, it sounds better than able gamers that sounds like some whacked out we can do anything becuse we are "specail" group....oy...I am specail too ya know...and I certainly can;t do everything!!!
:P
Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy! Stop supporting big media and furthering the criminalization of consumers!! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/
Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Let's renegotiate them.
---
http://zippydsm.deviantart.com/
Re: Rating Games for a Different Audience
I like this, and I'm actually surprised that nobody came up with something like this before.
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He was dead when I got here.
Re: Rating Games for a Different Audience
I like this too, one of my friend is very fond of playing console games but unfortunately he is disabled and i dont like this thing about it. I will forward this thing to him, hope this will help him.
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Re: Rating Games for a Different Audience
Maybe they should hire Erik Estevilo.
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Re: Rating Games for a Different Audience
But then they'll be too busy suing console makers with unreasonable demands to get anything done.