Boston Indies Talk July 2017
•Download as PPTX, PDF•
0 likes•270 views
Accessibility has gained somewhat wider acceptance in the games industry in recent years, as what was once basically an afterthought for most developers is now a more popular design paradigm. In particular, the move towards games-as-a-service has forced devs to be in touch with the disabled community more often, incorporating more of its feedback. This being said, disabled gamers still find themselves all too often at the fringes of gaming, particularly when it comes to more mainstream products. This talk will explore how the indie community is well-positioned to forge further ahead in harnessing a relatively untapped audience, in the context of the current state of accessible design. We'll also explore how the growth of this player segment -- and the industry as a whole -- may hinge on a more diverse workforce, including the differently abled.
Recommended
More Related Content
Similar to Boston Indies Talk July 2017
Similar to Boston Indies Talk July 2017 (9)
Recently uploaded
Recently uploaded (20)
Boston Indies Talk July 2017
- 1. Fun, Enabled: Unpacking Game Accessibility in 2017 Johnny Richardson Lead Dev @engagelab, Games industry wayfarer, #a11y nerd
- 2. WHO?? What I do Why I care Personal experiences This is a very different talk than usual A lot of content may seem like common sense (a11y = accessibility)
- 3. A trip down memory lane ~2009: Accessibility was anathema at worst and too hard at best “Players don’t want it” No financial incentive Advocates were too radical Some things have yet to change
- 4. Today... 2017: Better understanding Wider adoption of basics F2P/Games as service Streaming MR/VR Press Representation has improved
- 5. ...Today AbleGamers had to tweak mission This is a good thing! Still a long way to go Just in US: 33 million disabled gamers
- 6. E.g. Doom 3[CC] vs Uncharted 4 Rocket League, Hitman, Xcom, Bayonetta 2, Overwatch Xbox copilot, PS4/Xbox ease of access BFIG category last year, unheard of years ago Bad apples: Overwatch, Zelda, plenty of non-AAA titles
- 7. Johnny’s Five F’s Let’s get into it
- 8. FOCUS Art must be accessible Development must be practical “Universal Design”
- 9. FEEDBACK The “final product” is a misdirection Early/frequent testing is the key Let go!
- 10. FUN Accessible for everyone Nothing to do with superficial “reward” Social experience
- 11. FISCAL The audience: significant and untapped Market differentiation Smart design is not expensive
- 12. FUNDAMENTAL The principled thing to do! And surprise! None of this has to do with “accessibility”.
- 13. INDIES!
- 14. INDIEEEEEEEES More discretion/nimbler Need to mitigate risk lessened Smaller budget :( Smaller budget! Universal appeal? if(indies === “innovation”) Accessible gameplay let indies = “innovation”;
- 15. Indie Highlights HEARtREAD Perception The Last Door This War of Mine Sometimes Always Monsters Papers, Please
- 16. Industry Diversification Driver of a11y Games reflect their devs Breaking in Democratization Natural progression
Editor's Notes
- What I do Why I care Personal experiences - QTE, getting help from friends This is a very diff talk than usual; have been speaking outside industry for a while Much of what I discuss while strike you as common sense (it is!)
- Many devs used to think supporting accessibility was anathema at worst and too hard at best GDC experience Players didn’t want it No financial incentive Advocates were too radical in their approach; univ design Has not changed much Lack of resources Conflation of approachability and a11y
- Considerably better understanding Wider adoption of some basic a11y features Subtitles Controller remapping Colorblind Enemy marking More types of difficulty settings, Checkpoints more common F2P Games as a service -- (Audience more visible, changes come constantly) Streaming/”personalities” MR/VR -- numerous a11y issues to overcome, but possibility space where other hardware has failed Coverage in press more widespread Representation of disabled in games has improved Examples Oracle, Arkham (becomes paraplegic) Huey Emmerich, MGSV (born paraplegic) Lester Crest, GTAV (deuteraganist, “wasting disease”) Joker, Mass Effect (Vrolik syndrome) Tiami, Guild Wars 2 (bone disease) Elude (Gambit) explores depression Cassie, Perception (blind protagonist)
- AbleGamers tweaked mission (charity), no longer needs developer evangelist, has capable staff This is a good thing Still a long way to go; 33 million gamers with disabilities in America alone, hundreds of million worldwide Audience grows daily (we’re all getting older)
- Examples of how far we’ve come CC created as mod in 2004 U4 had tons of a11y options built in for AAA (target lock, aim modes, camera and vehicle assist, tap vs mash for QTEs, swap sticks) RL while precision and dexterity are bonuses, overcome by ingenuity and finding right path the vastness of cosmetic customizations Hitman Rewarded for slow, methodicial play by design Tons of gameplay options Xcom other example B2 Could be controlled via gamepad, touchscreen, pro controller, all of them Hopefully more games like this w/ Switch since its has no system-wide controller re-mapping Automatic/one-button mode Overwatch (great re-mapping) PS4/XB1 Bfig Overwatch devs lobby first-parties to disable K/M converters or devices like TAC pro Zelda Unskippable motion control puzzles No target lock Nintendo in general failing at a11y
- Time for my 5 fs. Developed a while back as a quick intro to how I approach a11y.
- Art must be accessible, Development must be practical, “Universal Design” -- Books on tape, ADA movie theatres, subtitles For the mainstream gaming markets, the best practices of universal design cannot always be applied. Section 508 guarantees accessibility on the Web, at least for governmental portals; widely accepted and adopted The cost-benefit analysis for true total inclusion tends to be a difficult proposition for backers/bottom line; a nonstarter. While A11y fairly simple, total inclusivity considerably harder (in terms of catering to every conceivable hindrance) Good better best model alt way around this. Discuss CoD example
- Final product not always the be all. You need to break product into facets. Not everything needs to be perfect. Your audience usually knows more than you do.
- Accessible for everyone, Nothing to do with superficial “reward”, social experience. The concept of reward not generally important if somebody can’t even play. Social experience as a key part of this.
- Money left on the table. A way to convince stakeholders. Gain not always from sales but good PR. Does not break bank if thought of from start.
- The principled thing to do! It’s more about good game design.
- Tend to have more discretion insofar as design direction Indie titles are less likely to need to mitigate risk; smaller budget can mean more room to take risks and experiment Focus less on appealing to every possible audience Innovation the key to standing out...market forces
- HEARtREAD Perception The Last Door (dyslexia font, OpenDyslexic) This War of Mine - controlled only by the mouse - great audio cues Sometimes Always Monsters - Game play is never action-based, player follows the story/complete objectives at their own pace. color never plays into core gameplay elements without other descriptors. The game is entirely text based with great closed captions. Papers, Please (pacing)
- Aside: Speaking with devs yrs ago who complained about having trouble playing own games Blue Fang story Why would I ever make a game I have trouble playing? Workforce diversity sits equally alongside demand from players as driver of a11y Games are a reflection of the people who make them; reflect them Breaking in Industry is sometimes even more difficult to start in for the disabled Even though more mature, resources are often limited Igda and other dev groups don’t do often the best representing Not unique to games Indie devs have potential here Getting better: democratized, easier publishing, toolsets Natural evolution in part is helping