Video games need accessibility: stop the fun

• The comparison
• Video Games
• Video games need accessibility: stop the fun

Ah, video games. Regardless of which platform you choose, gaming has kept us entertained for the past few decades, from arcades and consoles to gaming PCs and even mobile devices. The ultimate goal of the game is to have fun and have fun, just like you would when watching a movie or reading a book, so why is there so much backlash against easy mode? A stunning minority believes that the jeu est un passe-temps reserved only for the elite, des individus qui voient les jeux as un défi à relever et voient all ce qui se trouve en dehors de cet environnement compétitif com un affront à leur étrange culture online. This toxicity can lead to a lot of controls and hostile behavior towards anyone considered a "casual" gamer, as God forbid anyone wants to play anything to have a good time. Some titles and franchises are designed to be brutal to play, which is understandable given how satisfying taking on a challenge can be. I'm not suggesting that games designed to be hard should include an easier mode (because of how little good this caveat will do to my inbox), but hate for players who play anything on easy has resulted in a minority. vowel trying to copy them. people as "fake players". The mocking attitude towards players who cannot meet the standards of "pro gamers" set by the gaming community itself is not only exclusive, but may also be capable. Difficulty settings are just one example of accessibility in video games, and while the two are not mutually exclusive, this is an important feature for many gamers. Accessibility can mean many things, from text-to-speech, to color-blind settings and adding support for non-standard controllers or peripherals, and each gamer's needs will vary; not all players with disabilities play. Not in easy mode after all.

Elitism is not as cool as you think

(Image credit: Microsoft) In some cases, accessibility is granted through mods thanks to passionate members of the community, but this, in turn, can lead to the addition of native support by game developers. . Hades is an award-winning Rogue-type, a genre known for its high difficulty thanks to a random dungeon-crawling environment and character death that forces you back to the beginning, and while Hades has lived up to the expectations of Brutal difficulty Rogue-like, it has a variety of accessibility mods for visually impaired players and a "God Mode" that allows players of all skill levels to enjoy the game.

With Hades, we wanted to open up the exciting experience of rogue-like gaming to more players. Here's a look at God Mode, which allows those of us who aren't gods to drop by and experience the unfolding story. #HadesGame pic.twitter.com/JYCZ4eh9JESSeptember 25, 2020 See More Charities like AbleGamers are also working hard to increase representation for people with disabilities, not just by educating game developers and the gaming community at large, but also creating adaptable hardware solutions to allow gamers with disabilities to take advantage of franchises. Steve Spohn, AbleGamers COO and himself a disabled gamer, set a goal of raising €1 million in one year for the charity to celebrate its 40th anniversary, a goal which was reached on August 16 this year. Organized by the hashtag "#SpawnTogether", the reader is on course and will finish exactly 12 months after their debut on September 15, all the additional funds are included in the efforts made to help youngsters handicapés with material, from ergothérape utes et even more.

The importance of accessibility

(Image credit: Steve Spohn) We spoke with Spohn about his charity drive, the game's accessibility, and the state of control within the gaming community. Setting a goal of € 1 million is no small feat - did you have faith that you would achieve it? It must be wonderful to see a community come together for such a great cause. Definitely not lol. When I first discussed this idea with AbleGamers founder Mark Barlet, he was saying that maybe we could raise a few thousand dollars. Maybe €50,000 if he was very lucky. It really is an indescribable feeling to have people behind you in such a powerful way. Like anyone in this industry, or really in any industry, I have my moments of doubt and imposter syndrome. In the end, I published my story and I hope that people connect with the idea of ​​wanting to do good for the world before it's too late, and I think they have succeeded. I've had people all over the world donate €5, €10, €20 just saying that they really like my attitude and that they hope we can achieve the goal, and we did because of them. There is simply no better feeling in the world than having people see your struggles and validate your need and what you believe in this industry. It is absolutely comforting. Everyone who was a part of Spawn Together is responsible for how we got here, everyone can share in this victory. And I know not everyone will see it that way, some people will point to just how far your contributions have reached this incredible milestone. But I hope that during the dark hours of the night when brain worms attack, people remember that they were part of something really cool this year, and something that will make a world of difference for people with disabilities. It is something to be proud of.

Technology can be really cool

(Image credit: AbleGamers) The talk of "easy fashions" has caused friction online. I would like to know your feelings about it. Haha, I think everyone who follows me online, and some people who don't, know my feelings easily. Give me Baby Ass Baby Mode. Look, it's none of my business how someone's having fun. If what you're doing isn't hurting you or anyone else, you should be able to play video games however you want. I've made a whole thread of all the common things offered to me and other advocates about easy mode, the absolutely ridiculous feelings some people have about it. But everything from "Well, this handicapped player could beat him so all handicapped ones can!" to "if the developer adds easy mode, everyone can win and that's not the point", these are all silly arguments. Just because one person can do it doesn't mean everyone can do it. Just because more people can complete the game doesn't mean your success is completing the game on the least impressive hardest mode. I understand why people hide part of their identity by being able to do things that others can't. I do, I get it. But maintaining control at any level is not right. I won't ask for details on how the money will be divided, but what kinds of things will it be spent on? Many people (myself included) are sadly unaware of what gear can be used to help disabled players enjoy their favorite titles, but the AbleGamers site has been very informative. Oh, you can ask. AbleGamers is one of the most transparent organizations on the planet about where we spend money. We publish our 990 every year, and even have dedicated portions of the website to show how much each dollar goes to mission programs and initiatives. We are incredibly proud of our responsibility with money. I am very glad that you found the educational website. We really try to make things easy to find! We've had some great inventions come from AbleGamers in the last two years, including three patents, the controller you can play buried in a table, and one you can plug directly from your power wheelchair into the Xbox and do it. that the wheelchair acts as a controller. . Of course, one of the best places we spent money was to keep the Quadstick, a device you can use to play Xbox with just your mouth, from leaking. The person who originally made the devices one by one decided to retire and we were able to step in with some financial support and a wonderful man named Fred ready to get back to work. These devices help a lot of people. And I'd be sad not to mention my infrared hat, it's the one you see me doing things like winning a scapegoat victory. Technology is great, don't you think?

Everyone should enjoy the game

(Image credit: AbleGamers) There is still a long way to go before September 15: do you have an ambitious goal in mind or a second goal that you would like to achieve? Yes, technically we still have a month left and at the time of writing the campaign is worth € 1,013,000, so there is still time for people to donate if they wish. But I turn my attention to the sequel and can't wait to talk about it. What are your 3 best games? Do they have accessibility features that you think should be included in other titles? My top three games right now are Rocket League, Dead By Daylight, and Fortnite. And indeed, yes, they all have some really cool accessibility features. Rocket League was kind enough to listen to me when I said that some people would like to play with just the mouse, and now I'm a platinum level player wearing just my mouse and an IR hat on my head. Dead By Daylight has many accessibility issues. They improved, they recently added colorblind mode. But there is still a long way to go. I edit the .ini files to use my mouse fairly quickly because the mouse sensitivity is too low by default. But it's still fun. And Fortnite is fantastic from an accessibility standpoint. Not only do they have many options like automatic door opening, displaying symbols on the screen for sounds, but they also have remapping that changes depending on the circumstances you find yourself in, whether it's running or driving or whatever. Really good stuff. Do you have something you would like to complete? The floor is yours! You know, I think the only thing I really want to get out into the world is that it wasn't my win. People keep saying...