Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[FIFA 13 is AbleGamers' 'Accessible Mainstream Game of the Year']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/05/fifa-13-is-ablegamers-accessible-mainstream-game-of-the-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/05/fifa-13-is-ablegamers-accessible-mainstream-game-of-the-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/05/fifa-13-is-ablegamers-accessible-mainstream-game-of-the-year/#comments The AbleGamers Foundation continues to spearhead the charge for greater accessibility in modern game design, and just as it did last year, the organization has taken it upon itself to determine which mainstream game released in 2012 offered the most helpful features for gamers with physical and/or mental disabilities.

Surprisingly, EA Sports' FIFA 13 has earned the honor of being 2012's Accessible Mainstream Game of the Year. "For disabled gamers with Muscular Dystrophy, Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, and even one-handed gamers," the announcement reads, "the ability to play such a sophisticated sports game with simple controls that can be handled by a trackball or mouse mean gamers who may not have been able to enjoy iconic sporting activities like baseball, football, hockey or soccer can now take part in the fun."

AbleGamers also appreciated the game's color customization abilities and clearly presented, easily navigated menus, but was most impressed, however, by how deeply FIFA 13's AI can be altered. "The entire game can be slowed down. The computer can be set to perform slower and with less efficiency. Player controlled avatars can utilize additional speed, accuracy and shot power. For those with cognitive disorders and motor impairments, the ability to set the game to an acceptable rate of speed enables those with even the most severe of disabilities."

JoystiqFIFA 13 is AbleGamers' 'Accessible Mainstream Game of the Year' originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 05 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsablegamersablegamers-foundationaccessibilityAccessible-Mainstream-Game-of-the-YeardisabilityEAEA-Sportselectronic-artsfifa-13microsoftnintendopcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3pspsonyvitawiiwii-uxboxSat, 05 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[AbleGamers Foundation to open first permanent 'Accessibility Arcade']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/ablegamers-foundation-to-open-first-permanent-accessibility-arc/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/ablegamers-foundation-to-open-first-permanent-accessibility-arc/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/ablegamers-foundation-to-open-first-permanent-accessibility-arc/#comments AbleGamers Foundation to open first permanent 'Accessibility Arcade'The AbleGamers Foundation will be opening its first permanent arcade installation designed for people with disabilities on Wednesday, October 10, at the Washington D.C. public library's main MLK branch. While the arcade concept has been shown off previously as a limited-time installation, this will new version will be a permanent addition to the library.

"We're looking forward to welcoming new and experienced gamers with disabilities of all ages to the library for a unique experience," said DC Public Library Adaptive Services Division chief Venetia Demson in a press release available after the break. "When properly used, video games can be an important learning tool for literacy, spatial reasoning and curriculum support as well as a wonderful social experience."

Information regarding the specific games and/or assistive technologies that will be available at the arcade was not provided, though anyone interested in the arcade (or the accessible gaming movement as a whole) is encouraged to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for noon local time that Wednesday.

Continue reading AbleGamers Foundation to open first permanent 'Accessibility Arcade'

JoystiqAbleGamers Foundation to open first permanent 'Accessibility Arcade' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ablegamersablegamers-foundationaccessibility-arcadediabilitiesdisabledpublic-librarywashington-dcWed, 03 Oct 2012 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[AbleGamers creates how-to accessibility guide for devs, publishers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/14/ablegamers-creates-how-to-accessibility-guide-for-devs-publishe/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/14/ablegamers-creates-how-to-accessibility-guide-for-devs-publishe/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/14/ablegamers-creates-how-to-accessibility-guide-for-devs-publishe/#comments AbleGamers creates howto accessibility guide for devs, publishersThe AbleGamers Foundation has created a 48-page document it hopes will serve as a how-to guide for game developers and publishers on how to create more accessible games. The in-depth guide by the disability non-profit covers in great detail how to make games available to those with varying degrees of mobility, hearing, visual and cognitive issues.

"We are gamers first. To us that means that the core of the game should never be changed or altered in any way," AbleGamers Foundation president and founder Mark Barlet told Joystiq. "Our mission has been and always will be to include as many accessibility options for those who need them that are also invisible to those who don't."

Some of those "invisible" ideas include being cognizant of color-based game mechanics for the 10 percent of males who are color-blind and offering different levels of visual feedback for those with hearing impairments.

"Developers could harness more than 33 million gamers if they were to look at these guidelines and incorporate even half of them," Barlet said regarding the economics at play with accessibility. "So far we have been largely successful, but we still need to convince publishers the almighty dollar is just waiting for them from gamers with disabilities if they would only pay attention to accessibility."

Grab a copy of the document here: Includification [PDF]

Continue reading AbleGamers creates how-to accessibility guide for devs, publishers

JoystiqAbleGamers creates how-to accessibility guide for devs, publishers originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Sep 2012 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>able-gamersablegamersablegamers-foundationincludificationmark-barletFri, 14 Sep 2012 13:50:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR receives AbleGamers' Accessible Mainstream GOTY award]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/21/swtor-receives-ablegamers-accessible-mainstream-goty-award/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/21/swtor-receives-ablegamers-accessible-mainstream-goty-award/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/21/swtor-receives-ablegamers-accessible-mainstream-goty-award/#comments The AbleGamers Foundation, an organization focused on providing disabled peoples with information and technology that allows them to more easily enjoy video games, has awarded Star Wars: The Old Republic its 2011 Accessible Mainstream Game of the Year Award for launching with "colorblind friendly options, full subtitles, and control options to let those with mobility impairments play the game as easy as possible."

"BioWare did a wonderful job including a large number of options right at launch with the promise of including more as soon as possible," said AbleGamers Foundation president Mark Barlet. "It's very rare to see a game of this caliber initially released with so many accessibility options." The Old Republic is actually BioWare's second title to receive this award; Dragon Age: Origins was dubbed Accessible Mainstream GOTY 2009.

JoystiqSWTOR receives AbleGamers' Accessible Mainstream GOTY award originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ablegamersablegamers-foundationAccessible-Mainstream-game-of-the-year-awardawardbiowareGOTYpcStar-Wars-The-Old-RepublicThe-Old-RepublicSat, 21 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA['Adroit' controller line to make games more accessible]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/adroit-controller-line-to-make-games-more-accessible/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/adroit-controller-line-to-make-games-more-accessible/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/adroit-controller-line-to-make-games-more-accessible/#comments Evil Controllers, a company that augments controllers by adding LED lights, d-pad upgrades, auto-fire and other extra capabilities, has announced a plan that we can't find evil no matter how much we look. It's working with the AbleGamers Foundation to design accessible peripherals for disabled gamers.

The "Adroit" line of controllers is intended to enhance accessibility at an affordable cost. "The problem with equipment currently available to help the disabled community get into videogames is that it often costs way more than someone on disability can afford," AbleGamers.com EIC Steve Spohn said in the announcement. "These controllers will be higher quality with lower cost. What's not to love?"

AbleGamers and Evil Controllers haven't released specifics about the Adroit line yet, mentioning only that it " will include all of the fan favorite features available on Evil Controllers mods". More information about the first releases will be divulged "within the next few weeks," according to the press release. In the meantime, feel free to be thoroughly teased by the video after the break.

Continue reading 'Adroit' controller line to make games more accessible

Joystiq'Adroit' controller line to make games more accessible originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ablegamersablegamers-foundationaccessibilityadroitcontrollercontrollersevil-controllersmicrosoftperipheralsplaystationps3xboxFri, 24 Jun 2011 12:30:00 EST