game design and accessibility: using stem stumper as a use case
DESCRIPTION
A look at accessibility concerns we had on Stem Stumper, a blind accessible iOS game. We provide concrete things and we did to make the game accessible and resource for finding out more about game accessibility.TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: Game Design and Accessibility: Using Stem Stumper as a Use Case](https://reader038.vdocuments.site/reader038/viewer/2022110121/558e812c1a28aba50b8b479a/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Game Design and Accessibility
A case study using Stem Stumper
![Page 2: Game Design and Accessibility: Using Stem Stumper as a Use Case](https://reader038.vdocuments.site/reader038/viewer/2022110121/558e812c1a28aba50b8b479a/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Who Am I?
• Born and Raised The Bronx, NY• CMU SCS 2008• Interned at EALA on MOH:Airborne• Demiurge Studios – Engineer• Founded Ananse Productions
November 2010
![Page 3: Game Design and Accessibility: Using Stem Stumper as a Use Case](https://reader038.vdocuments.site/reader038/viewer/2022110121/558e812c1a28aba50b8b479a/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
What I’m Playing
Portal 2, Mass Effect and Bejewled!
![Page 4: Game Design and Accessibility: Using Stem Stumper as a Use Case](https://reader038.vdocuments.site/reader038/viewer/2022110121/558e812c1a28aba50b8b479a/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Stem Stumper
![Page 5: Game Design and Accessibility: Using Stem Stumper as a Use Case](https://reader038.vdocuments.site/reader038/viewer/2022110121/558e812c1a28aba50b8b479a/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Sonar Mode
![Page 6: Game Design and Accessibility: Using Stem Stumper as a Use Case](https://reader038.vdocuments.site/reader038/viewer/2022110121/558e812c1a28aba50b8b479a/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Accessibility versus Usability
• Accessibility: Taking into account physical and mental impairments
• Usability: Making interaction with the game as intuitive as possible
![Page 7: Game Design and Accessibility: Using Stem Stumper as a Use Case](https://reader038.vdocuments.site/reader038/viewer/2022110121/558e812c1a28aba50b8b479a/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Accessibility leads to Usability
• A lot of overlap
![Page 8: Game Design and Accessibility: Using Stem Stumper as a Use Case](https://reader038.vdocuments.site/reader038/viewer/2022110121/558e812c1a28aba50b8b479a/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Starts with Design• Needs to be a priority from the start
![Page 9: Game Design and Accessibility: Using Stem Stumper as a Use Case](https://reader038.vdocuments.site/reader038/viewer/2022110121/558e812c1a28aba50b8b479a/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Overview
• Hearing• Touch and Mobility• Sight• Screen Readers• Resources
![Page 10: Game Design and Accessibility: Using Stem Stumper as a Use Case](https://reader038.vdocuments.site/reader038/viewer/2022110121/558e812c1a28aba50b8b479a/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Hearing
• Approximately 36 million (17%) US adults report a form of hearing loss (NIDCD)
• Uncharted 2 sales = 3.8 million worldwide
• Includes unilateral hearing loss (loss of hearing in a single ear)
![Page 11: Game Design and Accessibility: Using Stem Stumper as a Use Case](https://reader038.vdocuments.site/reader038/viewer/2022110121/558e812c1a28aba50b8b479a/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Hearing – Visual Cues
• Using multiple channels for information reinforces it
• Mobile players aren’t always listening to your game
![Page 12: Game Design and Accessibility: Using Stem Stumper as a Use Case](https://reader038.vdocuments.site/reader038/viewer/2022110121/558e812c1a28aba50b8b479a/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Hearing – Stereo
• Papa Sangre uses binaural audio– Have to hear with both ears!
• Avoided stereo on Stem Stumper
![Page 13: Game Design and Accessibility: Using Stem Stumper as a Use Case](https://reader038.vdocuments.site/reader038/viewer/2022110121/558e812c1a28aba50b8b479a/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Touch and Mobility
• 14.5 million (7.1%) of Americans report a severe motion impairing disability
• Modern Warfare 2 Sales = 10 million US
• Interesting repercussions for motion gaming
![Page 14: Game Design and Accessibility: Using Stem Stumper as a Use Case](https://reader038.vdocuments.site/reader038/viewer/2022110121/558e812c1a28aba50b8b479a/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Touch and Motion – Time
• Allowing playing at own pace
![Page 15: Game Design and Accessibility: Using Stem Stumper as a Use Case](https://reader038.vdocuments.site/reader038/viewer/2022110121/558e812c1a28aba50b8b479a/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Touch and Motion - Controls
• Chording: require multiple button presses at the same time– Virtual D-pads– Stem Stumper only requires one finger!
• Beware of time-sensitive controls!– Double tapping, not in Stem Stumper*
• Remapping wasn’t an issue for Stem Stumper
![Page 16: Game Design and Accessibility: Using Stem Stumper as a Use Case](https://reader038.vdocuments.site/reader038/viewer/2022110121/558e812c1a28aba50b8b479a/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Sight
• 25 million Americans with serious vision loss (AFB)
• Gears of War 2 Sales = 2 million worldwide
• Only 10% are completely blind!
• Biggest concern on Stem Stumper
![Page 17: Game Design and Accessibility: Using Stem Stumper as a Use Case](https://reader038.vdocuments.site/reader038/viewer/2022110121/558e812c1a28aba50b8b479a/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Sight - Symbols
• Helps children, those with reading disabilities, and can be more intuitive overall
• Still need text substitute for screen readers. Not a localization sliver bullet.
![Page 18: Game Design and Accessibility: Using Stem Stumper as a Use Case](https://reader038.vdocuments.site/reader038/viewer/2022110121/558e812c1a28aba50b8b479a/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Sight – Legible Text
• Make sure font is always easily distinguishable from background
• In Stem Stumper we created a black outline around text to help it pop out.
![Page 19: Game Design and Accessibility: Using Stem Stumper as a Use Case](https://reader038.vdocuments.site/reader038/viewer/2022110121/558e812c1a28aba50b8b479a/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Sight - Colorblind
• 10% of US men are red-green color blind (rare amongst women)
• Photoshop magic versus silhouettes and texturing
![Page 20: Game Design and Accessibility: Using Stem Stumper as a Use Case](https://reader038.vdocuments.site/reader038/viewer/2022110121/558e812c1a28aba50b8b479a/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Screen Readers
• New to gaming
• Not supported on any console!
• Apple has VoiceOver built in to newer iOS models
![Page 21: Game Design and Accessibility: Using Stem Stumper as a Use Case](https://reader038.vdocuments.site/reader038/viewer/2022110121/558e812c1a28aba50b8b479a/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
VoiceOver
• Captures and preprocess input• Requires multiple taps with
multiple fingers• Handy API
![Page 22: Game Design and Accessibility: Using Stem Stumper as a Use Case](https://reader038.vdocuments.site/reader038/viewer/2022110121/558e812c1a28aba50b8b479a/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
UI With Screen Readers
• Don’t make items disappear
![Page 23: Game Design and Accessibility: Using Stem Stumper as a Use Case](https://reader038.vdocuments.site/reader038/viewer/2022110121/558e812c1a28aba50b8b479a/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
UI With Screen Readers
• Stick with conventions
![Page 24: Game Design and Accessibility: Using Stem Stumper as a Use Case](https://reader038.vdocuments.site/reader038/viewer/2022110121/558e812c1a28aba50b8b479a/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
UI With Screen Readers
• Information (like a meter) isn’t instantly visible!
![Page 25: Game Design and Accessibility: Using Stem Stumper as a Use Case](https://reader038.vdocuments.site/reader038/viewer/2022110121/558e812c1a28aba50b8b479a/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
Test, Test, Test!
• Find testers in your target group and test
• Also great for building buzz!
![Page 26: Game Design and Accessibility: Using Stem Stumper as a Use Case](https://reader038.vdocuments.site/reader038/viewer/2022110121/558e812c1a28aba50b8b479a/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
Resources
• www.blindcomputergames.com– 7-128 worked with audio gamers to
come up with clear guidelines to present developers
• IGDA GASIG– A lot of high level things to keep in
mind• WCAG 2.0– Web standard for accessibility that
covers more impairments