Dimitris Grammenos
Abstract
Today, computer games are one of the major sources of entertainment. Computer games are usually far more demanding than typical interactive applications in terms of motor and sensory skills needed for interaction control, due to special-purpose input devices, complicated interaction techniques, and the primary emphasis on visual control and attention. This renders computer games inaccessible to a large percentage of people with disabilities. This article introduces the concept of universally accessible games, that is, games proactively designed to optimally fit and adapt to individual gamer characteristics and to be concurrently played among people with diverse abilities, without requiring particular adjustments or modifications. The concept is elaborated and tested through four case studies: a web-based chess game (UA-Chess), an action game (Access Invaders), a universally inaccessible game (Game Over!) used as an interactive educational tool, and an improved version of Access Invaders (Terrestrial Invaders). For all cases, key design and evaluation findings are discussed, reporting consolidated know-how and experience. Finally, the research challenge of creating multiplayer universally accessible games is further elaborated, proposing the novel concept of Parallel Game Universes as a potential solution.
- Access Board. 2000. Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards. http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/508standards.htm.Google Scholar
- Atkinson, M. T., Gucukoglu, S., Machin, C. H. C., and Lawrence, A. E. 2006. Making the mainstream accessible: What's in a game? In Proceedings of the ICCHP 2006, LNCS, vol. 4061, Springer, New York, 380--387. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Bierre, K. 2005. Improving game accessibility. Gamasutra feature article. http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20050706/bierre_01.shtml.Google Scholar
- Bierre, K., Chetwynd, J., Ellis, B., Hinn, D. M., Ludi, S., and Westin, T. 2005. Game not over: Accessibility issues in video games. In Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Mahwah, NJ.Google Scholar
- Buscaglia, T. 2006. Game law: Everybody conga? Gamasutra feature article. http://www. gamasutra.com/features/20060428/buscaglia_01.shtml.Google Scholar
- European Commission. 2002. eEurope 2005: An information society for all. http://europa.eu.int/information_society/eeurope/2005/index_en.htm.Google Scholar
- Folmer, E. 2007. Designing usable and accessible games with interaction design patterns. Gamasutra feature article. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/1408/designing_usable_and_accessible.php.Google Scholar
- Grammenos, D. 2008. Game over: Learning by dying. In Proceedings of the ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI 2008), ACM, New York. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Grammenos, D., Savidis, A., and Stephanidis, C. 2007. Unified design of universally accessible games. In Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction, Applications and Services, Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction (Part III), Springer, Berlin, 607--616. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Grammenos, D. 2006. The theory of parallel game universes: A paradigm shift in multiplayer gaming and game accessibility. Gamasutra feature article. http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20060817/grammenos_01.shtml.Google Scholar
- Grammenos, D., Savidis, A., Georgalis, Y., and Stephanidis, C. 2006. Access Invaders: Developing a universally accessible action game. In Computers Helping People with Special Needs, Proceedings of the 10th International Conference (ICCHP 2006), Springer, Berlin, 388--395. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Grammenos, D., Savidis, A., and Stephanidis, C. 2005. UA-Chess: A universally accessible board game. In Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Mahwah, NJ.Google Scholar
- Giguette, R. 2003. Pre-games: Games designed to introduce CS1 and CS2 programming assignments. ACM SIGCSE Bull. 35, 1 (Jan. 2003), 288--292. Google ScholarDigital Library
- IGDA GA-SIG 2006. Game accessibility top ten. http://www.igda.org/wiki/index.php/Top_Ten.Google Scholar
- IGDA GA-SIG. 2004. White paper: Accessibility in games: Motivations and approaches. http://www.igda.org/accessibility/IGDA_Accessibility_WhitePaper.pdf.Google Scholar
- Lewis, R. J. 1995. IBM computer usability satisfaction questionnaires: Psychometric evaluation and instructions for use. Int. J. Human-Computer Interaction 7, 1, 57--78. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Marsden, R. 2001. Handicap: Zero—golfing without hands. In Proceedings of the 2001 CSUN International Conference on Technology and Persons with Disabilities. http://www.csun.edu/cod/conf/2001/proceedings/0274marsden.htm.Google Scholar
- McCrindle, R. J. and Symons, D. 2000. Audio Space Invaders. In Proceedings of the Third International Conference of Disability, Virtual Reality and Associated Technologies, 59--65.Google Scholar
- MediaLT. 2006. Guidelines for developing accessible games. http://gameaccess.medialt.no/guide.php.Google Scholar
- MediaLT. 2004. Guidelines for the development of entertaining software for people with multiple learning disabilities. http://www.medialt.no/rapport/entertainment_guidelinesGoogle Scholar
- Ntoa, S., Savidis, A., and Stephanidis, C. 2004. FastScanner: An accessibility tool for motor impaired users. In Proceedings of the Ninth International Conference on Computers Helping People with Special Needs (ICCHP 2004), Springer, Berlin, 796--804.Google ScholarCross Ref
- Ossmann, R. and Miesenberger, K. 2006. Guidelines for the development of accessible computer games. In Proceedings of the ICCHP 2006, LNCS, vol. 4061 Springer, Berlin, 403--406. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Prensky, M. 2000. Digital Game-Based Learning. McGraw-Hill, New York. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Savidis, A. and Stephanidis, C. 2004. Unified user interface design: Designing universally accessible interactions. Int. J. Interacting with Computers 16, 2, 243--270. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Screen Digest. 2004. Press release: Video games market demonstrates over 100 per cent growth in six years. http://www.screendigest.com/reports/ils04/press_releases_31_08_2004n/view.Google Scholar
- Sears, A., Lin, M., Jacko, J., and Xiao, Y. 2003. When computers fade … Pervasive computing and situationally-induced impairments and disabilities. In Proceedings of the Tenth International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Mahwah, NJ, 1298--1302.Google Scholar
- United Nations. 2004. World programme of action concerning disabled persons: Current situation. http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/diswpa04.htm.Google Scholar
- Westin, T. 2004. Game accessibility case study: Terraformers a real-time 3d graphic game. In Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Disability, Virtual Reality and Associated Technologies, 95--100.Google Scholar
- World Health Organisation. 2004. Department of Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion (CHP): About aging and life course. http://www.who.int/hpr/ageing/index.htm.Google Scholar
- Zahand, B. 2006. Making video games accessible: Business justifications and design considerations. Gamasutra feature article. http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20060920/zahand_01.shtml.Google Scholar
Index Terms
- Designing universally accessible games
Recommendations
Accessible Play: Towards Designing a Framework for Customizable Accessibility in Games
CHI PLAY Companion '23: Companion Proceedings of the Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in PlayVideo games are an important form of entertainment and have become an increasingly popular pastime in the 21st Century. However, many people with disabilities are still excluded from gaming due to accessibility barriers. While some progress has been ...
Unified design of universally accessible games
UAHCI'07: Proceedings of the 4th international conference on Universal access in human-computer interaction: applications and servicesThis paper describes how the Unified Design method, originally conceived as a means for developing universally accessible user interfaces, can be adapted and applied to the development of universally accessible games. The basic steps for applying the ...
Can We Make Dynamic, Accessible and Fun One-Switch Video Games?
ASSETS '15: Proceedings of the 17th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers & AccessibilityThis paper presents two one-switch games designed for children with severe motor disabilities, based on the GNomon framework. These mini games demonstrate that it is possible to make dynamic video games with time-dependent game mechanics and flexible ...
Comments