[games_access] hotel reservations GDC 2007

[Amit Pitaru [LIST]]

> it's gotta be mainstream but also provide something that focuses on
disability as a strength...

Sorry - I'm haven't had a chance to learn about the accessibility-idol
project. But just a couple of ideas that maybe can help the contestants in
their first steps:

'Theory of Parallel Game Universes' is an interesting design method that can
help the contestants frame their projects: 
http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20060817/grammenos_01.shtml

Applied to RPG's, it could be interesting to develop a special class that is
based around research (out-of-game) and overall memory skills rather than
twitch capabilities.

Also, the latest issue of game-developer magazine has a good article on how
proper use of luck can bridge players of various abilities and skills. 

Good luck, sounds like a great project!
Amit



-----Original Message-----
From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of d. michelle hinn
Sent: Friday, November 17, 2006 12:54 PM
To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
Subject: Re: [games_access] hotel reservations GDC 2007

Robert said:

>Is our accessibility idle listed on the sessions and activities on the GDC
>web site yet?  I guess soon we should start working on guidelines for the
>accessible design.

Michelle says:

Everything is already up on the GDC website except everyone's names, 
which will get up there shortly. Yes, this next Monday's meeting 
(I'll send a more official announcement later in the day) will be the 
discussion about the "rules" for Accessibility Idol. The thing is 
that we don't want to say too much because we want them to do some 
research and it wouldn't be fun if we couldn't say to one or more of 
them "Ok...so if you were person X...how exactly would you access 
this feature?" or "wow...this title's gonna fly off the shelf...how 
did you manage to design a game that isn't fun for anyone?"

I know people are going to be afraid to get sarcastic and caustic but 
we cannot pull this type of session off without being that way, at 
least a little! The contestants expect it so we need to bring it. :)

The rules right now are to create a game that is accessible and FUN 
for a gamer who is quadriplegic AND their friends who are not. So 
they can't just create a game that's only accessible with regard to 
mobility disabilities -- it's gotta be mainstream but also provide 
something that focuses on disability as a strength (ie, expands the 
design possibilities because accessibility was brought into the 
equation. We picked one disability group this year because this is 
the first year trying this kind of session. But, yes, we will give 
them guidelines and info about controllers that might be used to play 
the game.

Michelle
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