[games_access] UA-Games new release: Terrestrial Invaders

[Dimitris Grammenos]

Hello,

We have just released "Terrestrial Invaders", a universally accessible game
that is actually a byproduct of the development process of Game Over!
Terrestrial Invaders, through its various accessibility features, is able to
address most of the accessibility guidelines that Game Over! violates.

The game includes several accessibility features that can be switched on and
off, both off-line and on-the-fly, such as:

1. Adjustable game speed.
2. Adjustable size of all game graphics.
3. Separately adjustable FX, music and speech volume.
4. 2D sound for localizing objects on a 2D plane.
5. Presentation of spatially localised captions using text and / or graphics
for visualizing all game sounds.
6. Reading aloud (for the visually impaired) and automatic scanning (for the
motor-impaired) of the game menus.
7. Two high contrast modes (bright graphics on dark background and the
inverse).
8. Two novel alternative types of audio descriptions that verbalise the
relative position of attacking spaceships in relation to the player and warn
for incoming fire.
9. The option of using simple shapes (e.g., rectangles, ellipses) to render
all graphic elements. 
10. Controls can also be redefined, but currently this can only be done by
editing the respective XML level description files.

The game can be played using diverse alternative controls and interaction
techniques, such as:
1. Multiple keyboard keys (or switches).
2. A single key (i.e., one-switch game).
3. The mouse.
4. By typing keywords consisting of any number of letters or symbols (e.g.,
"left" to go left, "right" to go right, etc.).
5. By blowing into a standard microphone. 

The game was developed in the context of the Universally Accessible Games
research activity of ICS-FORTH (http://ua-games.gr).

You can find more information about the game at: 
http://ua-games.gr/ti

The MS-Windows, Linux and Mac OS X versions of the game can be downloaded
freely from:
http://ua-games.gr/ti/downloads.html

If you try the game, please take the on-line survey and share with us your
opinion and thoughts about it - it will not take more than 5 minutes. You
will find the survey at:
http://ua-games.gr/ti/feedback.html


Best regards,

Dimitris Grammenos

e-mail: ti at ua-games.gr

Human-Computer Interaction Laboratory &
Centre for Universal Access and Assistive Technologies

Institute of Computer Science (ICS) 
Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH)