[games_access] Big news, PS4 zoom & system level remapping

Thu Mar 12 12:42:14 EDT 2015

I'm so glad the news about this broke. It was killing us not being able to
talk about it while being under NDA.

Also, more things coming. I can't say exactly what, but suffice it to say,
our criteria in game reviews is changing.

On Thu, Mar 12, 2015 at 4:55 AM, Ian Hamilton <i_h at hotmail.com> wrote:

> Official confirmation from the PlayStation blog:
>
>
> http://blog.us.playstation.com/2015/03/11/ps4-update-2-50-yukimura-preview-suspendresume-and-more/
>
> ------------------------------
> From: i_h at hotmail.com
> To: games_access at igda.org
> Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2015 20:59:25 +0000
>
> Subject: Re: [games_access] Big news, PS4 zoom & system level remapping
>
> I've been keeping an eye on the reaction, lots of people saying that
> remap is only useful if applied per-game, a smaller number talking about
> having the current mapping exposed for developers to read, so they can
> adjust tutorials and QTEs accordingly, and a bit of concern about how much
> of the UI will be accessible using the text to speech.
>
> However that aside here are a few of the comments from people with
> disabilities, bits and pieces I've seen on reddit, neogaf, twitter, forums,
> news site comments etc.
>
> *MOTOR:*
>
> "As a one handed gamer button assignments has me excited"
> "That is awesome"
> "FINALLY… Custom Button Remapping for all games coming to PS4, this is
> legendary for disabled gamers. Go Sony!"
> "I have a friend with no thumb on his right hand, used his index finger to
> both use buttons and use the stick, this will be incredible for him to be
> able to relocate say, X (the most commonly used button) to say, L1 (one of
> the most rarely used buttons)."
> "This is an absolute godsend for me!!! I have always wanted fully
> customizable buttons for consoles being a one handed gamer. Many default
> control schemes have had me use my control pad in many awkward positions
> and this will make things easier."
> "As a disabled gamer this feature is awesome and i'm really happy it's
> coming"
> "Fantastic news."
> "News about the system level button mapping makes me so happy! Way to go
> Sony! Giant leaps forward in gaming accessibility."
> "Sony I could hug you right now, as a disabled gamer, Universal Button
> Remapping is the best firmware feature ever"
>
> *VISION:*
>
> "Sigh. I guess I know what I'm buying next month. :D"
> "Yo you may want to tweet @PlayStation for the Text to Speech feature to
> remain in the final version for PS4 2.50 update"
> "When you talk about the PS4 update, i beg you not to pass over the text
> to speech feature. A true game changer for the blind."
> "The PS4 is going to have text to speech. Accessibility for the blind.
> It's pretty amazing."
> "I hope PlayStation keep the Text to Speech feature that is set to be
> released in the new update! Then I can really use my PS4."
> "This next PS4 update will include text to speech, and a high contrast
> display, which is wonderful!"
> "man I can't wait to test that Text to Speech feature on the upcoming PS4
> update. I wonder who advicated for this? If so, major props"
> "Oh my gosh. This is awesome. I get the feeling they might roll it out
> eventually, but it might take a while."
> "Oh dear god in heaven! this is exactly the thing I've been waiting for
> all these years. For heaven's sake man, get me the information I need to
> contact sony or their playstation team, since I've got a brand new ps4
> still in the box. If they put in a screenreader, you had better by golly
> believe that I would be playing video games with the rest of you."
> "Dang the stars for me not having a ps4 right now."
> "[wow]... If Sony is going to put in a screenreader in the firmware, I'll
> get a ps4 as quickly as possible. It would be so awesome to use all the
> other features on the device."
> "I was going to buy a ps4 anyway but... if this becomes a thing then my
> mind will be blown."
> "This may have just totally pushed me over to the ps4 side. I don't have
> one, but I've spent the past few months considering a console but there's a
> few reasons I haven't just jumped on the bandwagon. Never the less, I'll be
> following this closely. I have a couple friends who have a ps4 who I know
> will be very interested in this."
>
> Ian
>
> ------------------------------
> To: games_access at igda.org
> Subject: Re: [games_access] Big news, PS4 zoom & system level remapping
> From: i_h at hotmail.com
>
>  Ok yep has been covered by just about everywhere now, Google News is
> reporting 49 news stories about it!
>
>  E.g.
> http://m.uk.ign.com/articles/2015/03/06/app-suspension-button-mapping-reportedly-coming-with-next-ps4-update
>
>  Ian
>
>
>
> ----- Reply message -----
> From: "Ian Hamilton" <i_h at hotmail.com>
> To: "IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List" <games_access at igda.org>
> Subject: [games_access] Big news, PS4 zoom & system level remapping
> Date: Sat, Mar 7, 2015 09:25
>
>  The beta testers should not have shared it, they're under NDA.
>
>  However several of them have, so the cat is it out the bag now, it is
> public knowledge. It has been widely shared and discussed on Twitter and
> Reddit and covered by games press too, such as Kotaku.
>
>  There are some negative reactions to these features being included in
> the beta (e.g. 'who would ever use remapping? Clearly a filler feature,
> scrap that and give us media playback instead'), so it certainly wouldn't
> hurt for us to catch a few of those and fix the misconceptions.
>
>  Ian
>
>
> ----- Reply message -----
> From: "Javier Mairena" <javier.mairena at gmail.com>
> To: "IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List" <games_access at igda.org>
> Subject: [games_access] Big news, PS4 zoom & system level remapping
> Date: Sat, Mar 7, 2015 08:55
>
>  Really great!!  :)
>
>  But, can we actually talk about that openly?
> It seems that the twitter account of the beta tester who reveated that
> have been deleted.
>
> On 7 March 2015 at 17:26, Ian Hamilton <i_h at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>   The full beta accessibility menu is now circulating. As well as the
> extra low-vis options (high contrast, text size), there's also a screen
> reader in there.
>
>  Presumably apart from remapping this all only affects the main PS4 UI
> and not games, but still, it's an astronomical leap forwards for consoles.
>
>  https://twitter.com/isaparrot/status/574038584577015809
>
>  I think it's safe to say that you've got your news story now Sandra!
>
>  Ian
>
>
> ----- Reply message -----
> From: "Ian Hamilton" <i_h at hotmail.com>
> To: <games_access at igda.org>
> Subject: [games_access] Big news, PS4 zoom & system level remapping
> Date: Sat, Mar 7, 2015 00:00
>
>  Not officially confirmed of course, but there's an accessibility menu in
> the beta of the next firmware update that includes zoom and system level
> remap -
>
>  http://gematsu.com/2015/03/ps4-firmware-2-50-adds-suspend-resume
>
>  Ian
>
>
>
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>
>
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> https://pairlist7.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access The main SIG
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>
> _______________________________________________ games_access mailing list
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> https://pairlist7.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access The main SIG
> website page is http://igda-gasig.org
>
> _______________________________________________
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