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Screen-Reader accessible gaming news roundup (self.Blind)
submitted 8y ago by fastfinge
I figured I'd put a bunch of recent news on this subject into one post, because I suspect most of you aren't screen-reader users, and of those of you who are, I have no idea how many of you are into computer games. So, here we go!
First off, the IOS role-playing game Silversword got a massive update, and one of the features is improved accessibility when using the voiceover screen-reader. From the update text:
> added location info if VoiceOver is enabled, you can show it by using the "magic tap" (double tap with two fingers on the screen)
For those of you unfamiliar with Silversword, it's a massive single-player RPG set in a large fantasy world, vaguely in the style of D&D. It's billed as one of the largest RPGs on IOS, with somewhere around a hundred hours of playtime. It was parcially accessible before the update, but now accessibility is pretty much complete. You can get it via the app store at: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/silversword/id470888383?mt=8
Secondly, on the Windows platform, Valiant Galaxy Associates has released the much talked-about game Interceptor this week. They've been working on it for slightly over a year, and now it's available for purchase (for $9.99). From the game's description:
> Interceptor is a new game from Valiant Galaxy Associates that puts the player in command of a space fighter in a do or die mission to save its mother ship. As waves of alien fighters attack, the player must battle them, level by level. On certain levels the player will gain other targets such as alien supply vessels, alien command and control vessels, and possibly even their own mother ship.
You can buy Interceptor via GuideDog Games, at: https://guidedoggames.com:7081/games/2
Lastly, I'd like to plug another Windows game that's been eating my life for the last 3 days or so, called The Wastes. Developed by fellow redditer /u/Huw2k8 it isn't intended as an accessible game, but because it outputs all text to a console window, it works fine with screen-readers anyway. From the game description:
> The Wastes is an infinite randomly generated wasteland game chock full of monsters, towns and encounters.
Chock full might be an understatement. I have never had two plays that were even slightly similar. The game is in extremely active development, and gets near daily updates. So head over to /r/Thewastes to find the latest version (0.7 as of this writing), as well as post suggestions and discussion.
And...I think that covers everything new this week. So: what games does everyone else play?
First off, the IOS role-playing game Silversword got a massive update, and one of the features is improved accessibility when using the voiceover screen-reader. From the update text:
> added location info if VoiceOver is enabled, you can show it by using the "magic tap" (double tap with two fingers on the screen)
For those of you unfamiliar with Silversword, it's a massive single-player RPG set in a large fantasy world, vaguely in the style of D&D. It's billed as one of the largest RPGs on IOS, with somewhere around a hundred hours of playtime. It was parcially accessible before the update, but now accessibility is pretty much complete. You can get it via the app store at: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/silversword/id470888383?mt=8
Secondly, on the Windows platform, Valiant Galaxy Associates has released the much talked-about game Interceptor this week. They've been working on it for slightly over a year, and now it's available for purchase (for $9.99). From the game's description:
> Interceptor is a new game from Valiant Galaxy Associates that puts the player in command of a space fighter in a do or die mission to save its mother ship. As waves of alien fighters attack, the player must battle them, level by level. On certain levels the player will gain other targets such as alien supply vessels, alien command and control vessels, and possibly even their own mother ship.
You can buy Interceptor via GuideDog Games, at: https://guidedoggames.com:7081/games/2
Lastly, I'd like to plug another Windows game that's been eating my life for the last 3 days or so, called The Wastes. Developed by fellow redditer /u/Huw2k8 it isn't intended as an accessible game, but because it outputs all text to a console window, it works fine with screen-readers anyway. From the game description:
> The Wastes is an infinite randomly generated wasteland game chock full of monsters, towns and encounters.
Chock full might be an understatement. I have never had two plays that were even slightly similar. The game is in extremely active development, and gets near daily updates. So head over to /r/Thewastes to find the latest version (0.7 as of this writing), as well as post suggestions and discussion.
And...I think that covers everything new this week. So: what games does everyone else play?
Nighthawk321 2 points
This is a game that was posted on audiogames.net not too long ago. It's pokemon Crystal made accessible with screen readers.
http://forum.audiogames.net/viewtopic.php?id=16302
http://forum.audiogames.net/viewtopic.php?id=16302
fastfinge [OP] 1 points
Yeah, I did see that via Blind Bargains, but I was just covering stuff within the last week or so, so left it out.
johnnytai 2 points
Tried Interceptor myself. For a $10 game it is quite nice and will offer hours of fun. You just have to realize not to expect a $40 game quality out of it and you'll not be disappointed.
fastfinge [OP] 2 points
IMHO, a lot of recent accessible games that do cost $40, with a number of exceptions, are only a $10 quality game. But I may well be spoiled by the extremely high quality and low prices of IOS games. So YMMV, that's just my opinion, and so on, and so on.
johnnytai 2 points
It's all depending on the dev when it comes down to it. Look at the game Swamp. It's largely free, only costs about $2 a month to play online, and IMO is probably one of the best audio game ever created.
modulus 2 points
SoundRTS, Castaways, and Psycho Strike are the ones that come to mind. Now I think about it, Time of Conflict too. I'd really like a civ-like game that's accessible and multiplayer, but it's a tall order. One of these days I might try to do something like it. Another idea for a game I had, which I suspect wouldn't play very well, is a newtonian space game, where you are playing in a solar system with objects, missiles take time and obey gravity etc.
fastfinge [OP] 1 points
Are you thinking kind of like an accessible Kerbal Space Program? The physics involved are complex enough that even in the sighted community it only seems to appeal to a tiny number of folks.
modulus 1 points
Yeah, though not so focused on the building rockets as just manoeuvreing and shooting things. But I agree the physics probably makes it very hard to play and it would be a niche within a niche. So probably I would play it with myself, heh. This is why I never too seriously considered trying to get it done.
fastfinge [OP] 2 points
As an off-topic aside, have you ever read the Lost Fleet series of books? They're a science fiction series where all of the battles follow the rules of physics: speed of light delays, relativity, vast distances that mean battles take hours or days, etc. They seem like something you might enjoy.
modulus 1 points
I haven't, but I certainly will give them a look! I do enjoy that sort of thing. Hard SF best SF :-)
indent 2 points
I'm one of the guys that works on GuideDog and occasionally helps out VGA, thanks for the shout out!
I also run the accessible game Alter Aeon, over at http://www.alteraeon.com. It's a multiplayer text RPG with a magic/fantasy theme like World of Warcraft or Diablo. We have a custom client for the visually impaired called Mush-Z, and as far as I know, Mush-Z works with pretty much all screen readers right out of the install.
I also run the accessible game Alter Aeon, over at http://www.alteraeon.com. It's a multiplayer text RPG with a magic/fantasy theme like World of Warcraft or Diablo. We have a custom client for the visually impaired called Mush-Z, and as far as I know, Mush-Z works with pretty much all screen readers right out of the install.
fastfinge [OP] 1 points
No problem! For mac and Linux users, there is also a tintin based client: https://github.com/stormdragon2976/tintin-alteraeon
I actually did have a look to see if you had done any July update posts that I should include, but I guess you do those at the end of the month.
I actually did have a look to see if you had done any July update posts that I should include, but I guess you do those at the end of the month.
indent 1 points
I probably won't be doing any major Alter Aeon updates for a while - I just got a new job and will be moving to California. My next couple of months are going to be pretty hectic.
I'm also trying to get more features added to Stellar Aeon, which is a space-based exploration game. We've got it in limited beta mode right now, but it just doesn't have enough features to really be fun yet.
I'm also trying to get more features added to Stellar Aeon, which is a space-based exploration game. We've got it in limited beta mode right now, but it just doesn't have enough features to really be fun yet.
fastfinge [OP] 1 points
Well, good luck on the new job and new home! Hopefully it all goes off without too much stress. And I'll be eagerly looking forward to the space-based MUD; that genre is pretty under-served in MUDs.
Allycat86 2 points
Thanks for posting this. I've heard a lot of great things about Silversword, so I'll definitely be checking that one out. The other games in this post seem pretty interesting as well. I wish there were more games like this for the mac.
As for the games I play, most of them are on iOS. My favorites are the Papa Sangre games, as well as Audio Defense.
As for the games I play, most of them are on iOS. My favorites are the Papa Sangre games, as well as Audio Defense.
fastfinge [OP] 2 points
Yeah, there really is a shortage of accessible mac games. The only one I'm aware of is Change Reaction: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/changereaction/id578086731?mt=12
I've never really looked into Audio Defence; I enjoy strategy style games more than I enjoy games that test your reaction time and targeting ability.
I've never really looked into Audio Defence; I enjoy strategy style games more than I enjoy games that test your reaction time and targeting ability.
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