Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Regarding my previous post (self.Blind)
submitted by lysanderoth69
Ok so from from my $1, I came to know that I hadn't done enough research on how blind people use computers. I am sorry. I had actually assumed that I could just directly propose the product and see if you liked it, but I was being inconsiderate to everyone in this community.
Back to what I had in mind, I had proposed a game console for the blind, but I have learned since then that blind people have no problems using a normal computer or a smartphone. Also I'm assuming the blind and visually impaired prefer Apple products as per the research I have done. So I was thinking I should take a more software based approach. Basically it's just making games that make use of sound without a display.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dowino.ABlindLegend
The above playstore link is to a game called the blind legend. This is the kind of game I am going for.
I thought now that smartphones are also getting more powerful, it can handle a game with just sound good enough, however big the game.
So would the blind people prefer this over a dedicated game console?
Again, I'm very sorry for being inconsiderate to this community.
Back to what I had in mind, I had proposed a game console for the blind, but I have learned since then that blind people have no problems using a normal computer or a smartphone. Also I'm assuming the blind and visually impaired prefer Apple products as per the research I have done. So I was thinking I should take a more software based approach. Basically it's just making games that make use of sound without a display.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dowino.ABlindLegend
The above playstore link is to a game called the blind legend. This is the kind of game I am going for.
I thought now that smartphones are also getting more powerful, it can handle a game with just sound good enough, however big the game.
So would the blind people prefer this over a dedicated game console?
Again, I'm very sorry for being inconsiderate to this community.
Timely-Fruit 3 points 2y ago
Please please please don't generalise it on one platform. Not everyone has apple. I actually have an android sitting on top of my iPhone an arm's reach away, and I'm using windows to post this comment. It's also my understanding that apple has more strict rules getting onto the app store. I would certainly favouritise something somehow that could be cross platform.
lysanderoth69 [OP] 2 points 2y ago
Yeah most definitely. I just mentioned that it's a preference. Infact it's harder to get an app up on the appstore than the playstore as far as I know. I was just confirming
Timely-Fruit 2 points 2y ago
Honestly? Seeing as it's easier, and most probably cheaper, and seeing as android has less games anyway, I'd actually recommend to start there. Or windows, that's a popular one amongst gamers. Mac doesn't have much out there either for what it's worth.
lysanderoth69 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Yeah, I would also start with Android and Windows, but I'm not going to skip on Apple devices because as per my research, Apple devices are preferred because of their support for visually impaired like inbuilt screen readers, almost all things can be done with voice inputs and stuff. But that's also provided you can afford their devices lol
Timely-Fruit 2 points 2y ago
See though, that's the thing. Android's accessibility the last 3 4 years has really improved, but many haven't tried it recently. Windows is definitely the more popular desktop OS, and apple is the more popular mobile OS.
Spirit-Solid 3 points 2y ago
I feel like your wording could be better in this post. You mention you guys several times throught out the post. Each of us are different and have different situations. Blind and visionaly impaired can not be grouped into the same category. I am visionary impared but can still play must video games. Where as someone else on this thread may not. I find that games that are fully voiced or has large print helps the most.
lysanderoth69 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
But also, even if this is an idea for blind people, I would appreciate inputs from anyone
Spirit-Solid 2 points 2y ago
Having games have accessibility options would be a plus. A lot of console games don't have a function to enlarge print or are not fully voiced. There is definitely a lack in games for blind or visonally impaired. I have reverted to old school games like Zelda that has large print. Its not fun to play story based games when you cant see the fine print. I stopped play WOW for the lack of accessibility option.
lysanderoth69 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Nice idea. But what I had in mind was to completely remove display from the picture and just work on voice based games
Spirit-Solid 2 points 2y ago
There are actually a couple non visual games I enjoy on Alexa. Star Finder and The Abyss are really good. They have several others. You should check them out may help you build yours.
lysanderoth69 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Ok got it. I'll edit my post
LyingSlider7 2 points 2y ago
I know I’m pretty late to the party personally guy kind of liked the idea of a consul specifically for blind people my site has deteriorated over time and I used to be able to play games like Grantath auto five or halo and other racing games like need for speed anyways I missed the concept of holding a controller to play games and there is certain audio games that I enjoy playing such as circus masters revenge which I would enjoy playing with a controller instead of just my phone that’s probably not the best example but it’s just my perspective also was wondering if you had an update or if you’ve made any games so far
[deleted] 1 points 2y ago
Thanks for the message! You're never late to this party! Anyways, this was initially a marketing project for university, where I had to come up with an idea, pitch it to the target audience, take feedback and use it to improve the product idea. I wasn't required to make the actual product. But don't worry, I always wanted to actually deliver something. Anyways, about your feedback, your perspective is pretty unique I think, atleast from all the perspectives I've seen here so far, where you grew up playing audio-visual games normally and then lost your sight over time. So you have an experience of playing games normally with a controller and you kind of yearn for that again, atleast that's what I'm garnering from this. But the thing that I've garnered from the people in this subreddit is that they don't like something exclusive to them, probably because it makes them feel excluded from other people. Rather they want to be included into mainstream media and entertainment. So a console especially for the blind will just exclude them from the mainstream, while a game on mainstream devices will include them into the mainstream, where people of all sights can play the game and enjoy it and discuss it.
As one last note, I do actually want to make a game, so please hold me to it. I'll try not to disappoint you, though I've probably already disappointed you. My plan was for a AAA title, and I referenced this game called "Pitch Black" by Purple Jam Studios. So this would take time, and by time, I mean a few years. So thank you so much for expecting things from someone like me, and I'll try not to disappoint any further!
As one last note, I do actually want to make a game, so please hold me to it. I'll try not to disappoint you, though I've probably already disappointed you. My plan was for a AAA title, and I referenced this game called "Pitch Black" by Purple Jam Studios. So this would take time, and by time, I mean a few years. So thank you so much for expecting things from someone like me, and I'll try not to disappoint any further!
LyingSlider7 2 points 2y ago
Don’t worry I’m not disappointed I see what you and everybody else is saying good luck making your game don’t forget to make a post here when it’s finished
[deleted] 1 points 2y ago
Thanks a lot dude!
CautionarySnail 2 points 2y ago
Sighted person here. Folks, feel free to disagree with me as I'm a guest in your house.
I've been learning about accessibility the past few years, and reading the posts here to get a better understanding of the needs of different people. I have a lot to learn, but, hopefully no one minds my posting a response.
1. I strongly recommend watching some of Haben Girma's lectures or reading her excellent book to understand more about the experience of a blind person; in her case, she is deafblind. $1 is a good start.I suspect you will be surprised once you get an understanding that the biggest limiter to the potential of many blind people is sighted people's lack of imagination of what they can accomplish.
2. Separate is never equal. By creating a game 'for blind people' as opposed to a great game that blind people can also play, you're basically fencing people off from one another. And limiting your market.
3. 'Normal' is not the opposite of 'things people with disabilities can use'. Try replacing the word 'blind' with 'male' and see how it reads, especially the line about 'normal' computers. Does it feel a little weird?
4. Learn about accessibility standards, they can help guide you in creating a game that everyone can enjoy. WCAG is the gold standard right now, and by following its suggestions, you'll create something the vast majority of humans on this planet can use happily.
I've been learning about accessibility the past few years, and reading the posts here to get a better understanding of the needs of different people. I have a lot to learn, but, hopefully no one minds my posting a response.
1. I strongly recommend watching some of Haben Girma's lectures or reading her excellent book to understand more about the experience of a blind person; in her case, she is deafblind. $1 is a good start.I suspect you will be surprised once you get an understanding that the biggest limiter to the potential of many blind people is sighted people's lack of imagination of what they can accomplish.
2. Separate is never equal. By creating a game 'for blind people' as opposed to a great game that blind people can also play, you're basically fencing people off from one another. And limiting your market.
3. 'Normal' is not the opposite of 'things people with disabilities can use'. Try replacing the word 'blind' with 'male' and see how it reads, especially the line about 'normal' computers. Does it feel a little weird?
4. Learn about accessibility standards, they can help guide you in creating a game that everyone can enjoy. WCAG is the gold standard right now, and by following its suggestions, you'll create something the vast majority of humans on this planet can use happily.
lysanderoth69 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Thanks. Yeah I slowly learnt this from interacting with the community. So rather than segregating them by making a game for them, I should make them able to enjoy mainstream games, so make a game that all people can enjoy
StrawbearieWheee 2 points 2y ago
Any game with a good scalable UI or good screen reader support makes me happy. Like legit popping into a new game and finding out I can just make the ui big enough to use comfortably makes me unreasonably happy. Ability to press button and stuff auto happens is also nice, like VATS in fallout is how I mainly fight, and space bar is how I pick up items and do a lotta actions in dont starve together. Mod support can also be helpful for allowing peeps to change their set up to best fit them, like my simcity 4 game has a UI mod that makes a bunch the buttons diff colors so its easier to tell them apart, and my sims 3 has a bigger curser, some text and general larger UI. Allowing windowed mode can help too, my screen magnifier program doesn't like full-screen things so windowed mode helps for my personal situation. Also like the others pointed out, we're all different and have different issues with different needs. What works for me night not work for others. Try and cover as many bases as reasonably possible, but at the same time please don't try to over do yourself, I've been on game dev teams before and seen it fail from over ambitiousness. Get something simple and solid done then expand it from there.
lysanderoth69 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Yeah got it. Thanks so much!
zersiax 2 points 2y ago
We can use computing devices, yes. Windows, Mac OS X, Android, iOS, the works. All of those come with robust screenreading solutions that we rely on to use these devices.
If you want to make games for such platforms, there's a lot of info over at $1 , both in the game list as well as the forum where these , and other, games are being discussed.
As for games like a blind legend, people have a bit of fatigue towards games that are essentially just a narrated story with some arcade-style minnigames. There's a distinct lack of innovation in gaming for the blind and a lot of people are currently looking more and more towards traditional video games because their mechanics and replayability are often a lot higher, even if there are accessibility issues.
Therefore the absolute best you can do is create a game that blind, partially sighted and fully sighted alike can play at equal level and, if possible, together. Failing that, an audiogame with depth to it would be the next best thing.
If you want to make games for such platforms, there's a lot of info over at $1 , both in the game list as well as the forum where these , and other, games are being discussed.
As for games like a blind legend, people have a bit of fatigue towards games that are essentially just a narrated story with some arcade-style minnigames. There's a distinct lack of innovation in gaming for the blind and a lot of people are currently looking more and more towards traditional video games because their mechanics and replayability are often a lot higher, even if there are accessibility issues.
Therefore the absolute best you can do is create a game that blind, partially sighted and fully sighted alike can play at equal level and, if possible, together. Failing that, an audiogame with depth to it would be the next best thing.
lysanderoth69 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Actually, I'm fully sighted as you might've guessed, and I loved the Blind legend. I actually like when the game focuses more on the story than the gameplay. But that's just my preference. Many people have many preferences. That's why I don't propose just one game. I was just confirming if you preferred this over my previous thing. I'll try to make all kinds of games, to suit everyone's preferences.
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