Skip to main content

Inaccessible through oversight: the need for inclusive game design

The Computer Games Journal volume 1, pages 29–38 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Games are an important part of modern culture. The nature of most video games is such that it can be difficult for individuals with impairments to enjoy many titles. In many cases, this is not due to the games themselves presenting an impossible challenge, but because the games have been left inaccessible through the omission of common features. Mainstream titles are often accessible and inaccessible by turns. This strongly suggests that the resultant inaccessibility is an oversight rather than conscious design. Awareness building is an important process in improving the inclusivity of game titles. This in turn is important in ensuring that all members of society have an opportunity to enjoy a valuable recreational form. To this end, the essay discusses both the types of disability that could be supported and some common mechanisms by which this can be done. A short overview of several prominent game titles is included to provide real world context for the discussion. In this essay, the author argues that ensuring accessibility need not be a costly or an onerous task, and that great strides can be made by, simply adopting the existing good practice that is currently spread across mainstream titles.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price includes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • Allman, T., Dhillon, R. K., Landau, M. A. E., and Kurniawan, S. H. (2009). Rock vibe: Rock band (TM); computer games for people with no or limited vision. Proceedings of the 11th international ACM SIGACCESS conference on Computers and accessibility, Assets ’09, pages 51-58, New York, NY, USA. ACM.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bethesda Game Studios (2008). Fallout 3 [Disc]. Xbox 360. Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deloitte (2009). State of the Media Democracy Survey, Fourth Edition

    Google Scholar 

  • Eidos Montreal (2011). Deus Ex: Human Revolution [Disc]. Xbox 360. Montreal, Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  • Entertainment Merchants Association (2009). Annual Report on the Home Entertainment Industry.

    Google Scholar 

  • Entertainment Software Association (2008). Essential Facts about the Computer and Video Games Industry in 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  • Entertainment Software Association (2011). Essential Facts about the Computer and Video Games Industry in 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fozzard, J. (1990). Vision and hearing in aging, pages 150–170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heron, M (2011). The ACCESS Framework: Reinforcement Learning for Accessibility and Cognitive Support in Older Adults. PhD. Scotland: University of Dundee.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heron, M.J., Hanson, V., & Ricketts, I. (2011). Accessibility Support with the ACCESS Framework. Digital Engagement’ 11. Newcastle, United Kingdom.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keates, S. and Clarkson, J. P. (2002). Countering design exclusion through inclusive design. SIGCAPH Comput. Phys. Handicap., (73-74):69–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kline, D., & Scialfa, C. (1997). Sensory and perceptual functioning: Basic research and human factors implications (pp. 27–54). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laberge, J. C., & Scialfa, C. T. (2005). Predictors of web navigation performance in a life span sample of adults. Human Factors. The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 47(2), 289–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen, J. (2008). Middle-Aged Users’ Declining Web Performance. Jakob Nielsen’s AlertBox.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oddworld Inhabitants (1997). Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee. [Disc]. Playstation 2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pullin, G. and Newell, A. (2007). Focussing on Extra-Ordinary users. In Universal Acess in Human Computer Interaction. Coping with Diversity, pages 253–262.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, E., Walker, S. (2011). Gaming on a Collision Course: Averting significant revenue loss by making games accessible to older Americans. AbleGamers Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rocksteady Studios (2009). Batman: Arkham Asylum [Disc]. Xbox 360. London, United Kingdom.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rocksteady Studios (2011). Batman: Arkham City [Disc]. Xbox 360. London, United Kingdom.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schieber, F. (2006). Vision and aging. In J. Birren, & K. Schaie (Eds.) Handbook of the Psychology of Aging (pp. 129–154). Academic Press, 6th ed.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Schrier, J. (2011). How a Blind Gamer plays Zelda by Ear. Wired Magazine.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharit, J., Hernández, M. A., Czaja, S. J., & Pirolli, P. (2008). Investigating the roles of knowledge and cognitive abilities in older adult information seeking on the web. ACM Trans. Comput.-Hum. Interact., 15(1), 1–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stroop, J. R. (1935). Studies of interference in serial verbal reactions. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 18(6), 643–662.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trewin, S. M., Laff, M. R., Cavender, A., and Hanson, V. L. (2008). Accessibility in virtual worlds. CHI ’08 extended abstracts on Human factors in computing systems, CHI EA ’08, pages 2727-2732, New York, NY, USA. ACM.

    Google Scholar 

  • Valve Corporation (2008). Left 4 Dead [Disc]. PC. Washington, United States.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waller, A., Hanson, V. L., and Sloan, D. (2009). Including accessibility within and beyond undergraduate computing courses. Proceedings of the 11th international ACM SIGACCESS conference on Computers and accessibility, Assets ’09, pages 155–162, New York, NY, USA. ACM.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yuan, B., Folmer, E., and Harris, F. C. (2011). Game accessibility: a survey. Universal Access in the Information Society, 10(1):81–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zajicek, M. (2003). Software design for older adults to support memory loss. INCLUDE 2003 Inclusive design. for society and business.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Canterbury Christ Church University, UK

    Michael Heron

Authors
  1. Michael Heron
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

About this article

Cite this article

Heron, M. Inaccessible through oversight: the need for inclusive game design. Comput Game J 1, 29–38 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03392326

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03392326

Key words

  • games
  • accessibility
  • inclusion
  • human factors