Welcome to another edition of the PlayAbility Newsletter! This instalment takes the form of a games accessibility sandwich with cool games like bread on the top and bottom and zesty accessibility in the middle.

 

Hope you find it tasty!

At the end of April, the European installment of the Games Accessibility Conference (or GaConf) took place. Wonderful games accessibility insights were shared and good vibes were had all around.

 

One particularly delectable accessibility tidbit was a talk by badgames.zip on An Unplayable Game, a free game where players must adjust the in-game settings in order to progress. This innovative little title gives a great hands on example of why strength and dexterity accessibility settings are so crucial to some players.

During our consulting work here at PlayAbility we sometimes get asked, “Do you have any data to support this?”. The illustrious Ian Hamilton is here to help, sharing a blog post chockfull of superb insights. Tidbits like “Over 100,000 Atomfall players modified controller schemes.” or “Infernium sold as many copies in the 2 days following its accessibility patch as the two weeks beforehand” may be the insight you need to get project stakeholders on board with accessibility!

Next we have a cool reminder that language is always evolving! The BSLGG is a comprehensive glossary of gaming related signs for British Sign Language. You can check out an additional video covering the topic by PlayAbility team member and cognitive accessibility barrier expert, Laura.

In our last newsletter edition, we highlighted some of the games accessibility award shows that were taking place. Wouldn't it be nice if somebody put together a handy spreadsheet tracking all the games accessibility events for the year? Cue Ian Hamilton once again coming in clutch with a tidy game accessibility awards calendar!

We finish off our games accessibility sandwich with the wonderful gem, Find Your Words. Find Your Words is a (Free!) cozy adventure game where you explore a summer camp and make friends. You also happen to use augmentative and alternative communication tools in the game showing a binder of symbols rather than communicating verbally with your fellow campers.

 

This game does a magnificent job depicting alternative communication methods as well as having a bird watching questline, so A++ in our books.

 

Hope you’re feeling full of scrumptious accessibility and until next time …

Go play some wonderful accessible games!