What blind gamers want the industry to know

This is a document Richard van Tol and I compiled in 2006 for the GDC’06. If you’re into the experiences of blind gamers, in relation to regular video games, it can be an interesting read. There are no conclusions, it is just a compilation. Feel free to draw your own conclusions…

What you will find here is a compilation of writings by gamers with a visual handicap about their personal gaming experiences from the past and present. Their stories have been collected through the Game Accessibility project (made possible by a financial contribution by NSGK (Nederlandse Stichting voor het Gehandicapte Kind) and the AudioGames.net forum in order to give the video game industry a better understanding of what computer gaming means for a blind gamer.

There are many people in the professional game industry who unfortunately have never given thought to blind people playing computer games. Many seem to think that “blind people can’t play games, because they are blind” (to quote a developer at the 2004 Electronic Entertainment Expo).

Hopefully these gamers’ words will help you imagine what it is like to play a game while not being able to see and inspire you to make a change.

Huiberts S. & Van Tol, R. (2006), What blind games want the industry to know. Retrieved February 20, 2007, from http://captivatingsound.com/download/articles/what blind gamers want the industry to know.doc

[Download the document from Captivating Sound]