AbleGamers gets a thumbs up from me!

[flameboy]

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/23/ablegamers-launches-reviews-with-accessibility-in-mind/

 

 

Before you send an overtly hostile dissertation to AbleGamers about their outrageous 6.7/10 scoring of Batman: Arkham Asylum, keep in mind that the site's newly launched review section focuses on accessibility above all else. While that particular review mentions the game's many qualities, some of them may be difficult to appreciate by disabled players.

 

The site offers critique and advice on several aspects you may take for granted, including the presence of subtitles, colorblind options and adjustable controls. "There are countless sites out there that review games for their graphics and sound, but no one is looking at the game from the standpoint of accessibility," explains Mark C. Barlet, President of the AbleGamers Foundation. "With 63 million Americans with disabilities this is a focus that is needed and who better to do it than the flagship site for disabled gamers, AbleGamers.com. I hope that game makers now add AbleGamers to their list of news outlets to send review copies to."

 

In a show of support, Joystiq Publishing has sent over its highly anticipated puzzle game, Is This Color Red or Green?. We reckon it's at least a nine.

 

Being in my line of work I find it nice to see that somebody has had this idea...I only wish I had come up with it first!

 

There address;

 

http://www.ablegamers.com/

[mcj metroid]

wow, they give harsher scores than EDGE.

 

Seriously though it's a good idea but I'm shocked it hasn't been done before.

Pretty unusual they have no wii and so few ds reviews yet though. I would put those as the more accessible console particularly the wii.

[Ramar]

I think its a brilliant and unique way of judging games. It really hit home something that is taken for granted in games, you rarely do see an array of options for those with disabilities. So yeah, I applaud them!

[Cube]

It's a great idea. I never knew that I may have had trouble playing M&L:Bowser's Inside Story due to partial colour-blindness.

 

Although perhaps they could add a few more things to the list of six. Such as left-handed (mainly for DS games) and Southpaw (for FPS and similar games).

 

It's always good when companies recognise stuff like this - the Blue-to-Red power light on the DSi is brilliant as I've never been able to tell the power level on a handheld before.

[jayseven]

Gets a thumbs-sideways from me. They don't need to produce such 'detailed' reviews if all they're focusing on is the accessability side of things. Quick, easy-to-find information is what people really want.

 

This topic is depressing and patronising.

[Fierce_LiNk]

The idea is great, so well done to them for implementing this.

 

I'm reading their review for Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.

http://www.ablegamers.com/ds/Mario-Luigi-Bowsers-Inside-Story.html

 

Their last paragraph was interesting. They recognise that the game is good, but they emphasise that it isn't very accessible. As long as they can keep this "line" running through their reviews, then I think they'll be onto a great thing. Like the Batman review, they mention that it's one of the best games of the year, but that it isn't very easily accessible for one handed gamers, etc. So, I think they've done well.

[flameboy]

Gets a thumbs-sideways from me. They don't need to produce such 'detailed' reviews if all they're focusing on is the accessability side of things. Quick, easy-to-find information is what people really want.

 

This topic is depressing and patronising.

 

 

I really don't think it is at all...The reason matters relating to such individuals is because people bury their head in the sand about it and go "oooh thats sad and depressing" and then forget about it, not think how happy people with disablities can be. If you worked in the sector you'd see how things can never be patronising no matter how much you feel they might be. I've not really articulated that very well.

 

I've introduced it to a number of people at work and they think its brilliantly written and fantastic. A lot of our students are never going to sit and read the reviews themselves as they either they can't (due to visual impairments or not being able to read) or wouldn't have the attention span. So this detailed informative style of writing is brilliant for people who want to be informed and learn as much as they can about a given title before deciding if its accessible for their particular students needs.

 

We have a Wii here and the students love Wii Sports, Wii Play, Wii Music and Let's Tap as well as some game with Dogs in it but its nice to find out possible what other kinds of games they may be able to play. its the more casual stuff/shovelware that I may not be aware of. We also have a ton of PC games more tailored towards students with visual impairments by various companies.

[ReZourceman]

Disabled people don't deserve to play video games.

[jayseven]

Fuck off, ReZ. You're not always funny.

 

Flameboy; no, your first paragraph wasn't articulated well at all. I don't know which 'sector' you're referring to, which people are burying their heads in the sand, what 'things' can never be patronising, and who is what with the where, how?

 

I wear hearing aids and I have buggered eyesight (people tend to think both conditions for me aren't that bad, but they're wrong). I have slower 'reaction' speeds on games because it takes me longer to scan the screen to find what I want. I don't consider myself necessarily the target audience of this sort of website, but I also don't think your reply was much to do with my post.

 

I said that their reviews do not need to be so lengthy. All they need to do is surmise the accessibility of games, rather than focusing on full-length reviews covering loads of bullshit that gamers will already know about. I say this because such a shift in their manpower would mean they'd fill up the website quicker, at least.

[flameboy]

Disabled people don't deserve to play video games.

 

seriously wtf?!

[Fierce_LiNk]

I said that their reviews do not need to be so lengthy. All they need to do is surmise the accessibility of games, rather than focusing on full-length reviews covering loads of bullshit that gamers will already know about. I say this because such a shift in their manpower would mean they'd fill up the website quicker, at least.

 

I can definitely see what you mean. But, for gamers to already know about the ins and outs of a particular game, they'd have to read another review elsewhere beforehand. Sometimes they will, and sometimes they won't.

 

If that website is the first port of call, then surely they're going to need all that extra information about the game itself? The accessibilty of the game is very important for the target audience. But also, you won't want a hugely accessible game that isn't actually a very good game in the first place, right? So, that's why I think the "other" stuff is needed.

[jayseven]

So you think this website wants to take on the main 'ports of call' type sites like IGN? The website already has a good collection of news-related content, I don't think it needs to go out of its depth and try and assault the grand task of reviewing games as well.

 

The internet is an array of tools that the user uses to its own ends. I'd rather go to a site like IGN to read up on a game then find out accessibility via a quick search for a paragraph of the info I need - than go to this site, feel the review doesn't really do much elaborate reviewing, then have to go to IGN and read the same amount again.

 

Disabled gamers are already trolling all the big networks and sites, the suggestion that this could be a new spazzo-hub is itself a bit patronising :P If anything, this site'll just encourage other sites (eventually) to have a paragraph (or a link to one, or whatever) with accessibility ratings... blarg. I'm trying to do my essay you bastards.

 

P.S. Infraction issued, ReZ :P

[ReZourceman]

P.S. Infraction issued, ReZ :P

 

For real yo.

[Fierce_LiNk]

So you think this website wants to take on the main 'ports of call' type sites like IGN? The website already has a good collection of news-related content, I don't think it needs to go out of its depth and try and assault the grand task of reviewing games as well.

 

The internet is an array of tools that the user uses to its own ends. I'd rather go to a site like IGN to read up on a game then find out accessibility via a quick search for a paragraph of the info I need - than go to this site, feel the review doesn't really do much elaborate reviewing, then have to go to IGN and read the same amount again.

 

Disabled gamers are already trolling all the big networks and sites, the suggestion that this could be a new spazzo-hub is itself a bit patronising :P If anything, this site'll just encourage other sites (eventually) to have a paragraph (or a link to one, or whatever) with accessibility ratings... blarg. I'm trying to do my essay you bastards.

 

P.S. Infraction issued, ReZ :P

 

Every person is different, mind. For example, I haven't touched IGN for many, many months now. Sure, if the readers of that site want to find out much more about the game, they could always go forth and check out a fully fledged review on IGN or Gamespot or elsewhere. But, personally, I feel that the reviews on Able Gamers would be very short and thin if it was purely kept to the accessibility side of things. It's going to sound a bit daft, but in newspapers you sometimes have little exercepts which give you information on some of the latest games or films in the cinema. The reviews are very small, but they give you some form of indication about what the game or film is about. Sometimes you don't need an extensive review. Some gamers do, some don't.

 

Yeah, the way you explained things in that second paragraph sounds right, but only if the review (on Able Gamers) does not elaborate enough or provided enough information for the gamer. That's why the reviews need to be well written and they need to focus on the content very carefully. If the reviews are written well enough, if they provide an indication about whether or not this is a game worth owning or not, then maybe you wouldn't need to visit more than one site. Pour moi, I read the reviews on the main page here or I check the impressions in the forums. Usually the information that applies to me is contained here, so I don't need to visit a multitude of other sites. But, people have different ways of doing things. Some like to read 4 or 5 reviews from different sources, whilst some never read reviews at all.

 

Trolling? What are they doing? I don't really know what's going on, haha.

Do your bastard essay. *kiss kiss hug hug*

[Dan_Dare]

Great idea for a site.

 

I have issues with quite a few games myself. Anything that requires an exclusively right handed control scheme is off the books for me, as is anything on the wii requiring complex wrist or thumb movements on my right hand.

Demos on XBL help these days but it used to be a huge gamble as to whether I could play a game or not.

 

Great to see someone is taking this issue seriously.

 

(in before Rez: Left handed so any 'wrist' jokes are wasted )

[jayseven]

Dan; check the link I posted in my first post in this thread. It was posted for you before, regarding southpaw controls. The site tends to have that info quite quick, like.

[flameboy]

Fuck off, ReZ. You're not always funny.

 

Flameboy; no, your first paragraph wasn't articulated well at all. I don't know which 'sector' you're referring to, which people are burying their heads in the sand, what 'things' can never be patronising, and who is what with the where, how?

 

I wear hearing aids and I have buggered eyesight (people tend to think both conditions for me aren't that bad, but they're wrong). I have slower 'reaction' speeds on games because it takes me longer to scan the screen to find what I want. I don't consider myself necessarily the target audience of this sort of website, but I also don't think your reply was much to do with my post.

 

I said that their reviews do not need to be so lengthy. All they need to do is surmise the accessibility of games, rather than focusing on full-length reviews covering loads of bullshit that gamers will already know about. I say this because such a shift in their manpower would mean they'd fill up the website quicker, at least.

 

Seriously forget what I said! Firstly I was at work and wasn't properly concentrating and secondly I totally misinterpreted what you said. I thought you meant it was depressing as you'd rather not talk about disabled people. If you get what I mean? I didn't realize the point of view you were talking from as well as totally misreading what you meant!

 

I can understand what your saying about them covering gamers type stuff, but I think it helps to lend context to the reviews in a way.

[Dan_Dare]

Dan; check the link I posted in my first post in this thread. It was posted for you before, regarding southpaw controls. The site tends to have that info quite quick, like.

 

Yeah i saw that. Duly noted

[ReZourceman]

(in before Rez: Left handed so any 'wrist' jokes are wasted )

 

Awww no fun.

[Ashley]

Disabled people don't deserve to play video games.

 

I can't believe you said this. Even, presumably, as a joke its an ignorant and horrible thing to say.

 

As I say, I presume it was your idea of humour but there's still a line.

[Raining_again]

I can't believe you said this. Even, presumably, as a joke its an ignorant and horrible thing to say.

 

As I say, I presume it was your idea of humour but there's still a line.

 

Rez lost the line a long time ago.

 

--

 

I think it makes games a lot lot more accessible to people that can and want to buy them! Really this should be done at the root of the production, because the people that made the game know the most about its functionality.

[CoolFunkMan]

An excellent idea! I'm not disabled myself, but I do wonder how some disabled people could manage to play videogames. It's good that someone isn't dodging this topic for a change just beacuse it's "too depressing." Resources like this are certainly a step in the right direction!

 

Disabled people don't deserve to play video games.

 

*sigh* ¬¬

[Oxigen_Waste]

I'm with jayseven on this one.

 

 

wow, they give harsher scores than EDGE.

 

You know, Edge aren't harsh at all... they just score games properly. I mean, when you see a 7 on any other game reviewer, you immediately think "average". And only a 5 should mean average. (but alas, when people see a 5 they don't think average, they think mediocre...)

[Raining_again]

I'm with jayseven on this one.

 

 

 

 

You know, Edge aren't harsh at all... they just score games properly. I mean, when you see a 7 on any other game reviewer, you immediately think "average". And only a 5 should mean average. (but alas, when people see a 5 they don't think average, they think mediocre...)

 

Yeah I've seen it too often, people are like oh "it wasn't that great" and give a 7/10?! 7 is not by any means bad!

[LegoMan1031]

Yeah this definatly sounds like a good idea for a site!

 

I have a friend who is colour blind and im forgetting what game it was but i remember him saying he had trouble with something because he couldn't see it on screen.