MONDAY, MARCH 12, 2007

MONDAY, MARCH 12, 2007

Interactive Design and Game Development Savannah College of Art and Design Savannah, Georgia

Email Chris Quinn [email protected] Download this PowerPoint presentation http://chris-quinn.blogspot.com

Flash ExperimentsDigital Wireframe – Memory

Chris Quinn’s Final Presentation for Studio 2

Table of Contents Introduction Flash Experiments Industry Interviews Accessibility Guidelines Thesis Abstract Colorblind Survey Prototype Walkthrough Feasibility Plan




Flash ExperimentsDrag and Drop Shapes, Sounds






Flash ExperimentsSelf-Voicing, Keyboard Access






Colorblind Survey






Prototype Walkthrough

This thesis drafts humanized Video Game Accessibility Guidelines (VGAG) based on existing game and Web accessibility guidelines.

Cross-reference the following guidelines:

a) World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)

b) IGDA’s Game Accessibility White Paper, “Accessibility in Games: Motivations and Approaches”

c) MediaLT’s “Guidelines for the development of entertaining software for people with multiple learning disabilities”






Prototype Walkthrough1) Cross-reference Guidelines

a) World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)

Guideline 2. Don't rely on color alone.Ensure that text and graphics are understandable when viewed without color.If color alone is used to convey information, people who cannot differentiate between certain

colors and users with devices that have non-color or non-visual displays will not receive the information. When foreground and background colors are too close to the same hue, they may not provide sufficient contrast when viewed using monochrome displays or by people with different types of color deficits.

Checkpoints:2.1 Ensure that all information conveyed with color is also available without color, for

example from context or markup. [Priority 1] 2.2 Ensure that foreground and background color combinations provide sufficient contrast

when viewed by someone having color deficits or when viewed on a black and white screen. [Priority 2 for images, Priority 3 for text].







b) IGDA’s Game Accessibility White Paper, “Accessibility in Games: Motivations and Approaches”

Color Schemes for Color BlindProviding an alternate set of color schemes could allow those who are color blind to select

the art that appears the best for their particular vision. Make the colors used in a game distinctive when viewed in grayscale.







c) MediaLT’s “Guidelines for the development of entertaining software for people with multiple learning disabilities”

3.2 Adjustable colour and contrast (buttons, menus, background, text etc.)

For people with visual perception problems, it is important to provide distinct contrast. This groups of users may also have very different requirements for colour combination and contrast.

It is an advantage if software uses the standard settings in the operative system and/or contains possibilities for adjusting colour/contrast for various elements e.g.

• buttons and other controls• background• menus• frames

Choices should be saved (see 5.3 Settings should be saved).






Prototype Walkthrough2) Humanize the Guidelines

Video Game Accessibility GuidelinesColor Blindness

StatisticsOne in every 12 people have some degree of color blindness.

ProblemSome color blind players may not be able to tell the difference between certain colors.

Solutions• Convey information using more than just color, such as shape or position.• Provide alternative color schemes to match the preferences of color blind players.

ExampleDrivers who can't tell red from green can still recognize the order of colors on traffic lights.

Case StudiesMario Kart DS and Nintendo DS by NintendoGuitar Hero by Harmonix Music SystemsWarcraft 3: The Frozen Throne by Blizzard EntertainmentTable Tennis by Rockstar Games






Prototype Walkthrough3) Video Game Case Studies

a) Mario Kart DSNintendo

Accessibility Strength

Mario vs. Luigi (non-color cues)

Accessibility Weakness

Turtle Shells (green + red)Battery Power Indicator (green + red)







Issues proposed by each new guideline are identified in a range of existing video

games, then interactive demonstrations illustrate possible solutions to each problem.

Video Game Case Studies:

a) Mario Kart DS and Nintendo DS by Nintendo

b) Guitar Hero by Harmonix Music Systems

c) Warcraft 3: The Frozen Throne by Blizzard Entertainment

d) Table Tennis by Rockstar Games













































































a) Nintendo DSNintendo





















b) Guitar HeroHarmonix Music Systems


Button Positions (controller + screen)


Button Colors (controller + screen)

















































c) Warcraft 3: The Frozen ThroneBlizzard Entertainment


Creep Camps (size on mini-map related to level)


Building Footprint (color dependent)




























d) Table TennisRockstar Games


None


Skill Animations (color dependent)


































Prototype Walkthrough4) Interactive Demonstrations

a) Video Game Accessibility GuidelinesColor Blindness







b) Nintendo DSNintendo







c) Guitar HeroHarmonix Music Systems







d) Warcraft 3: The Frozen ThroneBlizzard Entertainment







The guidelines and demos are packaged together as disability-specific toolkits that developers can use to make their games more accessible.

Video Game Accessibility Toolkits:

a) The toolkits, including the guidelines and demos, will be published and presented on the Web to facilitate a dialog between game developers and players with disabilities around the world.

b) Since the target audience includes persons living with disabilities, the Web site must conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) of the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).



MONDAY, MARCH 12, 2007

Documents

design savannah

georgiaemail chris quinn

web accessibility guidelines

interactive design

powerpoint presentation

following guidelines

approachesmedialts guidelines

existing game