Video game now required, by law, to be accessible for EVERYONE

[ThoD]

With detachable arms.

I’m still waiting on 8k TVs for the blind.

8K Braille TVs? Now THAT would be interesting!

On topic though and in all seriousness, this is really gonna hurt the indie market in the US... As a dev myself, it's a big thing to have to account for all that BS, especially since I'm working on niche things as is...

 

[Taleweaver]

Wow...three pages of comments, and at best a slight handful of people not treating this like "EVERYONE IS AGAINST GAMERS!!!!" and rather for what it really is. Luckily there are posts like @Scarlet made:

When you look at it like that, it isn't half as drastic as what people seem to think here.

Interestingly though, this has been something that's been put off for a while. A bit of extra reading from last year if anybody's interested: https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news..._for_video_game_CVAA_accessibility_waiver.php

Most interesting part:

...the area of CVAA that applies to games deals solely with communication. As such, the requirements don’t necessarily mean that games in general must become fully accessible. Rather, the CVAA requires any communication functionality like in-game chat and any UI used to navigate and operate communications functionality must be accessible to people of varying sight, motor, speech, cognitive, and hearing ability.

So what it basically comes down to is "things should be easy to navigate and use". And while it's obviously extra work for developers, it isn't "just" the disabled that see profit from it (let alone that others suffer). Extra credits made a video about this at one point. This one:



I suggest you watch it before further going into conspiracy theories.

 

[Transdude1996]

Wow...three pages of comments, and at best a slight handful of people not treating this like "EVERYONE IS AGAINST GAMERS!!!!" and rather for what it really is. Luckily there are posts like @Scarlet made:


Most interesting part:

...the area of CVAA that applies to games deals solely with communication. As such, the requirements don’t necessarily mean that games in general must become fully accessible. Rather, the CVAA requires any communication functionality like in-game chat and any UI used to navigate and operate communications functionality must be accessible to people of varying sight, motor, speech, cognitive, and hearing ability.

So what it basically comes down to is "things should be easy to navigate and use". And while it's obviously extra work for developers, it isn't "just" the disabled that see profit from it (let alone that others suffer).

Meanwhile in the actual legislation (Starting on page 153):

14.20 Obligations.

1. General Obligations.
   1. With respect to equipment manufactured after the effective date of this part, a manufacturer of equipment used for advanced communications services, including end user equipment, network equipment, and software, must ensure that the equipment and software that such manufacturer offers for sale or otherwise distributes in interstate commerce shall be accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, unless the requirements of this subsection are not achievable.
   2. With respect to services provided after the effective date of this part, a provider of advanced communications services must ensure that services offered by such provider in or affecting interstate commerce are accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, unless the requirements of this subsection are not achievable.

...

14.21 Performance Objectives.

1. Generally–Manufacturers and service providers shall ensure that equipment and services covered by this part are accessible, usable, and compatible as those terms are defined in paragraphs (b) through (d) of this section.
2. Accessible–The term accessible shall mean that:
   1. Input, control, and mechanical functions shall be locatable, identifiable, and operable in accordance with each of the following, assessed independently:
      1. Operable without vision. Provide at least one mode that does not require user vision.
      2. Operable with low vision and limited or no hearing. Provide at least one mode that permits operation by users with visual acuity between 20/70 and 20/200, without relying on audio output.
      3. Operable with little or no color perception. Provide at least one mode that does not require user color perception.
      4. Operable without hearing. Provide at least one mode that does not require user auditory perception.
      5. Operable with limited manual dexterity. Provide at least one mode that does not require user fine motor control or simultaneous actions.
      6. Operable with limited reach and strength. Provide at least one mode that is operable with user limited reach and strength.
      7. Operable with a Prosthetic Device. Controls shall be operable without requiring body contact or close body proximity.
      8. Operable with out time-dependent controls. Provide at least one mode that does not require a response time or allows response time to be by-passed or adjusted by the user over a wide range.
      9. Operable without speech. Provide at least one mode that does not require user speech.
      10. Operable with limited cognitive skills. Provide at least one mode that minimizes the cognitive, memory, language, and learning skills required of the user.

So, yes, gaming is screwed.

Extra credits made a video about this at one point. This one:



I suggest you watch it before further going into conspiracy theories.

Why should anyone watch a video series that is still headed and run by an abusive stalker, where his only real credit in "game development" is writing the story for Farmville, and the series' crowing achievement being that We are running out of internet (Among other things)?

 

[slaphappygamer]

I’d just turn the accessibility options off. Doesn’t sound too hard.

 

[Taleweaver]

Why should anyone watch a video series that is still headed and run by an abusive stalker, where his only real credit in "game development" is writing the story for Farmville, and the series' crowing achievement being that We are running out of internet (Among other things)?

Okay...so instead of a multi-year running webshow that gives insight, a platform for developers, meaning and context from a known speaker we should follow you. A random dude on the internet with no credit in the game industry whatsoever.

I'll go with the "abusive stalker". But hey...feel free to believe that gaming is screwed if that's what makes you happy.

 

[Transdude1996]

Okay...so instead of a multi-year running webshow that gives insight, a platform for developers, meaning and context from a known speaker we should follow you.

At what point did I ever say that? You can read the actual legislation for yourself.

But, if you really insist upon it, why should we need a singular web-series run by a bunch of hacks to gain insight, provide a platform for, and/or give "context and meaning" to the jobs and demands of a game developer? What about all of the interviews that existed for the past 50 years? What about all the books published by those down in the dirt? What about the fact that there's developers who host their own channels or teach their own classes? What about the fact that social media allows for people to talk face-to-face with the developers themselves? What about the fact that there's near limitless resources to for you to gain your own insight and see exactly what it is that people have to deal with?

 

[Taleweaver]

At what point did I ever say that? You can read the actual legislation for yourself.

You started this thread, and either ignore or slander sources of opinions that conflict with yours. Or is Ian Hamilton (who's a video game accessibility specialist) also not credible because he stole an apple once?

But, if you really insist upon it, why should we need a singular web-series run by a bunch of hacks to gain insight, provide a platform for, and/or give "context and meaning" to the jobs and demands of a game developer? What about all of the interviews that existed for the past 50 years? What about all the books published by those down in the dirt? What about the fact that there's developers who host their own channels or teach their own classes? What about the fact that social media allows for people to talk face-to-face with the developers themselves? What about the fact that there's near limitless resources to for you to gain your own insight and see exactly what it is that people have to deal with?

I have no idea where your train of logic is going, but I don't intend to follow it. I picked one source I happen to know. If you've got some who actually have a solid opinion on the video game accesibility changes, then sure...go ahead and list them.

 

[Aldoria]

It is a great initiative but the conditions are totally ridiculous in some cases

 

[gnmmarechal]

Uh, this is a bit too much.

 

[Minox]

Thanks for supporting non-US game developers

 

[KingVamp]

Should this be closed for misinformation and redundancy?

 

[Transdude1996]

You started this thread, and either ignore or slander sources of opinions that conflict with yours. Or is Ian Hamilton (who's a video game accessibility specialist) also not credible because he stole an apple once?

Let's see, which is more reliable: words coming from someone I don't know who can say whatever the Hell he wants to make a new law sound pleasing and acceptable for parties to adopt, or the actual legislation itself?

I have no idea where your train of logic is going, but I don't intend to follow it. I picked one source I happen to know. If you've got some who actually have a solid opinion on the video game accesibility changes, then sure...go ahead and list them.

Motohiro Okubo, the producer of Soul Calibur 6:

In terms of the volume, of course, there’s always resources and devleopment cycle considerations that we have to abide by – but I don’t actually think more is necessarily better.
...
Our priority when developing the game first and foremost is creating something that’s fun and engaging for the player to experience. We want to make a solid game.

Oh, and esports players like BrolyLegs prove that we don't need any of this "accessibility" BS.

 

[Taleweaver]

Let's see, which is more reliable: words coming from someone I don't know who can say whatever the Hell he wants to make a new law sound pleasing and acceptable for parties to adopt, or the actual legislation itself?

Same goes for someone who wants to make a law sound displeasing.

As to your Okubo contribution...A producer saying " I don’t actually think more is necessarily better" isn't the same as saying "so yes, gaming is screwed".

 

[ELY_M]

I am glad Super Mario Odyssey have texts.

 

[fiis]

I remember seeing that commercial by microsoft, pretty neat of them I'd say. Being someone who played sports and video games growing up, I can't imagine not being able to do either one. At least now they can play video games.