#accessible games

Ever since a fellow student in my program started working on this game, I've been waiting for the opportunity to post about it on tumblr, the one true place that would understand the importance of "A Color Theory".

I don't just want to share it because it feels like some excellent Commitment to the Bit, though--

It's a puzzle-based but low-stress platformer-- you can restart or skip any level, it's okay, no worries

There is deeply excellent music and deceptively simple pixel art, both of which are perfect for playing (or replaying) and letting your brain just relaaaaaax into the pleasing thrum of Solving a Thing

Accessibility options (1) exist, and (2) go above and beyond just adjusting the sound-- for instance, you can adjust for different kinds of color-blindness or switch to a dyslexia-friendly font

Support your local humans making indie art! The designer is a student, Bashar Alqassar, from the Interactive Media and Game Development masters degree program at WPI, and the music is by IMGD alum Daniel Brower. No AI was used in the production of these vibes~ 

Finally: Despite being initially unaware of the tumblr meme, I can nonetheless confirm that within this game, at least, red does have more negative meanings than positive

The (free!!) demo is out on Steam now, and the full game is about to drop on March 10. 

I sort of want the thing thats supposed to be a challenge to be somewhat the same level of challenge for everyone. I hope that can still count as accessibility? I think everyone deserves some puzzles bc they are fun

Omg I love this question!!!

This is absolutely Accessibility!

I love the idea of making puzzles that everyone can participate in, though I don't have any particular ideas for your specific question.

Lets open it up to the community!!! Anybody into cryptography and ciphers that have any ideas wanna chime in?

Every time you think you've discovered the final secret, it gets more insane, complex, and interesting, and you learn a whole different side to a story.

If you haven't heard of the game, please go check it out! If the engaging main plots, incredible writing, and gorgeous artwork aren't enough to pull you in, the interesting characters (most of which are romance-able) should be! The premise is a narrative-driven deckbuilder focused on a group of humans trying to get by in the first 10 years on a new planet and only each other to survive.

It's also worth noting the game features multiple disabled characters, characters of colour, queer characters (including ace/demi), trans characters (including nb), fat characters (without any fatphobia), and different types of polyamoury.

I don't want to give spoilers, but thankfully all content warnings are accessible from the main menu if you have any topics you might not want to interact with. From the storylines I've seen so far, all situations have been treated very respectfully and none have impacted my enjoyment of the game.

Two years ago, we launched Accessible Gaming Quarterly, the world's first zine dedicated to disability and inclusion in tabletop gaming. We knew inclusion and representation for disabled gamers was lacking in our hobby, and we decided to step up and do something about it. Our goal was to publish articles that would not only help gamers with disabilities adapt and improve their experiences at the table, but to help educate able-bodied gamers in understanding the issues these players face.

In 2020, backers like you helped us create 4 original issues of AGQ. We were blown away by the outpouring of support when we launched the zine's first year, and its continued support led us to produce a second collection of 4 additional issues.

We're back again, because people keep asking for more. AGQ Year 3 is on Kickstarter to help create four more issues of this unique zine for all fans of tabletop games - not just people with disabilities. We need to raise at least $4,500 USD to be able to pay our contributors a fair rate and produce the zine. Additional funds go toward improving pay rates and the zine's overall quality.

To date, we've published 7 issues of Accessible Gaming Quarterly, featuring more than 75,657 words, on 376 pages over 52 articles on topics like "Accessibility is the New Normal," "Combat Tracking with Excel," "Neurodivergence in Role-playing," "Piratical Prosthetics," and more.

What We're Creating

Each issue of Accessible Gaming Quarterly has a mix of creative and practical content. We answer questions, provide advice on running games as a disabled GM, discuss the lived experiences of disabled gamers, and show how disabled characters can be introduced to your games. We also offer ideas for adding accessible tools for your characters, short fiction showing disabled heroes in action, and inclusive illustrations by disabled artists.

In Year 3, we plan to have:

Questions and Answers about anything related to disabilities and gaming.

A quarterly feature about the ecology of creatures and how disabilities impact them.

Essays about the lived experiences of disabled gamers, including tips, tools and adaptations we have learned in our journeys.

Interviews with disabled gamers and designers.

Reviews of games and other products that may interest our community.

More amazing art by disabled illustrators.

Your ideas: we accept submissions from members of the community who have something to say.

Each issue has room for content from contributors throughout our community. Visit http://www.bit.ly/AGQContribute to find out how you can get paid to write or illustrate for the zine.

A cyberpunk-style all-terrain wheelchair is ready for the showroom. Art by Austin Vanderwilt.

Accessibility

Accessible Gaming Quarterly strives to live up to its name, and with that in mind we release issues in multiple accessible formats.

Every digital issue of the zine is available to all backers in the following formats:

Vision layers-enabled PDF (see below)

Original PDF without vision layers

Fixed-layout ePub

Re-flowable ePub

In addition, both the digital and electronic versions of the book use a clear, 11-point font for easy readability. We also ensure all digital files are screen reader-compatible.

Jacob literally wrote the book on accessible PDF design (the Accessible Guide to RPG Layout) and our production designer, Todd Crapper, employs these best practices, plus a number of his own improvements, to ensure this product is accessible to as many people as possible.

Every issue will be produced using Vision Layers to empower users with the ability to choose their preferred reading format.

All four issues of Accessible Gaming Quarterly will use vision layers, a new approach to accessibility layout that allows PDF users to customize their reading experience to suit their needs. With vision layers, you toggle different reading modes in your PDFs to show / hide illustrations, turn off backgrounds, change fonts, and more.

You can learn more about vision layers and discover numerous indie RPG titles that are being upgraded for greater accessibility at:  https://visionlayers.com/

Issue Schedule

Accessible Gaming Quarterly will follow the same release schedule as previous years:

Issue 9, July 2022

Issue 10, October 2022

Issue 11, January 2023

Issue 12, April 2023

At the time of this Kickstarter, we have released 7 issues and number 8 is on-track for its April 2022 release date. Every digital version has been released early or on-time, as were most of the print editions despite global shipping delays.

With that track record, we are confident we can deliver every issue of Year 3 in a timely manner.

Kickstarter campaign ends: Wed, February 16 2022 1:53 PM UTC +00:00

I'm trying to make games that I would enjoy playing, and therefore others would enjoy as well. However I don't want to limit who can and can't enjoy those games simply because I was negligent in my designs. I have a few things I have that I always plan to include in my games so far, but it's basically impossible for me to know all the potential ways to broaden accessibility without input from others. So far, I am implementing/keeping in mind:

• Color blindness

• Rebinding controls

• Variable audio levels

• Subtitles

• Dyslexia friendly fonts

• Difficulty modes

• Audio descriptions

and more that I'm not thinking of right now.

I would like input from other people on accessibility in games, especially from those who who may not be able to play a game/games due to a lack of accessibility.