So I had a thought recently. Can you make a game where the playable character is blind?
I was watching a YouTube video and had a thought. If your playable character is blind what would it do to effect the gameplay? You could do the something like echo location something akin to Daredevil levels of super powers. Or is there something else. So I decided to look into it.
So the first game I found that did something like this is "Perception". A 2017 horror game made by Deep End Games for PC, PS4, Xbox One and switch. In this game you play as Cassie Thornton a blind woman. She goes to a house she sees in her dreams. But I'm not interested in the story for this discussion. So how do the game handle this.
Deep end did something that the media typically depicts in super hero moves and comics. She sees in echo location. (Probably not the best way to word this)
A monochromatic look of the world. It's a super stylized look at it. You can "see" by walking around ,the wind outside or other things in the environment that makes noise. But you tapping your cane on the ground to get the best look. But you better not make to much noise or the Presence will get you. Now for a horror game this is a good concept, take away the players site of more accurately limit it by the Presence.
Now when I was thinking about how to do it this game did more or less what I was thinking game mechanic wise with the way you "see" but I wanted to see if there are other ways of doing this. So I did some more research and found another game the hads more of a creative solution to this question. And the best part is it's a game made for the blind. So it's probably one of the most accessible game out there.
"A Blind Legend". Is a 2016 mobile game made by Dowino, a French company. You play as Edward Blake a knight blinded by Thork, after he killed your wife. Rude. You live with your daughter Louise. That was until Thork strike back with his army. Now your on the run to stop him. Now how does it game play you might be asking? The game uses binaural sound and a 3D space to put you in the world. But since its binaural sound you have to use headphones or earbuds or you'll won't get the effect. the screen is dark so you won't be seeing anything either. to control Edward you use your phone as the control. you move your thumb up and down to go forward and back. To turn move move your thumb left and right. Now one thing that might surprise you is there is combat. Swipe to attack. Squish your fingers together to block and move them apart to repel. When you're hit your phone vibrates. But Louise will act as your guide through this world acting as your eye. Telling you things like " go straight then turn right" and "look behind you" when in combat.
This is a great way to put you in the shoes of someone who's blind and not give them echo location to make it seem like a second site. The use of binaural sound is something in games that has been under utilized. So it's cool to see how they use this. If your interested here's a let's play to give you an idea of what I'm talking about.
https://youtu.be/izRCSaPWr2o
And here is Perception's trailer
https://youtu.be/L_1zUXv5l7M
I have a couple of ideas about how to do different genres but this is long enough as it is. Let me know if you want I kinda part 2 to this.
