AbleGamers.com

[Keovar]

Hi, I'm a member of the site AbleGamers.com, which exists to promote the interests of and provide solutions for gamers with all sorts of disabilities. I am not on the staff there, but I do think working with them could be mutually beneficial. If Goblinworks makes a commitment to make Pathfinder Online a more accessible gaming experience, I think AbleGamers would be happy to spread word of that, which could definitely help in the 'big push' phase of the current Kickstarter.

AbleGamers recently produced an informational site called 'Includification' which is a collection of "research, review, experiments and first-hand experience by gamers with disabilities who live with these problems every day". I think it has a lot of useful perspectives and ideas to consider when designing a game to be playable to as wide an audience as possible.

As I have mentioned before, my personal challenge in gaming comes from vision issues. Multiple sclerosis has caused Optic Neuritis, damaging both of my optic nerves, so it isn't a problem which can be solved with glasses. This and other symptoms stemming from my MS have made me more aware of the various issues that can impact a person's ability to enjoy gaming, and I hope you'll research and keep in mind such issues as you move forward with the design of PFO.

Thanks!
Kevin C Jenkins / Keovar

[Nihimon]

Excellent suggestion. I've been beating this drum every once in a while for quite some time. I'm glad to find out about AbleGamers.

[Being]

Perhaps AbleGamers might provide a voice actor to record what would otherwise have to be read, and provide sound files that might be cued by the game events for those it might help?

[Keovar]

Nihimon wrote:

Excellent suggestion. I've been beating this drum every once in a while for quite some time. I'm glad to find out about AbleGamers.

Yes, you have been a great advocate for accessibility options, so thank you, Nihimon!

Now let's hope Ryan sees this, and some kind of promotion of the KS on AbleGamers is possible.

Here is the post I made on the AbleGamers' forums. I sent about the same thing in an email to Mark Barlet - the founder and president of the AbleGamers Foundation - as well.

[Keovar]

Being wrote:

Perhaps AbleGamers might provide a voice actor to record what would otherwise have to be read, and provide sound files that might be cued by the game events for those it might help?

Quest/module voiceovers would likely add a lot to the game even for fully-sighted players, I think. I don't know that AbleGamers has any connections to voice actors, but maybe they could help in some way.

[Andius]

I've advocated all along that GW should pull voice actors from the community rather than paying them. A lot of us (Myself included) would be more than willing to record some sound clips if they told us what they wanted voice and gave some standards on format and sound quality.

[Nihimon]

And some of us (Andius included) have beautifully mellifluous voices, too!

[Keovar]

Nihimon wrote:

And some of us (Andius included) have beautifully mellifluous voices, too!

Have you been on our Teamspeak?

[Andius]

Yes. 7th Viel comes on our TS sometimes. Mainly for P&P sessions and diplomatic matters but they used to actually hang out on it.

[Nihimon]

I tend not to spend a lot of time on voice chat unless it's needed.

That said, I believe starting this Sunday we'll be taking over a room for a Carrion Crown virtual table-top campaign.

And yes, I've heard Andius speak, and wasn't being sarcastic or anything. The man has a voice for radio.

[Chiassa]

This is good to know about, Keovar, thanks!

I have chronic corneal dystrophy - not yet at the point your vision issues are, but I'll be needing at least one corneal transplant in the foreseeable future. As it is, I've got my computer and iPad set to white text on black background for better visibility. I'm all for more options to make gaming better for us.

[Valinar]

Nihimon wrote:

And yes, I've heard Andius speak, and wasn't being sarcastic or anything. The man has a voice for radio.

However what comes out of his mouth 50% of the time is not for radio!

Valinar

[Drakhan Valane]

Valinar wrote:

Nihimon wrote:

And yes, I've heard Andius speak, and wasn't being sarcastic or anything. The man has a voice for radio.

However what comes out of his mouth 50% of the time is not for radio!

Valinar

Both of these.

[CJ Solo]

This is great. Maybe if there's a show of interest by the disabled gamer community to GW, and Paizo, there will be more incentive for them to make it as accessible as possible.

Chiassa - If that condition will persist after a tissue transplant, you might want to have a talk with your eye doctor, or a cornea specialist, about the artificial corneas they have now. I was slated to get one of these because I've had too many tissue transplants and my immune system is well aware that I don't have my own corneas anymore. Unfortunately my retina is in too bad of shape for it.

[Keovar]

CJ Solo wrote:

This is great. Maybe if there's a show of interest by the disabled gamer community to GW, and Paizo, there will be more incentive for them to make it as accessible as possible.

Chiassa - If that condition will persist after a tissue transplant, you might want to have a talk with your eye doctor, or a cornea specialist, about the artificial corneas they have now. I was slated to get one of these because I've had too many tissue transplants and my immune system is well aware that I don't have my own corneas anymore. Unfortunately my retina is in too bad of shape for it.

CJ & Chiassa: did either of you make an account on AbleGamers?

[Anonymous Visitor 163 576]

Hey, This would be good for me as well.

Please keep in mind that gaming is very male, and color-blindness is usually an issue for men. In a seven player table, There's a very good chance someone's got it.