Aussie Gamer Loses Sight, Now Fights for Accessibility in the Gaming Industry

Introduction to Cassandra Gray's Story

Cassandra Gray, a 35-year-old game developer from Melbourne, has been an avid gamer since her teens. However, in 2021, her life took a drastic turn when she developed peripheral and optic neuropathy, a chronic illness that caused her eyesight to deteriorate. As a result, the games that once brought her joy and social connection became impossible to play. She can't play them anymore because they're no longer accessible to her.

The Impact of Inaccessible Games

Gray's experience isn't unique. About 21% of adult gamers report having a disability, and an estimated 250 million gamers worldwide identify as visually impaired. Many games are still designed with able-bodied players in mind, leaving those with disabilities locked out. Gray had to stop playing some of her favorite narrative-focused games. They contained too much text, most of which was too small or didn't remain on screen long enough for her to read.

She didn't have the ability to read it, so she had to stop playing.

Dr. Steven Conway's Co-Design Workshops

Dr. Steven Conway, course director for games and interactivity at Swinburne University of Technology, agrees that accessibility is a major issue in the gaming industry. He and four fellow Swinburne researchers launched co-design workshops to develop solutions. They're hosting workshops with young gamers and industry professionals. Conway and his team came up with suggestions for making games more accessible. They're working to find ways to make games more inclusive.

"You don't have to do a lot to make a game more accessible for many people," Gray says. "If 21% of gamers have some kind of disability, that's 21% of the gaming population potentially locked out of certain games … Accessibility is important for my own personal reasons, but it's also just common sense." She won't give up on making games more accessible.

Accessibility Toggles and Guidelines

One possible solution is to incorporate accessibility toggles into a game's options menu, allowing players to easily customize their gaming experience. This would be a significant improvement. It would allow players to customize the game to their needs. Another idea is to reduce the number of icons appearing simultaneously on-screen. This would make it easier for players to navigate the game.

Conway's team also suggests introducing an accessibility rating scale, similar to age classifications in film and TV. This could immediately indicate how accessible a game is. It would help players decide which games are best for them.

The Importance of Accessibility

Conway emphasizes that accessibility improvements have been inconsistent across the industry, creating a need for more universal guidelines. He notes that accessibility doesn't undermine the challenge or integrity of the art form. It provides equity to as many people as possible. Gray, who has resorted to screen magnifiers to help her play certain games, says that these changes could be revolutionary for many players. They're essential for making games more inclusive.

She believes that accessibility is crucial for the gaming industry.

The Future of Accessible Gaming

As a game developer, Gray acknowledges the challenges of enforcing accessibility guidelines. However, she believes that having guidelines in place is a good starting point. With them, accessibility will at least be part of the conversation more often. The Australian Game Developer Awards already dedicate a category to accessibility. Initiatives like Can I Play That? have become industry mainstays.

As the gaming industry continues to evolve, it's essential that accessibility remains a top priority. It won't be easy, but it's necessary.

They're working to make a difference in the gaming industry.