Let me help you make video games accessible.
Good news! My video is in the fault, and no log in is required! (Bad news, no captions. Sorry 😦 I’ve complained, I promise).
View it here >> http://www.gdcvault.com/play/1024058/-Evolve-An-Adventure-in
(It’s not on Youtube, so the video can’t be embedded. If it gets migrated, I will update this post.)
If you’re interested in the slides, I’ve already posted them here.
Hi all!
Many of you have ask for my conference slides for my talk, Evolve: An Adventure in Accessibility Retrofitting, and here they are! The slides were slightly different between the two talks, so this is actually from GDC, which was a slightly longer version.
The slides alone don’t provide much info, so I tried to fill some stuff in the speakers notes to kind of give the slides context. You can view the speakers notes by clicking the little gear icon below.
Hopefully soon I’ll get to make a post about the overall #GAConf/GDC experience, but I’m a bit busy right now (cough*playing Zelda*cough), so we’ll see when I get around to it.
Thanks!
UPDATE: Video of the talk is now up at the GDC Vault. No log in required.
http://www.gdcvault.com/play/1024058/-Evolve-An-Adventure-in
Hello again!
I am pleased to announced that I am also going to speaking at GDC17, in addition to GaConf, on the topic of game accessibility.
My GDC talk is an expanded version of my GaConf talk about the work required to retrofitaccessibility features into Evolve and Evolve Stage 2.
I will upload my slides once the talk it over.
Find it in the official schedule builder here:
http://schedule.gdconf.com/session/evolve-an-adventure-in-accessibility-retro-fitting
Details:
Attendees will leave with a practical example of game accessibility in a launched title, as well as the knowledge of how to evaluate their game for accessibility and how accessibility becomes good design for all players.
Anyone interested in helping gamers with disabilities, looking how to make their game more generally accessible to a wider audience, or are interested in ‘Evolve’. Although no prerequisite knowledge is required, the added context of shipping at least one title will make it more relatable.
So, I sometimes (all the time) forgot that I have a website that I planned on putting information and blog posts and all that cool stuff.
One of the major events that I totally spaced on was the panel I was on at PlayStation Experience (aka PSX).
This event was exciting for a few reasons
So, sorry I forgot to post about it before hand, but I hope you enjoy watching the VOD. ❤
I’m really excited to announce that I am Co-Director of #GAConf, a one day conference dedicated to game accessibility. I’m also a speaker!
Press release below ❤
SAN FRANCISCO, January 17 th, 2017 – A packed schedule has been announced for GAConf, a new one-day conference dedicated to making games more accessible to gamers with disabilities. The event features talks and networking for all disciplines of the games industry, exploring recent and future advances in game accessibility.
GAConf is hosted by the IGDA’s Game Accessibility Special Interest Group, and takes place on February 27, 2017 at the Mission Bay Conference Centre, San Francisco, CA.
Attendees can expect a wide range of topics from all sectors of the industry – indie to AAA, academia to accessibility specialists – and leave with inspiration, new contacts, and practical tips to ensure any game can reach as many people as possible, so no player is unnecessarily excluded from everything that games have to offer.
“We’re at a tipping point right now where developers want to make games more accessible, so we’re holding an event to give them the resources to do so. They’ll have everything they need and access to like-minded individuals and industry experts.”
– Tara Voelker, Gaikai, event co-director
“Video games are becoming more complex all the time. Their stories are richer, their worlds more vivid and full of life. Truly, they are incredible. Nobody should be excluded from experiencing the things only video games can provide, and they want those chances. That is why game accessibility means so much.”
– Brandon Cole, blind gamer & advocate, speaker
Awareness of the importance of game accessibility has increased hugely in recent years, making 2017 a perfect opportunity to take stock and exchange experiences and expertise. Attendees will take home practical knowledge of how to ensure their vision can reach as wide a range of players as possible, allowing more of those players to benefit from the access to culture, recreation and socialising that gaming brings.
Sessions at GAConf include:
Accessibility & VR
– Bob De Schutter, Miami University
‘Evolve’: An Adventure in Accessibility Retro-Fitting
– Tara Voelker, Turtle Rock / Gaikai
Gaming Without Sight: We Wanna Play Too
– Brandon Cole, blind gamer & advocate
Friction That Fits – Unlocking Inclusive Fun
– Bryce Johnson, Xbox
Accessibility as a Micro-indie
– Giselle Rosman, Global Game Jam
– Henry Hoffman, Fiddlesticks
– AJ Ryan, AbleGamers
– Nicole Stark, Disparity Games
– Nathan Fouts, MommysBestGames
Uncharted 4 – A New Adventure in Video Game Accessibility
– Naughty Dog
Full schedule is available at www.GAConf.com/schedule .
Tara Voelker 