Players With Disabilities Score in Video Game World
Carlos Vasquez is a master of video fighting game Mortal Kombat despite being unable to see the action on screen because he is blind.
The Texas resident - who relies on sound to time punches, kicks, and dodges - is among a chorus of voices calling for better access to gaming for people with disabilities.
"You have two characters across the screen fighting each other, left and right, and you just have to memorise the buttons," said Vasquez, explaining what drew him to Mortal Kombat.
Long neglected by the industry, the issue of accessibility is increasingly front of mind for game makers.There are financial as well as ethical reasons for opening doors to even more players in the multi-billion dollar industry.
According to the World Health Organization, more than a billion people live with some form of disability.
Microsoft, the tech powerhouse behind Xbox and its cloud game streaming service, estimates that there are some 400 million players with disabilities.
Vasquez's prowess caught the attention of Mortal Kombat maker NetherRealm Studios owned by Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment.
At his suggestion, the studio added audio cues to help blind gamers identify objects that they can interact with in the game.
Getting better
Game makers are keeping accessibility in mind when designing software, adding settings intended to level the field for players with disabilities.
Games can be tweaked to let artificial intelligence or other human players lend assistance when needed.
Options can be built in to bypass obstacles insurmountable due to a disability.
"The approach we have is to try to make accessibility part of the DNA of everyone in the company," said David Tisserand, head of the initiative at French video game giant
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