gaming and people with disabilities

I just thoght i write about how gaming is going more mainstream and how the market is expanding. With some of the newe technology making physical interaction a requirement, will that leave disabled people out in the cold within the next 10 years or so? I know that expanding the market needs to happen and you can't appeal to everyone sometimes. Obviously if your disability is too severe, there is nothing that can be done such as being blind or completely parylized from the neck down. Do you think that people who aren't "normal' will be left out in the coming generations? It is hard to predict because we don't know what will come out, but it seems that eventually at some point games will just end up being totally physical leaving out the people who are physically fit to play. I have spent a lot of money since the NES days, so if there are people like me who are disabled and if physical interaction becomes the standard, the comapnies will lose a lot of money.

Do you feel that people who are disabled are a minority who really doesn't matter? I am not talking about people are only born with problems, but also people who suffer later in life as well. It would be quite difficult to design games for both able people and people with disabilities because there are some worse than others. I am not saying that gaming companies need to change their whole approach to things, but with along with new technology comes a little bit of a strain.

I know this isn't directly ps3 related and have already posted this on the Wii forum and have gotten trashed by people there stating I was being selfish and that disabled people are a minority. Anyway I just decided to post something different than "what game should I buy", or "when will devs really start to use the the power of the cel", or something like that.

I just thoght i write about how gaming is going more mainstream and how the market is expanding. With some of the newe technology making physical interaction a requirement, will that leave disabled people out in the cold within the next 10 years or so? I know that expanding the market needs to happen and you can't appeal to everyone sometimes. Obviously if your disability is too severe, there is nothing that can be done such as being blind or completely parylized from the neck down. Do you think that people who aren't "normal' will be left out in the coming generations? It is hard to predict because we don't know what will come out, but it seems that eventually at some point games will just end up being totally physical leaving out the people who are physically fit to play. I have spent a lot of money since the NES days, so if there are people like me who are disabled and if physical interaction becomes the standard, the comapnies will lose a lot of money.

Do you feel that people who are disabled are a minority who really doesn't matter? I am not talking about people are only born with problems, but also people who suffer later in life as well. It would be quite difficult to design games for both able people and people with disabilities because there are some worse than others. I am not saying that gaming companies need to change their whole approach to things, but with along with new technology comes a little bit of a strain.

I know this isn't directly ps3 related and have already posted this on the Wii forum and have gotten trashed by people there stating I was being selfish and that disabled people are a minority. Anyway I just decided to post something different than "what game should I buy", or "when will devs really start to use the the power of the cel", or something like that.

gamenerd15

well, first of all, how are u disabled if its ok for me to ask, second i think that would never happen, and IF it happens it will be soo far away from now, when/if it happens companies can always make some kind of new controller for people that are disabled

and have already posted this on the Wii forum and have gotten trashed by people there stating I was being selfish and that disabled people are a minority. gamenerd15

If I went on a forum and was treat like that because of a disability, I'd be disgusted. If something like that happened in a public place, there'd be an outcry. Anyways, getting back to topic, as people have said, I don't think games will ever become fully based on physical interaction, otherwise there'd be no need for video games. Look at it like this, there's only 1 console on the market at the minute that really requires physical interaction, and one expert has already stated that it's a fad and that people will soon get bored and move on to something else.

Videogames aren't restricting to people with disabilities. How else could a teenager who was confined to a wheelchair live a dream of playing for a Premiership football club? Without FIFA or PES, then they wouldn't be able to interact with football at all. The day that video games start to alienate disabled people, is the day that the industry shoots itself in the foot.

I myself am not that bad off, I can use my hands very well. I just have trouble with my legs and balance. Ok yes it won't bother me personally, but I am just wondering what the future would bring and what about those a bit worse off than me? Yes not right now no one is getting left out, but things change and sometimes things fall through the cracks. It is best to bring up things before they start. Cerebral Palsy I have. gamenerd15

ok man sorry to hear it, and the good thing as u said is that you are not that bad and can have "a normal life" but i do get the point of this, were techology forget about those people that are not as fortunte as you and me and others, but i think somehow that would happen soon, and if all goes well it wont happen at all...but if it does happen there is always someone who cares and is interested in helping others :)

[QUOTE="gamenerd15"]

and have already posted this on the Wii forum and have gotten trashed by people there stating I was being selfish and that disabled people are a minority. Foffity

If I went on a forum and was treat like that because of a disability, I'd be disgusted. If something like that happened in a public place, there'd be an outcry. Anyways, getting back to topic, as people have said, I don't think games will ever become fully based on physical interaction, otherwise there'd be no need for video games. Look at it like this, there's only 1 console on the market at the minute that really requires physical interaction, and one expert has already stated that it's a fad and that people will soon get bored and move on to something else.

Videogames aren't restricting to people with disabilities. How else could a teenager who was confined to a wheelchair live a dream of playing for a Premiership football club? Without FIFA or PES, then they wouldn't be able to interact with football at all. The day that video games start to alienate disabled people, is the day that the industry shoots itself in the foot.

The heartless companies don't really care. That's the truth.

It's business, and if it appeals to the GENERAL public, then the company isn't going to spend billions on making it easier for some people.

As much as I wish they could be more accessable for the disabled, unfortunately, I can't see it happening :(

I knew a man who played the MMORPG Star Wars Galaxies with a mouth controlled joystick. He had no arms... lost them in a war.

So there are options out there for the disabled, at least for PC gaming.

With the advent of motion controls, console gaming is pushing certain disabled persons away from gaming, as those who might have been able to hold a regular controller, may not be able to make the intracate motions required for motion controlled gaming.

Also, with twitch based gameplay becoming increasingly more popular - games that require fast reflexes and accurate controls, even more are certain disabled people being excluded from being able to play games. When games were about using your mind, many could find a way around the physical limitations their disability had put upon them. Now, not so much.

i respect everyone for writting about this , because it is a huge issue if you think about it,

i believe that people are in reasearch and development of better gaming allready,maybe in the future ,a mind reader , sounds silly but anything is possilbe.

I myself am not that bad off, I can use my hands very well. I just have trouble with my legs and balance. Ok yes it won't bother me personally, but I am just wondering what the future would bring and what about those a bit worse off than me? Yes not right now no one is getting left out, but things change and sometimes things fall through the cracks. It is best to bring up things before they start. Cerebral Palsy I have. gamenerd15

I have trouble with my right side doing what I want most of the time and it's much weaker than the left side, along with times I lose my memory of anyone in my life. This really screws my balance up in a big way. I found that by using a exercise ball while playing games forces the mind to work harder at keeping everything in balance while using the controller does help a good bit along with the drugs the Dr. has me on now. A physical therapist suggested doing this.

Unfortunately I don't ever see big companies catering to those with handicaps/disabilities. It's unfortunate, but hey there are people out there trying to help. There's this modder (can't remember his name), but he modded a 360 controller for a returning soldier in Iraq who lost some of the fingers on his right hand including his thumb. It was pretty cool of him to do that...

Here's the pic:

It's not really they trashed me for being handicapped, but they were all saying that you can't ask a company to stop evolving gameplay based on a minority that can't play a certain and to just play the games that disabled people can play since not all games are for everyone. I understand like some people don't like art styles or controls in a certain game and so they say that they choose not to play it, but that is different from being unable to play a game. All games should be accessible to everyone for them to make the choice or not.

I basically used examples of how wii fit and ski can't be played by disabled people as examples and said if the balance board is ever used as a standard for certain types of games, then some people are going to be left out.

I understand that wii fit, you can't do anything about, but what about putting out an alternative game at the same time as wii fit for those who can't play?

I also got comments about how I was getting confused with all wii games be accessible to everyone with there is something for everyone. If you play Mario Galaxy or Mario Kart, games that have a core audience and fanbase, one comes a steering wheel for the "casual gamer" and the difficulty for galaxy is quite lower than 64 or sunshine. That would be like me saying why should a core player have to play an easier than regular title when most of the people who play mario are probably experienced players and the casual are the ones invading? Why is it ok for one and not the other?

I know that the 2 games I mention are on wii, but I am using as a point. I hope I don't get moderated. here is the other thread

http://www.gamespot.com/pages/forums/show_msgs.php?topic_id=26455705