Useful Gaming Equipment for Low Vision
Video games are now easier for low-vision gamers thanks to hardware, software, and most importantly game design improvements. While still there might be some barriers, tools continue to enable and enhance gaming.
Software Magnification
Magnifiers allow one to magnify screen elements without being severed from the world of the game.
Windows Magnifier provides up to 16x magnification and follows the cursor for convenient panning.
ZoomText zooms text and graphics up to 60x and makes reading easier with cursor sizes and changing colors.
Third-party screen magnifiers add features such as color inversion, high-contrast summaries, and crosshairs to monitor movement on-screen in games.
These utilities are able to balance the game's information and context such that on-screen information is readable and usable.
Contrast & Color Adjustment
For most gamers, visibility quality is associated more with color and contrast than size.
High-contrast modes invert or amplify text and background contrasts for sharper images.
Color filters reduce eye strain and increase comfort, particularly for bright or high-glare screens.
Custom palettes available in gaming software like SuperNova allow users to set unique color configurations that are appropriate for their vision needs.
Most computer games nowadays also feature color blind modes for players who suffer from different types of color-blindness. For example, in video games like Fornite, players can choose a set of color-blindness options to meet their needs.
These features can make menus, HUDs, and game worlds more accessible spaces.
Accessible Game Features
More developers are coming to appreciate the benefits of inclusive design.
Top games such as The Last of Us Part II and God of War Ragnarök have narration, increased text size, and high-contrast user interfaces (UIs).
The Game Accessibility Guidelines provide a collection of best practices for accessible design, such as readable fonts, adjustable speeds, and avoidance of flicker effects.
Game options menus in games usually allow text size, dialogue speed, or brightness of the user interface to be adjusted to low-vision needs.
Rapid scanning of a game's accessibility menu before play is one of the simplest means to enhance usability.
The Introduction of Adaptive Controllers
Hardware is as important as software for accessibility.
The Xbox Adaptive Controller provides large programmable buttons and multiple input ports for customized settings.
Other equipment, such as Sony's Access Controller or the QuadStick, offer other control methods to reduce physical distress.
Emerging technology, such as Google's Project Gameface, uses facial recognition to facilitate touch-free gaming through head and facial gestures.
These controllers create new opportunities for how games can be experienced and played.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can low vision players play action games like shooters or fighting games?
A: Yes! With magnification capabilities, color filters, and in-game options available, low vision players can play even the most action-filled genres. Some individuals like to take it slow, but accessibility options level everyone up and provide everyone with an equal gaming experience regardless of low vision or not.
Q: Are accessibility features only found in newer games?
A: Not necessarily. While most modern games these days do come with good accessibility menus, retro games can occasionally be made more accessible to play through the use of utilities like magnifiers, high-contrast modes, or adaptive controllers.
Q: What controller is optimal for low vision gaming?
A: There isn't one "best" controller. The Xbox Adaptive Controller and Sony Access Controller are popular, but the right device depends on each gamer's experience and physical needs.
Q: Are all platforms equally accessible?
A: Not yet. Consoles and PC platforms vary in accessibility options, although all major companies such as Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo are starting to focus on more inclusivity for gaming. Researching features offered on every console before purchasing is recommended.