GASIG Meeting 10-February-2006

International Game Developers Association

[edit] Game Accessibility SIG Meeting; 10 February 2006

Members Attended:

• Barrie
• Thomas
• Kevin

Meeting Transcript:

Barrie (One Switch) says: Even if I don't get permission for this, I was keen to use some images to back up what Eric will be saying. Do you think there's any problem with using images?

thomaswestin = Skype ID says: OK

Barrie (One Switch) says: (Hi Kevin)

Kevin says:

Hi Barrie

thomaswestin = Skype ID says: images; are they your own screenshots or Nintendos?

Barrie (One Switch) says: Mostly my own.

thomaswestin = Skype ID says: OK then I think it is OK

Barrie (One Switch) says: I was also wondering about the accessible arcade - have either of you any thoughts on it?

Kevin says: Regarding what? Equipment? Possible games?

thomaswestin = Skype ID says: I'm afraid I haven't spent much thought about that so far

Barrie (One Switch) says: Yep. Eric Walker was asking me what kind of performance the machines might have for running Strange Attractors. Do we know at all?

thomaswestin = Skype ID says: No idea actually, we need to get Michelles input on what hardware we will have. I don't know much about many things, I'm getting worried.

Barrie (One Switch) says: Me too.

Kevin says: Just to add to the concerns, I came across this on the GDC speaker site: " Very Important Deadline! All presentation files, including Tutorial Handouts, are due February 20th, 2006! "

Barrie (One Switch) says: Surely not...

Barrie (One Switch) says: Why?

Kevin says: No explaination was given, but I would assume it's to allow them to put the materials on a CD for distribution.

Barrie (One Switch) says: I'm sure Michelle mentioned something about this, and that it didn't apply - I may be mistaken though. We must get this clarified asap.

thomaswestin = Skype ID says: yes

thomaswestin = Skype ID says: FYI: I'll bring my laptop (1.8 GHz P4 with 768 MB RAM and ATI radeon)

Kevin says: If we are going to give out our own CD it may not apply.

thomaswestin = Skype ID says: true

Barrie (One Switch) says: I can't see them turning us away.

thomaswestin = Skype ID says: no, we just need to get it clarified

thomaswestin = Skype ID says: so a todo-list is needed I think

Barrie (One Switch) says: Definitely. Do you two know what you're doing?

thomaswestin = Skype ID says: with a schedule

thomaswestin = Skype ID says: you mean before or at GDC?

Barrie (One Switch) says: At GDC

Kevin says: I'll have my laptop there also - 1 gig memory, ATI GL T2 video card, 2.2 GHz processor

Barrie (One Switch) says: Thanks for the stats you two - I'll let Eric know.

thomaswestin = Skype ID says: OK, yes. I'll have one speach. Before I'll burn CD to handout.

thomaswestin = Skype ID says: CDs

thomaswestin = Skype ID says: those smileys...

Kevin says: I'm supposed to be doing coverage of academic research in game accessibility - there really isn'y much (found 4 applicable papers), but theres a lot of related work that can easily apply.

Barrie (One Switch) says: Will those links on aging populations help, do you think?

Kevin says: One of the skills you develop as a professor is the ability to talk to long periods on absolutely nothing.

Barrie (One Switch) says: (laughs)

Barrie (One Switch) says: I hope Eric can do this for me!

Kevin says: Yes, I'm planning to cover seniors. I won't show the "Grandma Hardcore" video though.

Barrie (One Switch) says: I was thinking about younger gamers too. When I put on an accessible arcade last year, the few young kids really seem to like the games we had on - because they weren't too hard.

thomaswestin = Skype ID says: what video is that

Barrie (One Switch) says: I wonder if the market for young gamers is expanding - I have no idea personally.

Kevin says: We tried doing an accessibility arcade in the "Access and Accessibilty" class. Got a few surprises. A couple of the deaf students are really good at Dance, Dance Revolution.

Barrie (One Switch) says: Interesting - I know music can panic me in certain games - and I'll play in a calmer manner with the sound off.

thomaswestin = Skype ID says: brb

Kevin says: I'll find the URL for you, it was in our SIG mailings. The video is hilarious, a 70+ year grandmother playing FPS games and swearing. About a third of it is bleeped out.

Barrie (One Switch) says: She was a wee bit unusual to say the least.

Barrie (One Switch) says: Jerry Springer material, but funny with it.

Barrie (One Switch) says: Thinking about our arcade, I understand Michelle has two students to help run it (Mo is one)...

Kevin says: Here's the link: http://home.cwru.edu/%7Etss9/videos/mtvghole_grannygamer.mov

Barrie (One Switch) says: If I were to send hardware to you Thomas, would this make it too difficult for the students to get to grips with it in time for the show?

Kevin says: She had mentioned that. I'm not sure what equipment she said she had available.

Barrie (One Switch) says: I was thinking of sending the following:

Barrie (One Switch) says: One handed controller (ASCII Grip - maybe with Destruction Derby on PSOne / PS2).

Barrie (One Switch) says: Head Tracker - maybe with MAME running Missile Command slowed down?

Barrie (One Switch) says: Legal ROM from Star ROMs

Barrie (One Switch) says: And a single large switch with interface for Strange Attractors and any other single switch games.

Barrie (One Switch) says: We'd need headphones for any Audio Games

Barrie (One Switch) says: And nothing special for REIDS's Closed Caption Doom 3 mod - but we would need Doom 3 obviously.

Barrie (One Switch) says: Does this seem okay?

Kevin says: Actually, I have Doom3 on my system with the mod. I used it in my class.

Barrie (One Switch) says: Perfect.

thomaswestin = Skype ID says: OK we should copy all this into the wiki

Kevin says: The rest seems OK. I'm not sure about the logistics of getting it over to San Jose. You may want to ask Michelle about that.

Barrie (One Switch) says: I just think it needs someone who has a bit of time to learn how to use it. I'm happy to post it out anywhere.

thomaswestin = Skype ID says: also, headphones... in a noisy environment some well shielded ones is needed

Kevin says: I've got to go, I have a masters defense that I need to attend.