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After realizing how tiring accessibility “debate” can be I’ve decided to put together a master thread with concise rebuttals to almost every general argument against accessibility that I can think of. This is that thread. Some answers may be repetitive when viewed as a whole.
You are more than welcome and encouraged to use this thread in your own ongoing debates for accessibility! I only ask that you just link the post without tagging me otherwise so I am not pulled into every debate. I’m happy to provide ammo, but I cannot fight every battle.
“It would ruin the dev’s artistic vision!”
Accessibility features including assists by their design serve to empower players with disabilities to be able to experience the game closer to how abled players do, better representing that vision. Games are also commercial products.
Accessibility features including assists by their design serve to empower players with disabilities to be able to experience the game closer to how abled players do, better representing that vision. Games are also commercial products.
“Games don’t need to appeal to everyone!”
This is confusing interest with access. Accessibility features serve to eliminate barriers of access so players w/ disabilities can play based on existing interest in what the base game already offers, not forcing changes on anyone.
This is confusing interest with access. Accessibility features serve to eliminate barriers of access so players w/ disabilities can play based on existing interest in what the base game already offers, not forcing changes on anyone.
“It would ruin the challenge!”
For you, maybe! However, accessibility/assist features are not there for you and would not be forced upon you. People w/ certain disabilities w/ assists active often still have the same if not a greater challenge than an abled player normally does.
For you, maybe! However, accessibility/assist features are not there for you and would not be forced upon you. People w/ certain disabilities w/ assists active often still have the same if not a greater challenge than an abled player normally does.
“What if someone that doesn’t need assists uses them?”
They may not have wanted the full challenge and were still able to experience the rest of the game. This doesn’t harm your experience on default settings. It’s also less than the total # who would be empowered to play at all
They may not have wanted the full challenge and were still able to experience the rest of the game. This doesn’t harm your experience on default settings. It’s also less than the total # who would be empowered to play at all
“Why should devs cater to such a small demographic?!”
It isn’t small though. Over 15% of the population is disabled and that doesn’t even count conditions like colorblindness and many others. There is also the “curb cut effect” where abled people benefit from accessibility.
It isn’t small though. Over 15% of the population is disabled and that doesn’t even count conditions like colorblindness and many others. There is also the “curb cut effect” where abled people benefit from accessibility.
“They should just use the Adaptive Controller!”
The Adaptive Controller is great! It however is not a catch all solution for every need. There are many cases where removal of hardware barriers just allows them to encounter software barriers. it is also still quite expensive.
The Adaptive Controller is great! It however is not a catch all solution for every need. There are many cases where removal of hardware barriers just allows them to encounter software barriers. it is also still quite expensive.
“This person with a disability plays just fine!”
I’m glad! However, one individual cannot represent the difficulty faced by every person that has a disability, or even the “same” disability. There are many different challenges faced by individuals with disabilities every day.
I’m glad! However, one individual cannot represent the difficulty faced by every person that has a disability, or even the “same” disability. There are many different challenges faced by individuals with disabilities every day.
“Just play with mods!”
It is unjust to expect the community to do what the developer can do with less effort, and to tell people they have to wait for mods at all. This solution also typically limits the user to only play on PC, which in many cases may be prohibitively expensive
It is unjust to expect the community to do what the developer can do with less effort, and to tell people they have to wait for mods at all. This solution also typically limits the user to only play on PC, which in many cases may be prohibitively expensive
“What about the dev’s resources?!”
Several accessibility/assist features actually take very little resources to implement, especially if you plan for them! I have been told this over and over by developers. Several features already exist as hidden debug tools and just need a UI.
Several accessibility/assist features actually take very little resources to implement, especially if you plan for them! I have been told this over and over by developers. Several features already exist as hidden debug tools and just need a UI.
“Push through it and become skilled enough!”
There are many conditions where this is not a possibility, such as a permanently slowed reaction speed from nerve damage. In cases like this assist features can fill in the gap that would often be filled by practice.
There are many conditions where this is not a possibility, such as a permanently slowed reaction speed from nerve damage. In cases like this assist features can fill in the gap that would often be filled by practice.
“I’m offended that you just quote-tweeted at me instead of typing a response!”
Unfortunately I have limited time and energy, and those limits include engaging in discourse on social media. I don’t mean to be dismissive, but I HAVE to conserve energy for my well-being.
Unfortunately I have limited time and energy, and those limits include engaging in discourse on social media. I don’t mean to be dismissive, but I HAVE to conserve energy for my well-being.
If you've read through all of these and would like to learn more about accessibility in gaming browsing on your own there are some excellent resources out there, including https://accessible.games/ from @AbleGamers and http://gameaccessibilityguidelines.com
I forgot one: "What about multiplayer balance?"
Many assists only go so far as to enable folks to play along, not give them an edge over other players. For example: see automatic steering in racing and simplified combos in fighters. Lobbies could also be sorted by active assists
Many assists only go so far as to enable folks to play along, not give them an edge over other players. For example: see automatic steering in racing and simplified combos in fighters. Lobbies could also be sorted by active assists
