Category: News and Views
Its not the article that makes me angry, but rahter, the comments that it recieves.
I need to go grocery shopping
I am a gamer, and truly wonder why people would think some of the things that they said in the comments. So basicaly, I can't play console games because I'm blind? While I'll admit, games such as XIII are a bit tough because they are a first person shooter, and you really have to rely on your hearing to know what your doing, your saying that we can't play them? Don't just read this article, but also read the comments that it recieves. I do agree with the people who say that it has no case. He's going up against one of the biggest companies in the gaming induistry. What are your thoughts on this+
Mike.
Mixed reactions here...I think to many simply sue anymore, but who knows...It might make a difference in the gaming world, but we won't know until it's done, and most of the comments are sickening and/or completely uninformed. There are a few decent ones though, and I thought about adding my own comment, however, when I tried to login via facebook it wouldn't work...
I think the lawsuit was doomed before it even began. Sony's got hundreds if not thousands of high-end lawyers who'll be able to make a case far better than this guy. And let's face it, in some quarters we already have a reputation for being spoiled, demanding brats for exactly this sort of behavior with regard to other issues. This is only going to exasurbate that. Although I will agree completely that the comments posted in response were by and large sickening and completely false. I'd love to hear these people's reactions after I'd woopped their asses in a few games of MortalKombat. Granted I'm quite rusty as far as those games go so I might not have my old chops but still. Or maybe challenge them to a few games of Wii Sports Bowling. But I don't believe this lawsuit is going to affect us save negatively, and nor is it likely to make a difference in the gaming world. Let's face it, as much as we might want it accessibility in the mainstream gaming market is probably never going to happen for us even though the technology is and has probably been in place for years. If gaming companies will ignore even polite requests and suggestions about improving product accessibility (Sony in particular is very well-known for this and not just when it comes to blind folks), they'll pay no heed to the lawsuit. It is depressing though, especially when one considers the nearly overwhelmingly positive response to the last Gamespot article pertaining to blind gamers.
I didn't know that Blizard has accessibility options...It was mentioned in the article. Blizard games are something my husband and I enjoy playing together, but, as far as winning/losing...Well, never say never. The underdog has come out on top before.
I too woulod love to see accessability of some sort in games. Honestly it could easily be done. I've been a gamer all my life, but I find that as games get more safisticated, their playablity lowers or us. There is a game coming out called Heavy Rain. it looks absolutely amazing, basically an interactive movie, the script of which is that of about three movies. It's an adventure game where the choices you make drastically affect the gameplay and direction of the story. Problem is, most of the game has small, moving and brief on-screen button prompts, and for someone like me that is nearly impossible. All they would have to do is make different sounds for each button, and make the option able to be turned off or on so that sighted people who don't need it won't have to worry about it. Sure that won't solve problems for fully blind gamers, but I don't really know what will. It would however provide a great deal of playablity for low-vision players, and I'm sure that even some sighted people would find it useful.
The fact that companies don't even consider these sorts of things is a testament to how small the gaming population is in the VI community. Only if the demand ises above the cost will it ever happen, I fear.
Guardian
This just shows how screwed up everyones priorities are. Why not try to make a difference in things such as better public transpertation, improved web access, or improved vocational training? You know focus on things that will help make a dent in the unemployment of blind people?
Agreed. Then again, if internet wbsites are required by law to be accessable, why not games too, at least to some degree? Definately can't make some games completely accessable by any means, but as I say, at least to some degree.
Or find a balance of some kind between all these. Sure game accessibility could probably be implemented fairly easily for us, but the only way that has any real chance of showing the mainstream industry that it could be worthwhile was if every current and would be potential blind gamer banded together to present evidence that the endeavour would be worthwhile. Let's face it folks, it's all about money. If we can't show them that there could be just as much profit for them in this as there is with sighted gamers we don't have a chance.
That's it exactly. Unfortnately, much like every other cause in the world, it's nearly impossible to band people together because most would prefer to complain and sue rather than take initiative and fight for it.
Just wait till Blen Beck, Fox News, Christianity Today, or any other popularist pulp right organizationt get a hold of this! This guy just gave a pound of cocaine !the a.icts! They just LOVE opportunities to show that minorities are asking too much, getting too many special rights, etc. We'd be safer soaking ourselves in gravy, then jumping into a pit of fighting dogs! This is the stuff that gets the popular right all excited !a fever pitch, and to no avail really. I like audio games but admittedly am not very good. I've never tried a WII or anything, but people do all sorts of things so I imagine there's blind people who have played all sorts of console games. But suing? Not only do I question the ethics of such a suit, but first and foremost, this kid is playing with fire because the modern right are currently a bunch of addicts whose fix in just this sort of suit. People that sue over ridiculous things, andthe right, both together have a rather sick codependent relationship. I guess you could say they need each other. Too bad they can't just be fenced off from the rest of civilized society.
There's people on these boards who, from their posts, appear to be making quite substantial contributions !the lives of other blind people. I'd hate to see all they have get wrecked on account ofa whiplashed response to such a suit. After all, backlash and reactionism to such frivolity is all some movements have, and it is, for them at least, childishly exciting. By reacting to this guy, they'll feel like they're doing something, while in fact they do little more than stir up trouble. I'd much rather not have a game console accessible than have these animals stomping down the progress we've already made. But I'm not sure the choice is only the two. After all, audio interfaces are improving all the time, and as I said, real gamers -- such as some of you on these boards -- are already successfully playing games I wouldn't have thought could be done blind. The answer isn't in the courts (and in so doing letting out the Beck and other animals), but in game physics. Some of you gamers, who are also programmers, know what I meanot.
Heavy rain sounds interesting, what console system is it coming out for? It almost sounds like the new silent hill game that is coming out for the wii I believe it is.
Check out LightTech Interactive as their purpose is to include better, richer 3D sound into mainstream games. I think many are on the right track here.
There hasn't been any news from them in ages or so I've heard. I know they were working on what I think was going to be a free Star Wars game initially called Light Battles, but they may have abandoned that, just like USA Games has done with Star Wars: Jedi Strike. We're a small enough group that it wouldn't do to play too much with an area as touchy as copyright infringement. Quite frankly I'm surprised Phil Vlasak never got called on Pacman Talks, let alone Sarah and the Castle of Witchcraft and Wizardry.