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Online Sites
Although we do not feel competent to rank online sites, these sites were most often mentioned to us as we were doing this year's survey.Bowing to popular demand, this is that list.
| Site | Comments |
|---|---|
| Alter Aeon www.alteraeon.com/ |
It's a MUD. But a FREE MUD with a huge following among the blind gaming community. Alter Aeon is a multiplayer text based game with a huge world. The game has a support page for the blind and visually impaired player. This page outlines the available support software for the game. This online MUD is one of the few we know that actively supports blind and VI players. One blind gamer said "This is probably the most comprehensive game I've ever played . . . Beyond the absolutely amazing gameplay, there are lots of people on there who are just a joy to chat with. As well, the website is entirely accessible from all platforms and very nicely organized for screen reader/notetaker navigation." Google page rank: 4/10 Alexa rating 903,804. 508 Compliance: The language of the document is not identified. Categories: Games. In their own words: "Alter Aeon is one of the most blind friendly multiplayer games on the web. Over half of our players are blind or visually impaired, and our dedicated staff is constantly on the lookout for trouble spots." Why should I go there: To play one of the only blind accessible MUDs. |
| QuentinC's Playroom www.qcsalon.net | Offers 17 FREE online blind-accessible online games. The playroom offers seventeen card, dice and board games that can be played online with other players Google page rank: 4/10 Alexa rating 6,251,735. Categories: Games. 508 Compliance: PERFECT. In their own words: "The Playroom is the new online game platform of QuentinC. With this small program, you will be able to connect and play online with other players. Why should I go there: To play card, dice and board games with other players. |
| RS Games www.rsgames.net | Offers one FREE PC game, Shoot da Me, and 7 FREE online games: Monopoly, Yahtzee, Blackjack, Uno, Battleship, Apples to Apples and Shut the Box. They also offer a tool that converts musical note values to milliseconds. Google page rank: 4/10 Alexa rating 10,836,469. Categories: Games. 508 Compliance: 2 errors; The language of the document is not identified, and missing or uninformative page title. In their own words: "RS Games was started in late 2007 by Ryan Smith with the goal of creating freeware games for the blind." Why should I go there: To play games with other players. |
AllInPlaywww.allinplay.com/ |
Independent developer of Commercial blind-accessible online games. We consistently saw positive references to this site. They are an online site that any blind gamer should be aware of. Offers subscription-based blind-accessible games: The Anagram Game, Texas Hold'em, Crazy Eights, Draw Poker, Loco Locution, and Black Jack. Enables you to play against the computer or with others over the Web, participate in tournaments, and chat with others. Offers free trials. Current Web site was founded in 2003. Google page rank 5/10. Alexa rank 873,046. 508 Compliance: 3 errors; The language of the document is not identified, headings contain no content, and image alternative text is not present. Categories: Games. In their own words: "Building something amazing that touched the lives of people all around the world... now *that* was something to wake up to every morning!" Why should I go there? Their online card games are mentioned favorably throughout the blind-gaming community. |
| Core Exiles www.core-exiles.com |
Core Exiles is a FREE to play epic space adventure game. You are the captain of a small spacecraft and have a wide range of opportunities for adventure. This is a game that has a large VI player base. They have a forum that includes player guides and tips for VI players. They have been responsive to requests to include accessibility in the game. Google page rank: 3/10 Alexa rating N/A. Categories: Games, Community. 508 Compliance: 12 errors listed. In their own words: "Whether you're a strategist, an explorer, a privateer or a mix of all three, you'll find yourself at home in Core exiles" Why should I go there: To play in a complex and exciting environment. |
Sites to Watch
These are sites that don't fit in the above rankings, but that we think should be brought to your attention.| Site | Comments |
|---|---|
The Game Accessibility Projectwww.game-accessibility.com |
Contains a significant amount of information of value to people who want to learn about accessibility. Very good game design articles and projects dating from 2007 and earlier. Has separate pages discussing games for the Visually Impaired, Audio Impaired, Motion Impaired, and Cognitively Impaired. These pages include discussion of relevant games and annotated links to sites where you can get those games. Forum with separate areas for games addressing Visual, Auditory, Motion, and Learning disabilities. The forum is now relatively spammer free, but is not very active. Founded in 2006. Updated April 2011. Google page rank: 5/10; Alexa Rank: 761,728 508 Compliance: The language of the document is not identified. Categories: Information, Community, Help. In their own words: "This website aims to inform disabled gamers about the availability of accessible games, and functions at the same time as an academic resource for developers, publishers and researchers in order to stimulate accessibility in games." Why should I go there? For a wealth of information, if somewhat dated, on accessibility and audio games. |
AbleGamerswww.ablegamers.comAbleGamers Foundation www.ablegamers.org |
Though this Web site has little blind-specific content,
it is the best place to get industry information on accessible gaming, particularly for the US. Since our last review, they have added an Accessibility Arcade in the Washington DC Public Library and are planning many more. This includes blind-accessible games. They are working to fund a mobile Accessibility Arcade that will bring accessible games to many locations across the country. Three principals and a strong set of volunteer writers make this Web site the premier source of industry news on accessible gaming. The site continues to offer a constant stream of articles and well executed interviews with the largest companies as well as indies. Game reviews include AbleGamers Accessibility Breakdowns that rate games by:
Every week offers a Game of the Week review. Posts a Game of the Year award. Offers a forum of gamers and developers in the accessible-game community. Numerous special interest and geographically centered groups. They offer the AbleGamers Game Store, an Amazon-based store front where accessible commercial games from mainstream developers can be purchased and downloaded. They offer videos of and by disabled gamers: interviews, demos, commentaries. These tend to emphasize motion-impairment. Their outreach efforts include Accessibility Arcades in US cities, and grants of FREE accessible gaming systems to Disabled Veterans, through their AbleGamers Foundation. Their associated Web site, AbleGamers Foundation, is "...dedicated to bring greater accessibility in the digital entertainment space so that people with disabilities can gain a greater quality of life, and develop a rich social life that gaming can bring." Founded in 2004 and is constantly being updated. Google page rank 5/10. Alexa rank 1,178,781. 508 Compliance: 3 error types; Missing form labels, links contain no text, and empty headings. Categories: Information, Reviews, Community. In their own words: "AbleGamers.com is a site that is dedicated to the disabled gamer...to find news on games that have the disabled gamer in mind, and to meet others, and solve issues..." "AbleGamers does not rate games for the totally blind. We do call out examples of games that do something special for the totally blind community, but it is not a ratings criteria." Why should I go there? For the latest information on overall accessibility in the game industry. Gamers who are blind might find the ongoing discussion about reasonable accomodation interesting. |
Whitestickwww.whitestick.co.uk/ |
A place to find information relevant to blind-accessible computer games. When you hear about a Web site constantly in your Web travels, then it probably should be brought to the attention of the few gamers who are blind who haven't heard of it yet. Whitestick's content offering includes a section of Neverending Stories, you can submit for others to read. However, this Web site's strength is in its extremely well organized sets of links to Web sites useful to people who are blind. These include Web sites where you can: Get audio books. Get blind-accessible software. Enjoy online fantasy role-playing books. Play online games. Get blind-accessible off-line games. In addition you will find links to Web sites related to blind sports and those hosting chat lines and blogs related to visual impairment. They also offer a dozen more sets of links that should be useful to gamers and non-gamers alike. 508 Compliance: 2 errors; The language of the document is not identified, and there are missing form labels. Founded in 2001. Updated occasionally. Google page rank 5/10. Alexa rank 2,428,638. Categories: Information. In their own words: "Welcome to my Website, which has been set up to assist the Visually Impaired computer user locate information and services relating to blindness." Why should I go there? Because it's an excellent central place on the Web, from which you can get to wherever you're going. |
IGDA - Game Accessibility SIGgameaccessibility.blogspot.com gameaccesssig.forumotion.com |
An industry advocacy group seeking to motivate developers to make their games more accessible to people with special needs. The blog tends to focus on motion-impairment, but includes discussions of blind gaming. This is an organization intent on improving accessibility of games. The forum is a neat place to meet some of the leaders in game accessibility. Founded in 2007. Updated regularly. Blogspot Google page rank 3/10. Alexa rank 17,821,648 508 Compliance: Two types of errors; Linked images missing alternative text, and empty links. Categories: Community, Information. In their own words: "The Game Accessibility SIG was formed to help the game community strive towards creating mainstream games that are universally accessible to all, regardless of age, experience and disability." Why should I go there? A search might reveal information about blind-accessible games. |
Ouch!www.bbc.co.uk/ouch |
The BBC’s Web site for the disabled including people who are bind. It offers a constant stream of timely and entertaining articles, blogs, and a message board. Not specifically for gamers, though they do have related articles. Founded in 2002. Constant updates. Google page rank 8/10. Alexa rank 46 (probably because it is part of the BBC website). 508 Compliance: PERFECT. Categories: Information, Community. In their own words: "Ouch! is a website from the BBC that reflects the lives and experiences of disabled people... It's aimed at those with a stakehold in disability: family, friends, professionals and, rather importantly, disabled people themselves..." Why should I go there? For a lot of current information on accessibility, sometimes including gaming. |
applevis.comwww.applevis.com |
This site is Apple's accessibility site. It provides accessory reviews, newsletters and articles, advocacy information, guides and tutorials, and podcasts about everything Apple related. There is an active forum with many recent posts. At this time they offer 204 games. The site is updated regularly with most recent newsletter January 2013. Google page rank 5/10. Alexa rank 350,756 508 Compliance: PERFECT Categories: Games, Community, Information. In their own words: " AppleVis is a community-powered website for vision-impaired users of Apple's range of Mac computers, the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch." Why should I go there? If you are a user of any Apple product, desktop or mobile, this is your best information about what is available for you. |
Gone Sites
These are sites that went away in 2012.The links may or may not be good.
If you're desperate or merely curious, you could check the Wayback Machine at www.archive.org
| Site | Comments |
|---|---|
| Gaming Galaxy http://gaminggalaxy.tk |
I was unable to find the site. No reference to the url in Google. It has apparently disappeared. |
Survey Methodology
Data comes from 7-128 Software market research of over 100 Web sites relevant to the accessible gaming community,
including: developers, gaming media, and organizations.
Because we rank only what we ourselves understand well:
We specifically address single-user, desktop games that run on Windows.
We specifically do not include games that run on the Macintosh in the Top 25, although there are some sites listed in the Sites to Watch section for Mac users.
We specifically do not address games that run on consoles, smartphones, or in your Web browser in the Top 25 section although there are some sites listed in the Online Sites and Sites to Watch sections that include those types of games.
Ranking is based on, in general order of priority:
Because we rank only what we ourselves understand well:
We specifically address single-user, desktop games that run on Windows.
We specifically do not include games that run on the Macintosh in the Top 25, although there are some sites listed in the Sites to Watch section for Mac users.
We specifically do not address games that run on consoles, smartphones, or in your Web browser in the Top 25 section although there are some sites listed in the Online Sites and Sites to Watch sections that include those types of games.
Ranking is based on, in general order of priority:
Games
Games you can get: FREE or Commercial, via download or on CD.
This means games developed at the surveyed Web site. This also includes Web sites where you can directly download FREE games developed at another Web site. This also includes annotated links to Web sites where you can download FREE games developed at another Web site. We rank FREE games higher than Commercial games. We specifically do not include resellers unless they also offer games they themselves have developed. We may include games that are under development when the available version is playable and interest by the gaming community is evident.
This means games developed at the surveyed Web site. This also includes Web sites where you can directly download FREE games developed at another Web site. This also includes annotated links to Web sites where you can download FREE games developed at another Web site. We rank FREE games higher than Commercial games. We specifically do not include resellers unless they also offer games they themselves have developed. We may include games that are under development when the available version is playable and interest by the gaming community is evident.
Help
Help from other gamers or technically knowledgable people.
This means not only forums or other interactive means of sharing, but also a group of people who will give technical advice.
This means not only forums or other interactive means of sharing, but also a group of people who will give technical advice.
Information
Gaming news, technical specifications, tips.
This means information about games, including industry and academic gaming news and announcements, game descriptions, tips, cheats, walkthroughs. It includes links that are annotated with something that adds value to the link, for example personal suggestions.
This means information about games, including industry and academic gaming news and announcements, game descriptions, tips, cheats, walkthroughs. It includes links that are annotated with something that adds value to the link, for example personal suggestions.
Reviews
Reviews of games.
This means game reviews that include blind, color-blind, and visually impaired accessibility issues.
This means game reviews that include blind, color-blind, and visually impaired accessibility issues.
Community
Interaction with other gamers and game developers.
This means forums, blogs, chat lines, and other interactive means of sharing.
This means forums, blogs, chat lines, and other interactive means of sharing.
Currentness
How frequently is the site updated.
This means how often does it get new games, game updates, new information, or posts by gamers or developers.
Sites that have not been updated for a long time (years) are ranked down.
This means how often does it get new games, game updates, new information, or posts by gamers or developers.
Sites that have not been updated for a long time (years) are ranked down.
Reach
How well known is the site in the blind gaming community?
This means how often is the Web site mentioned in forum posts, in media articles, how does it Google. How many comments, and commenters, are there for the Web site’s forum or blog posts. What are its Google and Alexa ratings? What observed influence has it had on our industry.
Note: Google ratings indicate how early a Web site's home page appears in Google search results. Higher values are better.
Alexa rankings indicate how often a Web site's home page is hit by users. Lower values are better.
Sites that have very little traffic or are not mentioned by the gaming community in forums and such, are ranked down.
This means how often is the Web site mentioned in forum posts, in media articles, how does it Google. How many comments, and commenters, are there for the Web site’s forum or blog posts. What are its Google and Alexa ratings? What observed influence has it had on our industry.
Note: Google ratings indicate how early a Web site's home page appears in Google search results. Higher values are better.
Alexa rankings indicate how often a Web site's home page is hit by users. Lower values are better.
Sites that have very little traffic or are not mentioned by the gaming community in forums and such, are ranked down.
Accessibility
Web site's 508 compliance.
This means we checked the site's Home Page with several 508 compliance Web checkers and passes with no failures that would deny reasonable accomodation to people who are blind, color blind, or visually impaired. It specifically means that the site does not use captcha without at least some alternative means of foiling spammers.
This means we checked the site's Home Page with several 508 compliance Web checkers and passes with no failures that would deny reasonable accomodation to people who are blind, color blind, or visually impaired. It specifically means that the site does not use captcha without at least some alternative means of foiling spammers.
Does it Work?
Do all of its parts work?
This means does it have broken links?
Does it have broken Javascript? Is its storefront inoperative or do its free downloads not download?
Is the site itself down for a significant part of our year-end survey period?
Is the gaming community complaining about lousy service?
This means does it have broken links?
Does it have broken Javascript? Is its storefront inoperative or do its free downloads not download?
Is the site itself down for a significant part of our year-end survey period?
Is the gaming community complaining about lousy service?
Longevity
How long has the site been around.
This means when the Web site was founded.
This generally is not a factor in our rankings, but could be of interest to the gaming community.
This means when the Web site was founded.
This generally is not a factor in our rankings, but could be of interest to the gaming community.
Breadth vs Depth
Preference is given to breadth.
This means that, all else being equal, Web sites that offer help or information as well as games tend to be ranked higher than Web sites offering just games or just information.
When a site offers information about game platforms we don't include in our rankings, in addition to those we do, we note this additional information.
This means that, all else being equal, Web sites that offer help or information as well as games tend to be ranked higher than Web sites offering just games or just information.
When a site offers information about game platforms we don't include in our rankings, in addition to those we do, we note this additional information.
Mainstream vs. Independent vs. Educational Game Developers
For the purpose of this survey, Mainstream developers tend to be larger companies,
producing Commercial games with more features.
Independent developers tend to be smaller companies or individuals, producing simpler Commercial or FREE games.
Educational developers tend to be Independent developers who produce games that emphasize learning rather than entertainment.
This rough labeling is our way to indicate what kind of games you'll likely find at a developer Web site. It has no bearing on rankings.
Independent developers tend to be smaller companies or individuals, producing simpler Commercial or FREE games.
Educational developers tend to be Independent developers who produce games that emphasize learning rather than entertainment.
This rough labeling is our way to indicate what kind of games you'll likely find at a developer Web site. It has no bearing on rankings.
Exceptions
Exceptions to the above are put in our unranked Web Sites to Watch section.
Data is current as of March, 2013
Data is current as of March, 2013