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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 |
Much that one would want to know about the design and development of accessible games in general. Very good game design articles and projects dating from 2007 and earlier. Forum with separate areas for games addressing Visual, Auditory, Motion, and Learning disabilities. However, it's not currently very active and has a major spam problem. Founded in 2006. Updated rarely Google page rank 0/10. Alexa rank: 762,959 508 Compliance: PERFECT Categories: Information. 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 deaf and hard of hearing accessible games. |
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 has in the past included discussions of deaf gaming. Founded in 2007. Updated regularly. Google page rank 3/10. Alexa rank 17,777,619 508 Compliance: IMG elements lack ALT or LONGDESC attributes. INPUT elements lack ALT or LABEL. Categories: Information, Community. 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." In their own words: Forum: “Game developers, designers, players and all with an interest in removing barriers that disable people from being able to play games, are warmly encouraged to join up. Whether you are a total beginner to all this, or have been working in the field for decades, please feel free to browse around and to share thoughts, ideas and experiences.” Why should I go there? To get information about accessibility in games. |
Ouch!www.bbc.co.uk/ouch |
The BBC’s Web site for the disabled including the deaf and hard of hearing. 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 45 508 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. |
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 address games that run on the Macintosh.
We specifically do not address games that run on consoles, smartphones, or in your Web browser.
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 address games that run on the Macintosh.
We specifically do not address games that run on consoles, smartphones, or in your Web browser.
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 deaf and hard of hearing accessibility issues.
This means game reviews that include deaf and hard of hearing 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 deaf 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 checked with several 508 compliance Web checkers and passes with no failures that would deny reasonable accomodation to people who are deaf or hard of hearing. It specifically means that the site does not use captcha without at least some alternative means of foiling spammers.
This means checked with several 508 compliance Web checkers and passes with no failures that would deny reasonable accomodation to people who are deaf or hard of hearing. 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 means when the Web site was founded.
Breadth vs Depth
Preference is given to breadth.
This mean 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.
This mean 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.
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 January, 2012
Data is current as of January, 2012