Game development for the visually impaired

Abstract

Electronic games can be a powerful educational and entertainment platform. However, blind people cannot typically access these advantages because most games are primarily visually oriented and designed for persons with normal vision. This research is focused on understanding how the visually impaired relate to and interact with electronic games as well as their preferences for gameplay. This research also involved some preliminary, basic development towards a game environment and scenario for the visually impaired to participate in electronic/ computer game play. This research is a step towards the goal of the visually impaired having access to this mode of entertaining, mentally stimulating and engaging education that is available widely to persons with normal visual ability. The results of the data collected during this research with 40 participants at the school for the blind, Bangkok, led us to the conclusion that the visually impaired sample could derive enjoyment and benefit from electronic games to a similar degree that normal sighted people do when the games are adapted or created with their special needs in mind or have features that can compensate for visual impairment. We also determined the types of games that the visually impaired sample had the most interest in: action, adventure and racing games.