Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Audio Games on the Iphone

The world has been expanding for media in today's society. As I have mentioned previously, audio games, are sound versions of computer games for the visually impaired. Now, you can play games on mobile devices such as the Iphone. Such games further take advantage of screen reading software, and more people are playing them today.
However, it has been brought to my attention that blind people have had extremely difficult times with the apps store, specificly that of Apple's apps store. Concerns have been raised that Blind and sighted inviduals have been prevented from uploading games due to lack of a graphics display. This has only hastened the need for better awareness of accessibility and special needs.

Many of Apple's products, such as the new tablet, have been marketed as visually appealing. I can understand how visual appearance is important for a first impression, but I fail to see how graphics and visuals represent an exaustive and complete list of people's needs in entertainment. Factors such as a good storyline and great music and sound can also make a great game. It is actually sad in a way to know that initial looks are still given greater importance to substance, and this is the result. We should all do more to encourage objective ways of thinking.

As I mentioned before, I believe that sighted people would happily enjoy the concept of audio games, just simply for something different. I also feel once again, that sighted people are open minded enough to consider other forms of gaming to be exciting. I am glad at least Apple seems to be changing their minds, and plans maybe in the works to change policy. I hope we can see an active gaming community that enjoys any form of games to enjoy and share with their family and friends. I am excited to see how mobile devices impact audio games in the future.

1 comment:

  1. Hi, Joe!

    My name is Guy Hasson. I am the CEO of New Worlds Comics, and I just launched a digital comic book store for the visually impaired and the blind.

    The store is called Comics Empower, and can be found here: http://comicsempower.com/

    There are no doubt kids, teens, and adults who would love to have the comic book experience and can’t. Comics Empower is for them.

    Comic books for the visually impaired – what does that mean? Here we go:

    ‣ The comic books are in audio form. Each panel and page are described in a way that doesn’t break the rhythm of the story.
    ‣ The comics are read by some of the world’s top voice talent.
    ‣ Each 22-24 page issue is translated into a 25-35 minutes of audio.
    ‣ A new series appears every month, with more and more titles from more and more comic book companies.
    ‣ Letter pages are included. Listeners can hear fans’ letters and words from the publisher.
    Last but not least, we’re featuring an exclusive comic book series for this website, with a blind hero. The series, Aurora, is always available first in the Comics Empower store and only months later in regular venues. It is for the ages 9 and up. The hero, Daniel Price, will never regain his sight, will never develop a superhuman sixth sense, and his remaining four senses will not improve unrealistically. To save the world, he has to be human, and find the hero within him, just like the readers.

    A personal story about why Aurora was created: During my tenure with New Worlds Comics, I initiated the Comics Empower project, where real people told stories about how comic books empowered them. It was clear that girls were empowered by female heroines, black kids by black heroes, gays and lesbians by gay and lesbian heroes, and so on. Comic books are the one storytelling medium that is consistently empowering, especially if you see yourself in the hero. What better reason to create a blind superhero in the comic book store for the visually impaired?

    Lastly, here is a short YouTube video that gives a small demo of the comic book store: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wrkjzi7rfl4

    I hope this interests you.

    All the best,

    Guy

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