Check this out: “The neglected history of videogames for the blind” by Andrew Campana

Adriane Kuzminski
Aug 24, 2017 · 2 min read

Sometimes when I talk to other sound designers about blind-accessible games — specifically audio games — I see a glimpse of excitement in their eyes, possibly fueled by thoughts of becoming the auteur of a revolutionary new type of game. Yet audio games are far from new, and if you haven’t played any, your initial idea won’t likely be anything we haven’t seen before. Just like student film directors who don’t watch movies in fear their ideas have “already been done”, game designers who make audio games but do not play them only end up unable to relate to their audience’s perceptions.

Don’t get me wrong, discouraging others from making games is the last thing I want to do, but I’ve noticed a trend in the games I’ve see left incomplete. A well-rounded outlook will not only help you create a game that people will want to play, it will also give you a clear motivation to keep working through the hard times.

With that said, this article has a great historical summary of popular audio games from the ’90s and ’00s. It doesn’t cover everything about blind accessibility, but it does introduce you to plenty of successes from the past: https://killscreen.com/articles/real-sound-audiogames-blindness-shadow-history-gaming/.

And if you’re seeking further research, check out the recommended games on my site’s Resources page: https://www.smashclay.com/resources

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Adriane Kuzminski
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