DHSS 101

You stand in PlayStart, staring at the wall of gaming titles. You're looking for... [[An exciting FPS.->FPS]] [[A relaxing puzzle game.->Puzzle]]

You hold the latest iteration of the ultra-popular, ultra-high tech Summon of Responsibility series in your hands. Online, reviewers are raving. It's more realistic, more immersive, more in-your-face than ever. (if:visits is 1)[Before you buy it, you're going to need to check if you can enjoy it. You check the back of the box for... [[Gameplay.->FPS Gameplay]] [[Accessibility options.->Accessibility options]]] (if:visits > 1)[[[I'd better ask the cashier if they know anything else.->Cashier]] [[I'd better do some research.->Research]] [[I'm ready to buy it.->Home]]]

You hold the latest indie darling, Moondew Vale, in your hands. Online, reviewers are raving. It's the perfect game to play to escape your boring life and relax. (if:visits is 1)[Before you buy it, you're going to need to check if you can enjoy it. You check the back of the box for... [[Gameplay.->Puzzle Gameplay]] [[Accessibility options.->Accessibility options]]] (if:visits > 1)[[[I'd better ask the cashier if they know anything else.->Cashier]] [[I'd better do some research.->Research]] [[I'm ready to buy it.->Home]]]

What are you looking for? [[Colorblindness options.->Colorblind]] [[Is it safe for photosensitive people?->Photosensitive]] [[Can I play it with shaky hands?->Tremors]] [[Will it make me sick?->Motion]]

"SUMMON OF RESPONSIBILITY: CONTEMPORARY COMBAT 4: GOTY EDITION" "Experience ultimate warfare in Mobilesight's latest first-person shooter experience. All-new gun handling, ultra-advanced AI, and 400 hours`*` of bleeding-edge gameplay immerse you in a world of battle like never before. Team up to defeat America's enemies and emerge victorious in the combat experience of the year that has Gamespace calling it "REVOLUTIONARY" and "A MUST-PLAY"." "SUMMON OF RESPONSIBILITY: CONTEMPORARY COMBAT 4: GOTY EDITION's single-player campaign offers over 400 hours`*` of high-impact gameplay. All-new PRECISION RIFLES offer a brand-new way to experience combat in co-op and single player. Discover a world of blah blah blah blah blah" Your eyes are starting to glaze over.

"Welcome to Moondew Vale!" "Make friends, plant crops, and solve puzzles as you settle into your role as Mayor of Moondew Vale. From the developers of BELOWSTORY and QUARRYCREATE comes a brand-new tale about fitting in, speaking out, and making your small town the very best it can be. Your life is your choice with hundreds of social options to explore, townspeople to interact with, and crops to plant. Discover the evil lurking within the Moondew Caves and fight innovative puzzle-based battles to unlock new areas to explore." "Meet the Moondew Vale Regulars: JUDY: - Your childhood blah blah blah - Blah blah blah - Blah blah blah blah BLAH:" Your eyes are starting to glaze over.

(if:(history: where its name contains "FPS")'s length is 1)[There's a little splash logo that reads "Colorblindness options!" [[Flip the box back over.->FPS]]](if:(history: where its name contains "Puzzle")'s length is 1)[A screenshot of the puzzle section on the box shows several colors of block that you can't distinguish. You're not sure if it's because of how the box is printed, if they're supposed to look like that, or if there are red and green blocks in the same puzzle. You also don't know if the colors are important. [[Flip the box back over.->Puzzle]]]

(if:(history: where its name contains "FPS")'s length is 1)[There's a lot of explosions on the box. A screenshot of gameplay on the back seems to show muzzle flashes, but it's hard to tell. [[Flip the box back over.->FPS]]](if:(history: where its name contains "Puzzle")'s length is 1)[It doesn't say anything about seizure warnings, or anything else along those lines. You can't tell enough about the gameplay to know if it'll matter. [[Flip the box back over.->Puzzle]]]

(if:(history: where its name contains "FPS")'s length is 1)[You can remap the controls. It proudly boasts "no easy mode". It doesn't mention any specifics other than that. [[Flip the box back over.->FPS]]](if:(history: where its name contains "Puzzle")'s length is 1)[It doesn't say anything about remapping controls, or anything else along those lines. You can't tell enough about the gameplay to know if it'll matter. [[Flip the box back over.->Puzzle]]]

(if:(history: where its name contains "FPS")'s length is 1)[All that ad copy about "high speed gameplay" doesn't look promising. It does mention aim assist, though. [[Flip the box back over.->FPS]]](if:(history: where its name contains "Puzzle")'s length is 1)[It doesn't say anything about motion options, or anything else along those lines. You can't tell enough about the gameplay to know if it'll matter. [[Flip the box back over.->Puzzle]]]

You pay for (if:(history: where its name contains "FPS")'s length >= 1)[Contemporary Combat 4](if:(history: where its name contains "Puzzle")'s length >= 1)[Moondew Vale] and leave the store. (if:(history: where its name contains "FPS")'s length >= 1)[[[Turn on the game.->FPS End]]](if:(history: where its name contains "Puzzle")'s length >= 1)[[[Turn on the game.->Puzzle End]]]

Behind the counter is a bored-looking teenage-to-young-adult man, chewing gum and flipping through a magazine. As you approach him, you say... (if:visits is 1)+(if:(history: where its name contains "Research")'s length is 0)[(if:(history: where its name contains "Colorblind")'s length is 1)[[["Does this game have colorblindness options?"->Cashier Colorblind]]](if:(history: where its name contains "Photosensitive")'s length is 1)[[["Can I play this if I have photosensitivity?"->Cashier Photosensitive]]](if:(history: where its name contains "Tremors")'s length is 1)[[["Does this game have an easy mode or something?"->Cashier Tremors]]](if:(history: where its name contains "Motion")'s length is 1)[[["Is this game bad for motion sickness?"->Cashier Motion]]]](if:(history: where its name contains "Research")'s length >= 1)[[["I'm ready to buy this."->Home]] [[Uh... never mind, actually.->Leave]]]

(set: _cmd to "NULL")You type into GooseGooseRun: (if:(history: where its name contains "FPS")'s length is 2)[(force-input: bind _cmd, "accessibility options contemporary combat 4")](if:(history: where its name contains "Puzzle")'s length is 2)[(force-input: bind _cmd, "accessibility options moondew vale")] (event: when _cmd is "accessibility options contemporary combat 4")+(if:(history: where its name contains "FPS")'s length is 2)[(link: "Search")[(link:"Mobilesight's SUMMON OF RESPONSIBILITY: CONTEMPORARY COMBAT 4 - Available now on...")[Nope.] (link:"World's dumbest gaming journalist demands \"inclusive\"...")[Ew.] (link:"Contemporary Combat 4 review - The Disabled Gamer...")[[[Perfect.->FPS Research]]]]](event: when _cmd is "accessibility options moondew vale")+(if:(history: where its name contains "Puzzle")'s length is 2)[(link: "Search")[(link:"MOONDEW VALE On Sale Now for only...")[Nope.] (link:"Video games go woke in disappointing new...")[Ew.] (link:"Moondew Vale review - The Disabled Gamer...")[[[Perfect.->Puzzle Research]]]]]

(if:(history: where its name contains "FPS")'s length is 2)["Uhhh, I think so," he says, squinting at the box in your hands. "Dude, is that the new Summon of Responsibility? You should totally get it, it's awesome."](if:(history: where its name contains "Puzzle")'s length is 2)[He types something on the store computer, adjusting his glasses. "Uhhh, I dunno, I think so. That one's really popular right now, it's getting really good reviews. You should be fine."] [[I'd better do some more research.->Research]] [[I'm ready to buy it.->Home]]

"Photosensitivity?" he asks, clueless. "Like... if you get seizures," you clarify. "A small percentage of people may experience seizures when exposed to flashing lights and patterns in a video game, stop playing and consult a doctor if you experience any symptoms, play in a well-lit room a good distance from the TV and take breaks," he rattles off, obviously having memorized the spiel for his job. "Yeah, but I'm asking about (if:(history: where its name contains "FPS")'s length is 2)[Contemporary Combat 4](if:(history: where its name contains "Puzzle")'s length is 2)[Moondew Vale] specifically." (if:(history: where its name contains "FPS")'s length is 2)[His face scrunches up a little. "Uhhh, there's a lot of explosions and stuff, but there might be a setting to turn them off? It's a really good game, you should give it a try."](if:(history: where its name contains "Puzzle")'s length is 2)["Oh, I don't think it has any flashing lights or anything, it's a really easygoing game, you know? My sister loves it and her eyes hurt when she looks at screens for too long."] [[I'd better do some more research.->Research]] [[I'm ready to buy it.->Home]]

He bursts out laughing. "Dude, get good." "No, I have, like, a medical condition," you mutter, irritated. "Oh." He looks at you like you grew a second head. "Like... with your brain or something?" "No, my hands shake when I do stuff. It's called essential tremors." "Oh," he says again, looking a little cowed. "Uh, sorry." "It's fine. Does it have an easy mode or not?" (if:(history: where its name contains "FPS")'s length is 2)["No, but you can, like, remap the controls, if that makes it easier?"](if:(history: where its name contains "Puzzle")'s length is 2)["It's... like... for casuals. It basically //is// an easy mode, you should be fine."] [[I'd better do some more research.->Research]] [[I'm ready to buy it.->Home]]

"Oh, I get motion sick too sometimes," he says, perking up a bit. "But (if:(history: where its name contains "FPS")'s length is 2)[Contemporary Combat has like camera sensitivity options and stuff so I could play it with no issues."](if:(history: where its name contains "Puzzle")'s length is 2)[Moondew Vale doesn't have anything like that in it, it's top-down so you should be fine."] [[I'd better do some more research.->Research]] [[I'm ready to buy it.->Home]]

It's a pretty comprehensive review, but from the way it's written, you're pretty sure the reviewer was paid or at least given a free copy to review it. (if:(history: where its name contains "Colorblind")'s length >= 1)[The article couches it in gentle terms, but CC4's colorblindness mode is a //joke//. The built-in filters completely ruin the game experience, making gamertags and button prompts blend into the background. The reviewer politely requests modders to fix the issue once the game is out on PC, but for now... There's even a screenshot. It looks muddy and horrible.](if:(history: where its name contains "Photosensitive")'s length >= 1)["I cannot emphasize enough: if you have a family history of photosensitivity, DO NOT PLAY THIS GAME," the article reads. There's a video of the muzzle flashes with "SEIZURE WARNING" above and below it. Thankfully, it doesn't autoplay. ...At least they're honest.](if:(history: where its name contains "Tremors")'s length >= 1)["CC4's control remapping options are a step in the right direction," the article reads. "The options aren't comprehensive, but it's clear Mobilesight is making an effort to be inclusive after the disastrous launch of CC3. If you have trouble playing with the typical control scheme, this might be your best bet." Worth a shot...?](if:(history: where its name contains "Motion")'s length >= 1)["Aim assist and camera snap options make CC4 a little easier on the eyes than its predecessors, but if first-person shooters make you sick, it might not be the best option for you," the article reads. "Give it a try, because if you can stomach it (along with the gory new melee kills), CC4 is an unforgettable experience." Worth a shot...?] [[Okay, I'm ready to make a decision.->Cashier]]

It's a pretty comprehensive review, but from the way it's written, you're pretty sure the reviewer was paid or at least given a free copy to review it. (if:(history: where its name contains "Colorblind")'s length >= 1)["Block puzzles thankfully feature symbols on each block so you don't need to distinguish them by color," the article reads, "but color-coded enemies in the Caves might pose a challenge at first until you play enough to be able to distinguish them by appearance. Other than that little nitpick, Moondew Vale is definitely worth picking up." There's a screenshot, and sure enough, it's hard to tell the two little pixelated enemies apart. Apparently, it's not that much of an obstacle to enjoyment, if the article's raving about the game like this.](if:(history: where its name contains "Photosensitive")'s length >= 1)["Those with photosensitivity issues will be happy to know that Moondew Vale is seizure-safe," the article happily proclaims. "Granted, I'm not sure if it's a deliberate effort on the part of the developers or if it's just how the game design shakes out, but I'm happy to find a game I can play safely!"](if:(history: where its name contains "Tremors")'s length >= 1)["Sadly, a portion of the game I struggled on was the integral Cave puzzle-fights, which feature a quick-time event involving rapidly pressing a button," the article reads. "I was able to finish them after a few tries, but it was really hard on my carpal tunnel. Thankfully, fights aren't too integral to the Moondew Vale experience, and farming and socializing are unaffected by your fighting prowess." It goes on to mention that the options for remapping controls are limited, but ultimately not //super// necessary...?](if:(history: where its name contains "Motion")'s length >= 1)["Thankfully, the top-down design of Moondew Vale means those who suffer from motion sickness will find no problems enjoying it," the article reads. "The only thing that might make you sick is Alan's cooking!"] [[Okay, I'm ready to make a decision.->Cashier]]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:black)+(bg:white))Maybe you would have had fun with (if:(history: where its name contains "FPS")'s length >= 1)[Contemporary Combat 4](if:(history: where its name contains "Puzzle")'s length >= 1)[Moondew Vale]. Who's to say? Not you and your limited time, money, and health. ...There's always Minesweeper. [[Thank you for playing.->Further Reading]]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:black)+(bg:white))''Disability and Accessibility'' Disability is an ever-changing idea consisting of a constellation of differing lived experiences. The media has, as authors Mark Brown and Sky LaRalle Anderson state in their article “Designing for Disability: Evaluating the State of Accessibility Design in Video Games,” positioned “bodies with disabilities in opposition to ability and normalcy,” leading to a sense of otherness from what could be considered “normal”. New schools of thought surrounding disability studies favor an inclusive definition, taking into account not only apparent and debilitating physical disability, but those which may be considered “normal” or those which are not outwardly apparent (“Re-Membering the Past: Reflections on Disability Histories” 3). To explain, needing glasses to see is a form of disability—these individuals have impaired vision and use a tool to make good sight available to them. Yet, society has coded this as “normal” and therefore these individuals are not considered “disabled”. Disability can come in many forms and experiences, and when creating entertainment centered around experience—such as video games—accessibility within that sphere is important. Just as many VR headsets have adjustable lenses for those with vision impairments, video games should be expected to implement accessibility features to allow a wider audience to enjoy their material. ''Accessibility in Games'' What makes a game accessible? While a simple question, the answer is hardly such. Games can be considered a natural extension of accessible inventions, as they are a medium of entertainment. A game becomes inaccessible when, instead of entertaining, it becomes frustrating or even dangerous as disabled gamers are unable to effectively or safely interact with the game. Of the multitude of disabilities, three in particular are a focus for accessible game design; Visual, Auditorial, and Mobility disabilities. While not all encompassing, if the game industry worked to address these three particular disability types, games would be, as a whole, much more accessible. Which games have done well in this department? Which games have done poorly? For gamers who are hard of hearing, Valve set the gold standard for how games can work without sound. Part of the game’s design was captioning scripted events for subtitles/closed captioning (enemy walking, gunshots, environmental cues, ect…) allowing those without hearing to play unimpeded, with just as much knowledge from the game as those who can hear. Visually impaired gamers can look towards the innovations made by Terraformer(2003), in which sonar mechanics are built into the game for blind individuals, as well as audio warning for dangerous objects. While primitive, the game was praised for the innovation in accessibility. The last examples of assistive game design comes from the racing game F355 Ferrari Challenge, in which an automatic braking system can be toggled. This was noted as being very helpful for those suffering from motor disabilities, and might not be able to act quick enough otherwise. Other than these golden examples, sadly the gaming industry as a whole has proven to be unwelcoming to disabled gamers, with accessibility settings often being an afterthought, even in games with multi-million dollar budgets. ''Accessibility aids and the Digital Divide'' Accessibility in the digital space is a seriously undertreated issue. Our ability to mitigate the difficulties that come with disability has progressed with technology, coming in the form of aids like special glasses for color blindness, braille displays, or hearing aids. Unfortunately, the cost of these accessibility aids can cause them to be inaccessible for many people. The average hearing aid is <a href="https://www.forbes.com/health/hearing-aids/actual-cost-of-hearing-aids/">$2,000</a>. Braille displays can start well into the <a href="https://store.humanware.com/hus/brailliant-bi-20x-braille-display.html">thousands of dollars</a>. Insurance <a href="https://www.healthyhearing.com/help/hearing-aids/insurance-financial-assistance">might not even cover hearing aids</a>– something necessary for day to day life. And yet, corrective lenses are typically covered under insurance. The fact that some disabilities are treated more often than others is a critical systemic issue. Video games oftentimes are no better, offering little to no features for those suffering from photosensitivity, color blindness, or other disabilities. Some people have managed to overcome their disabilities with devices they’ve developed themselves, but not everyone has the expertise to be able to accomplish this task. The Twitch personality RockyNoHands was paralyzed from his neck down when he was 19. With the help from a device called a QuadStick, he was still able to play videogames. While significantly more affordable than hearing aids or braille displays, the cost is still a barrier that must be overcome. The cost of disability forms the divide between those who can participate, online or offline, and those who cannot. ''Accessibility Features in Games'' To make games more accessible to other people, some games include separate settings that players can enable based on the type of disability they want to tackle. Features like closed captions for dialogues and visual sound effects for game sounds like gunshots, footsteps and interactive items are used to make games accessible for hard of hearing players. Games that rely on visuals tend to include colorblind filters for protanopia, deuteranopia and tritanopia. Players can also adjust game brightness to make the game more comfortable to play. Giving players the option to change camera settings makes the game more accessible to players who suffer from motion sickness. Allowing people to change keybinds for game controls makes the game accessible to those with mobility disabilities. Additionally, there are custom controllers to support players with disabilities. The controllers feature less buttons and simpler joysticks to make gaming more accessible to those who are unable to use standard controllers. <div id="Pictures" style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; width: 100%"> <img id="pic1" src="https://dagersystem.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/spidermanaccessibility-menu.jpg" alt="Spideman Accessiblity"> <img id="pic2" src="https://www.fortniteintel.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/fortnite-visualize-sound-effects-in-game-1024x576.jpg" alt="Fortnite Sound Tracker"> </div> While the gaming industry is trying their best to become more accessible, the change is only visible in games made by larger gaming developing companies. Companies like Microsoft (Xbox Adaptive Controller), Sony (accessibility features in PS4 software available to developers making games for the PS4) and EA (Accessibility portal housing information about accessible features in their games). Indie game developers rely more on accessible features provided by the game platform, rather than implementing them in themselves due to budget and time constraints. The lack of time to create the final product leads to developers often cutting down on accessibility features leading to the games being playable by only the people who have no disabilities. SOURCES: `Bierre, Kevin, et al. “Game Not Over: Accessibility Issues in Video Games,” pp. 2-8, 2005. www.researchgate.net/publication/267403944_Game_Not_Over_ Accessibility_Issues_in_Video_Games. “Brailliant BI 20X Braille Display,” Humanware, 2022, store.humanware.com/hus/ brailliant-bi-20x-braille-display.html. Brown, M., & Anderson, S. L. “Designing for Disability: Evaluating the State of Accessibility Design in Video Games. Games and Culture,” vol. 16, no. 6, pp. 702–718, 2021. doi.org/10.1177/1555412020971500. Cairns, Paul, et al. “Enabled Players: the value of accessible digital games,” pp 1-2, 2019. www-users.cs.york.ac.uk/~pcairns/pubs/Cairns_GAC19.pdf. Gordon, Sandra. “The Actual Cost of Hearing Aids in 2022,” Forbes Health, 25 Oct. 2022, www.forbes.com/health/hearing-aids/actual-cost-of-hearing-aids. Mroz, Mandy, “Insurance and Financial Assistance for Hearing Aids,” Healthy Hearing, 14 Sep. 2022, www.healthyhearing.com/help/hearing-aids/insurance-financial-assistance.`

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:black)+(bg:white))(if:(history: where its name contains "Research")'s length is 0)[(if:(history: where its name contains "Colorblind")'s length >= 1)[...It's //awful.// The built-in colorblind filter completely ruins the game experience. Everything blends into the background, and you can't tell friend from foe. The environments look muddy and indistinguishable. You play for a few hours, wanting to get your money's worth out of it, but after a while, all you really want is a refund.](if:(history: where its name contains "Photosensitive")'s length >= 1)[...Three minutes into the tutorial, you're forced into a cutscene involving flashbangs. Your head pounds. The screen wobbles dangerously, fades... ... you wake up safely on the floor, the room swimming. You've had worse seizures, but then you've played //much// better games. ...Refund it is.](if:(history: where its name contains "Tremors")'s length >= 1)[You do your best. The tutorial is okay, mostly, but in actual gameplay it's a grueling, trial-and-error experience. You manage to adjust a few settings after three hours of trying and failing a mission with several quick-time events, rebinding a few controls to finally, //finally// make it possible, but... you don't feel much like playing anymore, after all that.](if:(history: where its name contains "Motion")'s length >= 1)[You fumble nauseously through the tutorial, where control is wrested from you several times to escort NPCs around. Once you regain control, you're //mostly// able to play, but you find yourself having to take a short break every twenty minutes to lie down and deep breathe. After a few hours of this, you frustratedly scour the settings for anything that might help, and find an aim assist option that takes your play sessions from 20 to 40 minutes long.]](if:(history: where its name contains "Research")'s length is >= 1)[(if:(history: where its name contains "Colorblind")'s length >= 1)[...You're not sure why you decided to buy it, honestly. It looks just as bad as it did in the screenshots. You put up a token effort, but after getting solidly trounced in every mission, you decide that it just isn't worth it. ...Refund it is.](if:(history: where its name contains "Photosensitive")'s length >= 1)[You... may have made a suboptimal decision. You were hoping it would be //marginally// playable, but... you spend the tutorial with a hand over your eyes, peeking through your fingers, and as soon as you see bright lights strobing through you turn off the game and go to bed. ...Refund it is.](if:(history: where its name contains "Tremors")'s length >= 1)[Before you start playing, you dive into the settings and remap almost every control to your liking. It helps, but you still get the distinct sense that it's terribly kneecapping your performance, what with all the quick-time events and button mashing necessary to complete the missions.](if:(history: where its name contains "Motion")'s length >= 1)[You turn on aim assist and camera snap before you begin playing. Still, you fumble nauseously through the tutorial, where control is wrested from you several times to escort NPCs around. With the control adjustments you've made, the game is playable, but only for about 45 minutes at a time.]] [[Thank you for playing.->Further Reading]]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:black)+(bg:white))(if:(history: where its name contains "Research")'s length is 0)[(if:(history: where its name contains "Colorblind")'s length >= 1)[It's... not so bad! That confusing little screenshot on the back of the box was apparently a pre-build, because ingame the puzzles have symbols on the blocks that make them easier to distinguish. It becomes a favorite pastime of yours throughout the week, until you unlock the Moondew Caves and combat options... featuring "good" green sprites and "evil" red imps you can barely tell apart. In frustration, you quit the game for a week. And then pick it back up again. And then quit again. And then pick it back up...](if:(history: where its name contains "Photosensitive")'s length >= 1)[For once, you needn't have worried. You have fun exploring the world of Moondew Vale, happily playing as intended, and gush about the game to your friends.](if:(history: where its name contains "Tremors")'s length >= 1)[You fall in love with the game's puzzles and social elements initially, but once you unlock the Moondew Caves and combat options, it's a different story. Battles are fought by rapidly tapping a key in time with the music, and there's no way to remap the keys. Disappointed and frustrated, you resign yourself to an impromptu pacifist run.](if:(history: where its name contains "Motion")'s length >= 1)[For once, you needn't have worried. You have fun exploring the world of Moondew Vale, happily playing as intended, and gush about the game to your friends.]](if:(history: where its name contains "Research")'s length is >= 1)[(if:(history: where its name contains "Colorblind")'s length >= 1)[You breeze through the early game, immersing yourself in the social and farming mechanics, and quietly dread the point when you unlock the Moondew Caves and start combat. Having known ahead of time, though, you're familiar enough with how the different enemies look that you can clumsily fumble your way into plenty of rare drops.](if:(history: where its name contains "Photosensitive")'s length >= 1)[For once, you needn't have worried. You have fun exploring the world of Moondew Vale, happily playing as intended, and gush about the game to your friends.](if:(history: where its name contains "Tremors")'s length >= 1)[As both a challenge to yourself and out of necessity, you decide to try for a pacifist run of the game, avoiding combat entirely. You're locked out of some questlines, but it's fun enough... but still, something's definitely missing from the experience.](if:(history: where its name contains "Motion")'s length >= 1)[For once, you needn't have worried. You have fun exploring the world of Moondew Vale, happily playing as intended, and gush about the game to your friends.]] [[Thank you for playing.->Further Reading]]