There is a lot of contention online right now about whether games should be for everyone. This cearly relates to the mission statement of All Nerds Allowed, so it seems only right to weigh in.
If it is not apparent already, I believe everyone should be able to enjoy video games, or any other form of media they are interested in. Sadly, physical and mental disabilities make that difficult for many.
There are helpful resources available in some instances. Modern video games already have subtitles most of the time, and there is at least one blind person I know of who could destroy me in fighting games. There are other disabilities that people all over the world are living with that could prevent them from finding their new favorite game. Microsoft is trying to help many of them enjoy the hobby by releasing a new controller. Others can be aided by presenting them with difficulty options. That is what the current discourse revolves around.
Much of the conversation is about a game called ‘Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice’. It is made by ‘From Software’, which is a developer known for making games like ‘Dark Souls’ and ‘Bloodbourne’. Some argue those games are defined by their difficulty. They say that is what gives the games their identity. I would challenge those same people to put themselves in the shoes of a disabled person for a moment, and tell me they aren’t challenged enough already. Also, if something can be made to accommodate more people, then why not? It is cruel to deny someone an enjoyable experience, especially if it costs nothing in the process.
There are several ways to increase a game’s playability. It does not always include making enemies deal less damage, or the player deal more. A game called ‘Celeste’ offers a wide variety of options, from adding another air dash to the player’s arsenal, to slowing the whole game down. That allows people with diminished reflexes the chance to take part. These options are not on by default, and the average person won’t even see them unless they dig around in the menus. For the people that need them though, they are there. Leveling the playing field so more people can enjoy the work of art the game’s creators made.
I cannot pretend to have all the answers, but online communities are already brainstorming ways that ‘From’ could make their games more accessible. One of the creators behind ‘Celeste’ even offered up some suggestions on Twitter. Those include things like giving the player the option to resurrect more frequently, or making the character invisible while sneaking. Subsequent tweets even offered ideas for adding in the assist mode without making it too tempting for those who do not need it.
It takes a lot of thought and effort to design and implement features like these, but all that work can also do a lot of good. Arguably enough to make the task well worth it.