Visualizing Disability: An exploration of restricted abilities in video games

Abstract

Efforts towards increasing accessibility in video games has gained traction since 2018, however representation of disabilities in video games, particularly visual impairments, is much further behind. There are few studies and discussions on these topics, leaving room for improvement in games and academia. This paper aims to further explore both accessibility and representation. First, I assess the current state of accessibility and representation in games, with focus on games that claim to represent blindness. Second, I discuss my participant’s experiences with visual impairments, as well as accessibility and representation in games, accompanied by my personal experiences. This research finds that current accessibility frameworks can be iterated upon to address a wider range of visual impairments, while accurate representation can lead to positive experiences for blind players. However, I also explain the challenges of applying these findings to games. Finally, I suggest a proof-of-concept that could showcase the possibilities of representation.