Can Every Game Be Accessible? Stefan Wilhelm on Inclusive Gaming
Show notes
Can a blind player enjoy a mainstream video game as much as a sighted one? Steven Scott and Shaun Preece talk accessible gaming with Stefan Wilhelm, co-founder of Inclusive Gaming, a Leipzig studio building games blind and sighted people can play together.
Steven wants to play Grand Theft Auto and misses the CB radio banter of Euro Truck Simulator. Shaun isn't sure a game run by audio cues and assisted driving is any fun. Their debate sets up a bigger question: does accessible mean enjoyable?
Stefan, who is sighted, explains how a podcast with blind gamer Christian Ohrens, who plays Super Mario by ear, led him to start Inclusive Gaming. He talks about learning from the studio's community of blind players, why some prefer screen reader speech to recorded voices, and why playing with your eyes closed is no substitute for real users.
He also covers AVOS, an AI assistant in development that describes menus and scenes and uses fast object detection to help blind players with games that were never made accessible. Stefan builds in Unity with FMOD and Steam Audio, and he runs the Gaming Lab at SightCity in Frankfurt with support from Xbox.
Last up is Dinonid, a turn-based dinosaur puzzle game coming to Windows, iOS, Android and BlindShell, plus an update on the Double Tap website.
Chapters
0:00 – Intro and retro gaming memories
2:14 – Mainstream games, online communities and assisted mode
10:24 – Stefan Wilhelm and the founding of Inclusive Gaming
15:13 – Learning from blind players' feedback
18:41 – Designing games blind and sighted players can share
26:42 – AVOS: an AI assistant for inaccessible games
36:11 – Spatial audio with Unity, FMOD and Steam Audio
40:00 – Running the SightCity Gaming Lab
46:10 – Dinonid, BlindShell and where to find Inclusive Gaming
52:51 – The Double Tap website and your feedback
Relevant Links
Double Tap: https://doubletaponair.com
Inclusive Gaming: https://inclusive-gaming.de/en/
Dinonid demo: https://inclusivegaming.itch.io/dinonid-accessible
SightCity: https://sightcity.net/en/
Unity: https://unity.com
Steam Audio: https://valvesoftware.github.io/steam-audio/
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About Double Tap
Hosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited.
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