Companies that make video games and their development teams haven’t always been extremely diverse. Even though female game developers have made significant contributions from the start, the reality is that most gaming companies were led and staffed by individuals who rather well matched the “nerdy white guy” image.
The issue is that video games frequently exhibit the personalities and interests of their creators. Because of this, it is not surprising that there is a dearth of diversity in games in terms of protagonists, characters, narrative, and accessibility.
But things are changing fast. Here are three key initiatives the video game industry is pursuing to improve accessibility, allow feedback on сall tracking reviews, diversity, inclusion, and game creation.
Improved access to information
Historically, the majority of video games were challenging to play for those with various disabilities. Or, frequently, it may even be impossible. This is due to the fact that accessibility features that may assist players with disabilities were typically not supported by video games. But in recent years, accessibility has become a top focus for game publishers and creators.
Why now? Perhaps it’s out of altruism (doing the right thing), or perhaps it’s just smart business (more players = more money) to encourage more people to play your games.
Whatever the cause, modern developers have a different perspective on accessibility. To make their games accessible to all gamers, some of the biggest gaming developers, like Naughty Dog, even employ people full-time.
Simple accessibility settings to brand-new, cutting-edge assistive technology are all possible. Any game released in the last several years is likely to have any or all of the following accessibility features:
· Settings for accessibility. There are currently several games that allow players to adjust the accessibility settings to suit their needs. Look for options like colorblind modes, bigger text, voice control, text-to-speech, and support for alternate input devices.
· Adjustable controls Nowadays, the majority of games provide players the option to remap controllers to fit their preferences. That’s especially beneficial for physically challenged players who might struggle to use the default control configurations. Whichever, it also benefits all players because it allows anyone to map controls however best suits their particular play style.
· Controls for one hand. Many gamers struggle to utilize both hands because of mobility issues. Some games feature one-handed control techniques to help players deal with this. Simply enable it in the menu for accessibility options.
· Description audio. Every gamer is aware that the graphics and aesthetics are essential for interacting with the game’s universe and comprehending what is happening. It’s not as simple for players who are blind or have impaired eyesight to simply gaze at the screen, though. Some games allow you to enable audio descriptions as a help feature. The game will then employ text-to-speech or pre-recorded audio to describe what is on screen, giving millions of gamers with vision impairments new gaming options.
· Closed captioning. The majority of video games have subtitles, which are a text representation of spoken dialogue that appears on screen, but many also provide closed captions. In addition to displaying the dialogue, closed captions can also describe the sound effects used in the game and even the style or mood of the music. It helps those playing late at night with the sound off (so they don’t wake their spouse or their newborn!) and is a lifesaver for deaf or hard of hearing players.
· Alternative approaches to input. Alternative input techniques, including eye tracking or voice commands, are supported by some games and can be useful for players who have mobility issues. These alternate input techniques frequently call for specific gear, such the Microsoft Adaptive Controller or the Pretorian Optima Joystick. But the extra cost might just be justified if it makes the difference between gaming and not gaming.
2. More diverse characters in games
For a large portion of gaming history, white male characters predominated in video games. The kinds of persons, their histories, and the kinds of stories being presented weren’t that varied.
This lack of diversity has been a concern, and not just because it restricts the variety and depth of play experiences that can be had. Additionally, it neglects to include narratives and characters that would enable players from a variety of backgrounds to identify with themselves in the games they like.
Fortunately, more and more people are seeing themselves represented in video games. Developers have begun to increase their representation by incorporating many colors, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, and abilities into their games, from the smallest independent projects to the greatest AAA giants.
Both businesses and players benefit greatly from this. The attraction of a game to a global audience is increased by representation, which also contributes to a more diverse gaming industry as a whole.
There are numerous examples of current video game initiatives that have advanced representation in the industry.
3. Businesses and communities that are more inclusive
In the past, harassment, inequity, and discrimination against particular groups of individuals have been frequently linked to a toxic culture in the gaming industry.
But despite a number of recent controversies, or perhaps in part because of them, there is a definite trend towards creating organizations and communities that are more inclusive and inviting. In addition to promoting diversity and inclusivity within the industry as a whole, game groups all over the world are striving to confront and prevent harassment and toxic conduct in the workplace and online.
Future perspectives
Even though the video game business has seen significant advancements recently, much more has to be done. The good news is that many developers and other industry participants are dedicated to bringing about significant change. According to a new IGDA developer survey, game developers are more concerned than ever about the value of diversity in the workplace, in their game content, and throughout the industry.
The game industry is working hard to bring about change, from lone developers all the way up to the CEOs of the biggest game firms. Change that will make working with developers and players worldwide more satisfying, welcoming, and inclusive.