Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. Hamburger Menu Icon An icon used to represent a collapsed menu. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Twitter An icon of the Twitter logo. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner. Facebook Messenger An icon of the facebook messenger app logo. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Facebook Messenger An icon of the Twitter app logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. WhatsApp Messenger An icon of the Whatsapp messenger app logo. Email An icon of an mail envelope. Copy link A decentered black square over a white square.

Abertay University hosts pioneering event to improve gaming for those with sight loss

The event investigates gaming for those with sight loss. Image: Abertay University.
The event investigates gaming for those with sight loss. Image: Abertay University.

Dundee’s Abertay University is playing host to an event which will reboot gaming making it more accessible for all.

The City of Discovery is know for having a strong games legacy.

And Abertay has been running games courses for more than 20 years, making it a perfect location for the event.

The first Accessible Gaming Symposium began yesterday in person at the Bell Street campus and online, finishing up today.

Those attending will investigate how to make gaming more accessible for those with sight loss.

We speak to one gamer without sight who is involved in the event.

A pioneering gaming event is being held at Abertay. Image: Abertay University.

Abertay are teaming up with Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).

Dr Robin Sloan, Abertay University senior lecturer in the division of games and arts, says: “Abertay University is ideally placed to help push for progress in this important area.”

How will this event help?

The event will bring together some of the world’s leading studios, developers, academics and gamers with vision impairment.

They’ll get the chance to discuss issues which include technical challenges which developers face in designing more accessible games.

It’s also hoped they’ll identify areas for further research.

In recent years, games like The Last Of Us Part 1 for PS5 have embedded extensive accessible features which means people with sight loss or visual impairment can play.

But a report found more work is needed.

What do people with sight loss say?

The event follows on from RNIB’s first ever report into accessible gaming which was published earlier this year.

It found around 70% of people with sight loss surveyed say it’s a barrier to playing games.

They also have to use a range of coping strategies to enjoy their gaming hobby.

‘We want to be able to play your games’

RNIB’s Ben Breen is the accessible gaming and immersive technologies research officer and has been blind since birth.

He has developed a first-hand understanding of the challenges, first finding a love of gaming when he was a teenager.

Describing himself as “a gamer without sight” he’s an advocate for accessibility in mainstream gaming.

Ben Breen.
Ben is one of the participants in the event. Image: University of Abertay.

Before joining RNIB, he worked as an accessibility consultant and often writes reviews where he gives his expertise and advises on accessibility features.

He says: “Although over the last few years there has been progress made with a variety of games, many with sight loss still feel they are left in the dust.

“It’s great to be able to bring together representatives from the industry to hear first hand the perspectives and ask questions about what needs to be done.

“It’s about being able to plan the future from a point in the present.

“The industry will be able to ask what work is needed.

“And we can say we really want to be able to play your games – here’s how to make it happen!”

Conversation