Hello Apple VIs community!
My name is Harry and I am a totally blind iOS user. I am writing because I'd like to discuss what I feel is quite a large problem which lies within the blind and visually impaired gaming world.
You see, these days, about 80% of the gaming population are in to games that feature
<ol>
<li>fighting</li>
<li>shooting</li>
<li>killing</li>
<li>dying</li>
<li>destruction</li>
<li>explosions</li>
<li>war</li>
</ol>.
The thing is, these types of games are only aimed at sighted players. There is a very small amount of iOS games out there of the types listed above that have any kind of accessibility support. Most of the iOS games that do support the accessibility features provided by Apple come at quite a high price, which I think is wrong. I mean why should we have to pay just to get an app or a game which supports accessibility features?
1 example of this is <blockquote cite="https://appsto.re/gb/Gsaau.i">King of Dragon Pass</blockquote>. This game costs a seizure inducing £7.99, which is equal to <blockquote> $12.69</blockquote>!! Who, in their right mind, would pay that amount of money to play a game which has accessibility support!!!
I would like to know if there are any <strong>free</strong> fighting games that support VoiceOver or any other iOS accessibility feature.
Comments
Re: pricing
I'm not aware of any accessible iOS fighting games, but I want to say that the argument about accessible games costing more on iOS isn't true. The 8 pound price tag is exactly the same for those who do and do not use VO, and it comes from the ridiculous amounts of time that went to making the game as deep as it is, writing the various stories and events, drawing the graphics, etc. The developer made it accessible because it was the right thing to do, not to raise the price tag. This is pretty much the case with just about every game, audio defence, freeq, a dark room, etc. Even in the case of the most expensive iOS audio games I know, which would be the inquisitor games from ticonblue the high price comes from the fact they had to pay the voice actors.
Hi. it isn't the access that's the reason we pay.
It's because we pay exactly the same as everyone else. So far I've not seen a app where you have to pay extra for accessibility features.
It's not about paying extra
I don't mean you have to pay extra, I mean the price you have to pay to actually download the game.
Don't buy it then
Hi,
wow, what in the world says that you must have every game for free? Sighted gamers pay the same price, because the game is worth it. Are you saying that everything should be free just because of accessibility? That's just rediculous.
On another note, the really bad thing I see about all this is the fact that actually 80% of games are really about killing, death, destruction and everything you listed. I find this really sad. The world is bad enough as it is, why play war in games too?
Just my two cents though.
Hi Harry.
Hi Harry.
A couple of suggestions for you.
There is forces of war which is free and accessible as far as I know.
There is also world war which is also free and mostly accessible.
world war is an online game where you have to build an alliance. You can also attack other players etc.
It can get a bit dull eventually (that is the only downside.)
Can you let me know if you find anything else as I am looking for something interesting to play :).
Good luck
Bryan
There is one reason and only
There is one reason and only one reason that KODP is priced so high. Have you actually played the game? If you haven't, that's why you think the price is so rediculously high. There are more than, I think, 30 30000 words in the game, the music is spectacular, unlike free games, and the sounds are of the highest quality. I gladly paid the price for the game, though I admit that I bought it when it was 15"% ofc.
There is a game by Toy Kite software called ISamurai. It is swordfighting on the iPhone at its best. You In the full version you can even fight other players through bluetooth. ALSO in the full version, there are more attacks and blocks, but they have the free version, with no ads by the way, because they know that once you've played it a few times, you'll willingly pay the $3 or whatever it costs. It's not that exmensive and it's worth it.
Would any of you like to hear me do a podcast on it? I know a few things about it that the original podcaster didn't.
Also, there's a free game called Fighter City, by Gameville. THIS game is great too. Basically, it's one of those where fight through various levels of mobs, which are computer controlled opponents. Also, you can access the map and find players in your area. You can either ally with them or you can try to break their dojo. They can't fight until they have paid the money to fix it. You also can buy costume items and various weapons and train in various skills to improve your performance. You'll want to have very strong allies if you want to steal stuff from your opponent's dojo. You can steal anything from coffee machines to boost your energy, exercise enuipment to make you stronger and so on. There will come a point when your dojo is full and you have to build a bigger one.
Dang it! Now I'm going to have to go on that app and kick some royal butt!!!!!!!! HTH! :)
Can you expand please
When you say <blockquote>mostly accessible</blockquote> what do you mean?
I'll try fighter city.
I'll try fighter city.
I'm not one who cusses very
I'm not one who cusses very often, but this circumstance is different. One moment...
*CUSSES UP A FU**ING BULLS**T!!!! Aaaaaarrrrrrrggggg!
The f*****g game is no longer on the gosh d**n app store any more! WTH!
*cusses up a blue streak again and bangs head on the nearest table.
Gameville has ten games up there right now, so whatever the h**l reason they took the fringin game down, it's not because they couldn't afford it! Arrrrrrg! I'M so d**n tired of seeing great games taken down You can bet your sweet bippy that I'm going to to write to them" right f**king now! Gurrrrr! By the way, the kids and I spent over $20 on that e**n game, so i'm doubly tickf. Another wonderful game gone down the accursf perverbial fringgin tubes! *growls in frustration and throws his iPho... ... ... thinks better of itdd*
when I say "mostly accessible
when I say "mostly accessible" I meant that some of the labels on the elements are a little strange.
I think though that they are just graphics.
the game is perfectly playable and you can do everything in the game. However, I did struggle to find out the units required in motions before actually doing them because voiceover only says "x2" for example.
it doesn't actually tell you the unit that is required until you click on the "do it" link.
When clicking on that you will be taken to a dialogue of sorts which asks you if you want to recruit the units needed.
Hope this helps.
Bryan
No wonder I couldn't find it!!!
That's why I couldn't f**king find it!! I hate it when games get taken down!!!!! I think the reason they took it down is because they couldn't handle the <blockquote>pressure</blockquote> of so many people playing it. I quoted the word "Pressure" for a reason. I mean, where's the pressure in creating a game and people starting to play it? Unless it's putting a ridiculous amount of stress on their servers. But then again, they probably should've just upgraded their servers.
I'm gunna keep trying
I downloaded the game, but it isn't really working. I chose my country, then I was taken to a page featuring 2 pictures, pieces of text and a button which just brought thousands of ads onto my screen. VoiceOver labeled 1 of the pictures as <blockquote>Logo</blockquote> and the other one said <blockquote>Tutorial guide 2</blockquote>
I only know they were pictures because they had the .png file extension. Despite all this, I'm still going to keep trying as I'm not one who gives up fast.
Hi.
Hi.
I was the same as you.
I struggled with the pictures at first.
They are graphics
What you need to do is double-tap the tutorial picture.
You should then be taken to the tutorial.
If you want to form an alliance my code is GY2MUU
good luck :)
It didn't work :(
I just tried double tapping the tutorial guide picture, but sadly, it didn't work.
Hi.
Hi.
Are you getting any response when you double tap the picture?
As far as I can remember it took quite a bit of time to load when I first started playing.
Even now, the app is running quite slowly.
The other game I can suggest is forces of war which I have had a look at and it is accessible.
Let me know how you get on.
Re, hi
I'm going to see how it goes on my iPad. By the way I tried forces of war, but I ran into a problem. When I downloaded forces of war and launched it, I was asked to enter a squad name. The problem is that the text box where I had to type the name of my squad was disguised as a level 2 heading (if you know what I mean). As a result of this, whenever I tried to type, the number 2 kept appearing in the text box, thereby preventing me from starting the game.
Hi.
Hi.
In regards to forces of war.
I had the same issue.
the way around it is just to keep typing in the edit box.
The number 2 will eventually disappear however, voiceover will not read out the squad name.
Once you have done that you can click start game and it should start.
apparently, if you form an alliance it will make your squad stronger.
If you want to form one my invite code is dqlvzkm.
You will find out your code etc if you click on my allies.
hope this helps
My alliance
I typed your invite code. You should be in my alliance now.
hi.
hi.
I didn't get your invite. Can you send me your code and I'll invite you?
Cheers
Invite code
Hi
My invite code is djndhhb
Honestly, it would be cool if
Honestly, it would be cool if there was a game in which you brought the undead zombies etc. Back to life and health, and won them as your friends and allies, loyal to the end as long as you showed them kindness. Ah welll, most don't want to see that. They want to rip and tear, and watch the blood flow as they rip off someone's head. I'm not against that type of game, we just need balance that's all.
The revive
Well, there is kind of a balance. There's the ripping and tearing, but there's also the revive. After all, I do like the sound of war, but I also like the sound of my allies not suffering in battle.
Hi.
Hi.
I agree with you. If Clash of Clans was accessible that would be brilliant.
I have friends that play it and they seem to think that they are indestructible lol. I would love to show them that they're not.
That would be so cool.
It happens all the time, you see an amazing looking game advertised only to download it only to find out that it is completely inaccessible much to your disappointment.
I do understand that it might not be possible to make all games accessible. I can live with that but games such as Clash of Clans with a bit of work I think could be made accessible to a certain extent.
Bryan
Re, hi
I agree with you Bryan. I've been through that disappointment a thousand times. But, with a little help from the Apple VIs community, we can make developers realise that blind people can play games as well as sighted people.
example
Hi.
Sorry it took so long to reply. I was at work (the joys.) :) No, I love my job really ;).
Anyway, have you ever played dice world? I don't even know if you are in to that kind of game sorry :D.
Anyway, the developers of that game are committed to making their app fully accessible. Its great fun; I'm hooked.
I have also seen developers who could make their apps accessible but the simple fact of the matter is they simply don't care.
That's why as a totally blind IOS user I am so grateful to the developers of Dice world because they want to make the game accessible to everyone.
How much
How much is the game?
By the way, I'm on level 7 on world war.
dice world
Hi.
Dice world is a free download. It is 6 games in one app. Each of them are fully accessible.
if you want to play me my username is bryan453.
Nice one on world war I think I'm on level 8 or 9 I actually can't remember :).
No user found
I typed your name and it just said <blockquote>No users found</blockquote>.
Hi.
Hi.
What game were you trying to challenge me to?
Whats your username and I will search for you?
Cheers
Patience is a virtue
As the subject says, patience is a very good thing. With a lot of things, we have to pay more at first, but when we wait and work constructively, we get in to the mainstream. It's frustrating, but it's the best we can do. The games that put more effort in to accessibility are made by people and companies who have larger budgets and more developers. Better budgets and more people working on the game means more features, which leads to accessibility. As word filters down, more developers will make their apps accessible. It might take quite some time, but it will happen, and happen faster if we're polite and represent ourselves well.
On a more personal note, I think that the apparent longing with which you list such features as death and violence is somewhat frightening. I'm no bleeding heart, and my boyfriend plays violent video games. I even like listening to some of them. But why list these specific features? People I know in the mainstream community don't tend to say, "I want a game where I get to cause tons of death and destruction." They say they want action games, and death, shooting, et cetera are part of that, but why draw such attention to these features? I truly don't want to cause any offense, but your apparent need to lash out causes me to be concerned.
I'm not lashing out
I'm not lashing out, I'm just saying that that's what most games contain these days. But, like you say, maybe I should have just said action games instead of listing every feature.
I'm sorry I concerned/upset you.
Another game
This isn't exactly what you're looking for, but the Games called Lords and Knights, Celtic Tribes, Crazy Tribes, etc, are some of the most accessible online games I've ever checked out. Even the map, which can be pretty daunting, is accessible once you get used to it. The devs have mentioned fixing VoiceOver problems in several of their updates. However, there is fairly little actual fighting. Players join alliances, then those alliances attack each other castles/vilages/fortresses, etc. Wins and losses are decided by strength of forces, so there's no actual stabbing/slashing/shooting. The player doesn't die, but their minions do. It's worth checking out. Be warned, it can be very addicting if it hooks you.
I would
I would like more free shooting games. There is SixthSense but that's a zombie shooter. I would like games where you have to kill people but like I said, this game must be free!!!
I mean I like zombie shooters too but after a while they get boring. I just wanna have something different for my Iphone.
It's just my opinion.
Thanks
So can anyone
So can anyone help me to find accessible online fighting games. They must be for IOS or the PC!
Feel free to post your comments below!
Thanks!
Did you try iSamurai?
Did you try iSamurai?
As far as PC games go, just visit audiogames.net and do a search. I'm sure you already know about Lone Wolf, Shades of Doom, Technoshock and others, since they have been out for years, so I'm not sure what more you want. Street Fighter IV is not fully accessible but try it. Blind people have had just as much luck as sighted people in the easy and medium levels, and the settings are accessible once you tap the button with VO off. That's all I know.
I tried iSamurai
I tried iSamurai. It took a while to get used to it, but I eventually got there.
Love an iSamurai podcast!
I don't know if you're still interested in doing it, but I'd love to hear an iSamurai podcast. Especially if its done by someone from this community.
iSamurai Podcast
Ann, there is already a podcast demonstration of iSamurai on the site: http://www.applevis.com/podcast/episodes/isamurai-do-you-have-wit-skill-and-strategy-be-samurai-warrior
iPodcast
There is already a podcast for thegame. You just need to find it. It is in applevis.com
Solara
Hi. Solara is a free game where you have to fight monsters and stuff. It no longer gets updates so I think most people have forgotten about it, but it is free, accessible and I like it.
Battle Nations
Hi all,
I emailed the developer of this one, and it seems they ignored me, unfortunately. If we can get a bunch of people to email them though, they might change their minds.
Battle Nations is a half accessible War game that actually has an emphasis on a storyline. It does rely on a map to click stuff, so a lot of the time you have to turn VoiceOver off to click on what the game tells you to click on. Whether that be one of your troops, a battle, or a building.
I just got to level 3 or so and stopped, because I couldn't figure out the second battle. VoiceOver is completely inaccessible on the battle screen, so that's unfortunate.
I just wanted to get the word out that, perhaps with a few changes, this game could be made accessible. Maybe a bunch of us can get them to respond to a request like this.
A few games
Have you heard of Game of Thrones?
Another game is iMobsters This game is a free download in the iTunes App Store.
The dev is FireMocha.
Before you can start inviting people into your mob you need to have enough experiance points.
You fight mobs
Outcome of low prices
Recently, Somethin' Else has discontinued its games. Why? Because they ran out of Money/resources. That's exactly what happens if too many games are sold on low Prices. I can't imagine how many games we would have from this developer if he would have sold his games for free. Such games are not priced high because of accessibility, but because of:
1. they are really good or
2. because production is really expensive.
Thanks for reading.
King of dragon pass
Hello there. King of dragon pass is a little similar to clash of clans. I'd say the only difference is the sound, but that's OK.
Not really, no
Developers do not take down games because they 'can't handle the pressure'. I've only ever heard of that happening once, with Flappy Birds, because the developer couldn't handle the constant hassling by journalists.
Instead, often it is because a new version of iOS has come out and completely broken the game, and they haven't had enough recent sales to make it worth their time and money to update it
Games
Code Name Cygnus is good. Theme is james bond. Is audio base and you need your microphone. It is not free. I do not mind paying for a game if it is good.
response to game
I love Cygnus myself and I am eddicted to it:)
Forces of war
Hi. My name is Michael! Either Bryan or Harry, I downloaded forces of war, and it's asking me to select a country. What do I do afterword?
Other games
I have Lords and Knights! How do you get silver from your keep?
World War
Who's the creator of World War?