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Sites to Watch
These are sites that don't fit in the above rankings, but that we think should be brought to your attention.| Site | Comments |
|---|---|
Game Forwardwww.gamefwd.org |
An excellent source of accessible gaming reviews and news. A very professional site with excellent writing by a professional journalist. Offers a blog of accessible-games reviews and news. Still not much for gamers who are deaf. However, we continue to be hopeful. Founded in 2007. Constant updates. Google page rank 3/10. Alexa rank 1,272,946 Categories: Information, Reviews, Community. Platforms: Windows, Macintosh. In their own words: GameForward began "... as a hobbyist blog focussing on Game Accessibility by an avid gamer that was born with Cerebral Palsy. GameForward quickly expanded its focus to include coverage of Serious Games, Health & Fitness Games, Educational & Training Games, and Virtual Worlds.." Why should I go there? For the latest news and game reviews of accessible games. And to see if they add more deaf-accessibility specific content. |
The Game Accessibility Projectwww.game-accessibility.com |
Much that one would want to know about the design and development of accessible games in general. Forum with separate areas for games addressing Visual, Auditory, Motion, and Learning disabilities. Has separate pages discussing games for the Visually Impaired, Audio Impaired, Motion Impaired, and Cognitively Impaired. These pages include discussion of relevant games and annotated links to sites where you can get those games. However, their deaf-accessible forum has never been an active place. We hope this changes. Also, this Web site was down (reportedly due to malware attack) while we were doing this survey. Founded in 2006. Categories: Information, Community, Help. 508 Compliance: Perfect Platforms: Windows. In their own words: "This website aims to inform disabled gamers about the availability of accessible games, and functions at the same time as an academic resource for developers, publishers and researchers in order to stimulate accessibility in games." Why should I go there? For content related to deaf-accessible games. |
Ouch!www.bbc.co.uk/ouch |
The BBC’s Web site for the disabled including the deaf. It offers a constant stream of timely and entertaining articles, blogs, and a message board. Not specifically for gamers, but should be on your to-watch list. Platforms: Windows, Macintosh Founded in 2002. Constant updates. Google page rank 7/10. Alexa rank 44 508 Compliance: Perfect Categories: Information, Community In their own words: "Ouch! is a website from the BBC that reflects the lives and experiences of disabled people... It's aimed at those with a stakehold in disability: family, friends, professionals and, rather importantly, disabled people themselves..." Why should I go there? For a lot of current information on accessibility, sometimes including gaming. |
Survey Methodology
Data comes from 7-128 Software market research of over 100 Web sites that contain information relevant to the accessible gaming community. These include Web sites for developers, distributors, and gaming industry media, as well as organizations and institutions serving the accessibility community.
We specifically address games that run on Windows or Macintosh OS X.
We specifically do not address games that run on consoles or in your Web browser.
Ranking is based on:
We specifically address games that run on Windows or Macintosh OS X.
We specifically do not address games that run on consoles or in your Web browser.
Ranking is based on:
Games
Games you can get: FREE or Commercial, via download or on CD.
This means games developed at the surveyed Web site. This also includes Web sites where you can directly download games developed at another Web site. We rank FREE games higher than Commercial games. We may include games that are under development when the available version is playable and interest by the gaming community is evident.
This means games developed at the surveyed Web site. This also includes Web sites where you can directly download games developed at another Web site. We rank FREE games higher than Commercial games. We may include games that are under development when the available version is playable and interest by the gaming community is evident.
Information
Gaming news, technical specifications, tips.
This means information about games, including industry and academic gaming news and announcements, game descriptions, tips, cheats, walkthroughs. It includes links that are annotated with something that adds value to the link.
This means information about games, including industry and academic gaming news and announcements, game descriptions, tips, cheats, walkthroughs. It includes links that are annotated with something that adds value to the link.
Reviews
Reviews of games.
This means game reviews that include deaf accessibility issues.
This means game reviews that include deaf accessibility issues.
Community
Interaction with other gamers and game developers.
This means forums, chat lines, and other interactive means of sharing.
This means forums, chat lines, and other interactive means of sharing.
Help
Help from other gamers.
This means not only forums or other interactive means of sharing, but also a group of gamers who will give technical advice.
This means not only forums or other interactive means of sharing, but also a group of gamers who will give technical advice.
Longevity
How long has the site been around.
This means when the Web site was founded.
This means when the Web site was founded.
Currentness
How frequently is the site updated.
This means how often does it get new games, game updates, new information, or posts by gamers or developers.
This means how often does it get new games, game updates, new information, or posts by gamers or developers.
Reach
How well known is the site in the deaf gaming community.
This means how often is the Web site mentioned in forum posts, in media articles, how does it Google. How many comments, and commenters, are there for the Web site’s forum or blog posts. What are its Google and Alexa ratings? What observed influence has it had on our industry.
Note: Google ratings indicate how early a Web site's home page appears in Google search results. Higher values are better.
Alexa rankings indicate how often a Web site's home page is hit by users. Lower values are better.
This means how often is the Web site mentioned in forum posts, in media articles, how does it Google. How many comments, and commenters, are there for the Web site’s forum or blog posts. What are its Google and Alexa ratings? What observed influence has it had on our industry.
Note: Google ratings indicate how early a Web site's home page appears in Google search results. Higher values are better.
Alexa rankings indicate how often a Web site's home page is hit by users. Lower values are better.
Accessibility
Web site's 508 compliance.
This means checked with several 508 compliance Web checkers
and passes with no failures that would deny reasonable accomodation to people who are deaf.
It specifically means that the site does not use captcha without at least some alternative means of foiling spammers.
Does it Work?
Do all of its parts work?
This means does it have broken links?
Does it have broken Javascript?
Is its storefront inoperative or do its free downloads not download?
Is the site itself down for a significant part of our year-end survey period?
Platforms
Includes only English language games that are playable on your Windows or Macintosh computers.
Breadth vs Depth
Preference is given to breadth.
This mean that, all else being equal, Web sites that offer games as well as information tend to be ranked higher
than Web sites offering just games or just information.
Web sites that cover both Macintosh and Windows are ranked higher than Web sites covering just one platform.
Mainstream vs. Independent vs. Educational Game Developers
For the purpose of this survey, Mainstream developers tend to be larger companies,
producing Commercial games with more features,
and distributing them via bricks-and-mortar stores as well as online.
Independent developers tend to be smaller companies or individuals, producing simpler Commercial or FREE games, and distributing them online.
Educational developers tend to be Independent developers who produce games that emphasize learning rather than entertainment.
This rough labeling is our way to indicate what kind of games you'll likely find at a developer Web site. It has no bearing on rankings.
Independent developers tend to be smaller companies or individuals, producing simpler Commercial or FREE games, and distributing them online.
Educational developers tend to be Independent developers who produce games that emphasize learning rather than entertainment.
This rough labeling is our way to indicate what kind of games you'll likely find at a developer Web site. It has no bearing on rankings.
Limits
Excludes Web-based, browser-based, or online games.
Excludes games that are still under major development.
Excludes console games.
Excludes Interactive Fiction.
Excludes games that are still under major development.
Excludes console games.
Excludes Interactive Fiction.
Exceptions
Exceptions to the above are put in our unranked Web Sites to Watch section.
Data is current as of January, 2010
Data is current as of January, 2010