The LauraKBuzz Podcast

With Gamescom right around the corner, now seems like a good time to discuss how large gaming conventions could make queuing experiences more accessible for disabled attendees.

A story many years, and one trip to the opticians, in the making.

While accessibility should first and foremost be designed to benefit disabled people, thinking in broad terms about accessibility impacts means accepting that there are other people with valid use cases who benefit when accessibility is broad in scope.

Summer Games Fest 2023 had me hoping we'd see more accessibility announcements from the 2024 livestream season. Why do I think that didn't materialise?

OpenDyslexic becoming more commonly offered by game developers is great, but it can't be the entirety of the conversation when it comes to dyslexia support.

Proof that Dark Souls could have an easy mode without it breaking the intended tone. A beautifully accessible souls-like, with one dimly glaring issue.

The PlayStation Access Controller's highly customisable nature can make it daunting to set up initially? Would offering layout presets be benefitial, or cause more problems than it fixes?

Now that the PlayStation Access Controller has been out for a few months, I spoke to disabled content creator and accessibility advocate Arevya about her experiences finding a place for the device in her gaming life.

This audio only game does a great job translating first person gameplay to audio navigation, even if it relies on stereo hearing without ssist features to compensate.

Multiplayer online games with player vs player elements provide unique accessibility challenges. However, those unique challenges can be overcome creatively.

This week on Access-Ability, we try something a little different. Join me for a 35 minute chat with Arevya, a disabled and chronically ill content creator, talking about PTSD and video game accessibility.

When community torunament organisers have to create an opt-out for an attack, something has gone very wrong.

Nintendo’s new rules ban a tournament organiser from having discretion to allow use of unlicensed inputs as part of a Hori Flex setup.

Xbox needs to address the accessibility implications of this move, in particular whether unlicensed Xbox Adaptive Controller peripherals are impacted.

Accessibility is about more than just game settings, and it's important to take time to appreciate that ocassionally.

Could we see a one handed Xbox controller? And, if so, who might it be useful for?

A step sideways rather than forward, the PS5 Access Controller is great, if its design suits your needs straight out the box unmodified.

While motion controls can be an accessibility positive, they could come with potential drawbacks by the time we reach the 2028 Next-Gen Xbox reveal.

A recently released patent may hint at a Switch 2 feature. Let's hypothesise what it might mean for accessibility.

We need to acknowledge the accessibility issues inherent in this increasingly common trend.

A new attempt at allowing blind players more options for play without sighted assistance.

Xbox made major moves to make their Gamescom booth as accessible as possible.

With the addition of Co-op play, and a Switch port, let's talk about Vampire Survivors and Accessibility.

We all know it's coming. Here's what we need to see when it arrives.

Very similar functionality, with one notable difference we hope to see changed before public release.

Sometimes, talking about the accessibility milestones you're failing to hit is just as important as discussing your accessibility sucesses.

With price now a known factor, let's compare the functions and costs for different setups using the main brands of accessibility controller for consoles.

There's a bunch of amazing, wonderful, and talented creators in the video game accessibility space. Join me as I try to quick fire tell you about as many as my ADHD can manage in a single sitting.

The number of disabled people in the world is not a small figure, and as such arguements that accessibility is a niche topic miss the mark.

While a list of accessibility settings is easy to measure and praise on paper, the future of accessibility in video games often comes in forms less immidiately visible to the player.

I haven't had this much fun with a fighting game in a long time.

As a gamer without visual memory, this new option could be a game changer.

Accessibility controllers can't just be designned for use on a single hardware generation, and need to be futureproof.

Bringing big budget Sim Racing to blind players!

I hope we see some basic accessibility improvements over Breath of the Wild, but I dare not feel hopeful, given Nintendo's track record the past six years.

A wonderful step toward standardisation, with some teething issues at launch.

As time goes on, unofficial third-party apps become more and more often necessary for disabled players.

A step forward, with some steps forward still to creep towards.

By looking back at Breath of the Wild, we can make predictions about Tears of the Kingdom.

Non-disabled status is often a temporary state, with conditions such as Long Covid able to induce disability in previously unimpacted gamers.

While I have issues with the game itself, I find it hard to fault the retrofitted accessibility features added into this adventure game post release.

Not strictly accessibility settings by name, but still an unfortunate implementation of useful options.

By turning off audio, and replacing it with a visualiser, Sector's Edge is seeking to even the competetive playing field.

Some exciting new tech, paired with many of the limitations common across the board with VR technology.

A motion sickness miracle, but predicated on two handed gameplay.

Split controllers like those found on Nintendo Switch can be great for accessibility. Could PlayStation offer their own solution?

Look at me, managing to make video content during gestures at this week in video games discourse

Solid execution for players with specific content warning needs.

Some good potential options available, in a game I at the time could not judge more widely.

My opinion on this game drastically improved thanks to added accessibility options.