Accessibility Solutions for Hearing
How hearing can greatly enhance or hinder game play
According to the National Institute on Deafness and Communication Disorders, 2 to 3 out of every 100 children are born with a detectable level of hearing loss in one or both ears and about 15% of American adults aged 18 and older report some trouble hearing. Hearing allows people to engage with their environment, participate in social activities and recognize safety hazards. During gameplay, healthy hearing allows a gamer to recognize key components and aides in the progression of gameplay.
A good soundtrack can enhance the gaming experience. Sounds are used to contextualize what is going on around the player, focus attention, define space, create atmosphere and mood, emphasize and intensify action, promote immersion in VR, and is used to smooth transitions. Sound is also used as a function of the game to set the pace of gameplay (https://www.gamesindustry.biz). When hearing is impaired, other senses are used to maximize the gaming experience and level the playing field (so to speak).
For players with hearing impairments, game developers have devised innovative ways to ensure that these sensory cues are not missed. Visual indicators, such as flashing lights or on-screen text, can replicate the information that would typically be conveyed through sound. For instance, visual sound cues can show the direction and intensity of sounds, like approaching footsteps or distant explosions, allowing players to stay aware of their environment. In this section, we will explore several different ways that enhance the gaming experience for gamers who have hearing impairments.
Closed Captioning
What are closed captions?
Closed captions (CC) are a textual representation of the audio of the game. The can also be found in tv, movies and other videos. CC assumes the viewer cannot hear. To enhance game play, CCs include speakers’ name and other non-speech information like sound effects that help the player better understand the environment. For more information, please click the link.
Game narratives and instructions often rely heavily on audio cues, but subtitles and closed captioning can bridge this gap. Detailed captions can describe ambient sounds, emotional tones in dialogue, and other auditory elements that contribute to the storytelling. This not only helps players follow the plot but also enhances their emotional engagement with the game.
Additionally, closed captions offer the advantage of conveying the subtleties of a scene that might otherwise be missed. For instance, captions can indicate whether a door creaks ominously or a character whispers nervously, adding layers of context that enrich the player's understanding and immersion. By presenting these details visually, closed captions enable hearing-impaired players to experience the full spectrum of a game's atmosphere and narrative depth, ensuring they are not left at a disadvantage. This level of detailed captioning transforms the gaming experience, making it more inclusive and enjoyable for everyone.
Text Display
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Contrast
Gears of War 5 identifies the speaker of each subtitle. In this example, the subtitle also informs the player that the current speaker (Baird) is speaking over a radio. Players who can hear the audio track might notice the radio "static" as Baird talks—making it clear that despite his character not being visibly present on screen, his character is present within the game remotely via radio. By including the "(on radio)" text, players who can't hear the audio track are also informed of this. Other best practice text indicators include using a ">" or "<" arrow if the character is offscreen to the right or left.
Contrast helps distinguish text and non-text visual elements and their backgrounds. It is a crucial aspect of visual accessibility, particularly for players with hearing impairments who rely heavily on visual cues to navigate and interact with gaming environments. High contrast ensures that essential information, such as on-screen text, icons, and interactive elements, is easily discernible against their backgrounds, reducing the strain on the player's eyes and enhancing their overall gaming experience.
For players with hearing deficits, visual clarity becomes paramount as they depend more on visual cues to replace auditory information. High contrast can make subtitles and closed captions easier to read, especially during fast-paced action sequences where text may appear briefly. Additionally, it improves the visibility of environmental details, such as interactive objects, hazards, and pathways, which are often crucial for progressing through the game. By ensuring that these elements stand out clearly, developers can create more accessible and enjoyable experiences for players who might otherwise miss out on critical gameplay information.
Text display isn’t just the use of subtitles or closed captions. Text display includes labels in the environment, text on loading screens, and text in chat windows. Effective text display is crucial for accessibility, as it provides vital information and guidance throughout the game. Text displays can be altered in numerous ways to accommodate both hearing and visual deficits, ensuring that all players can fully engage with the game content. In general, text display includes:
Size, Face, Weight, Style, Spacing, Alignment, Case, Color
For players with hearing impairments, text displays serve as an essential alternative to auditory cues. Labels in the environment can indicate important objects, locations, or instructions, ensuring that players do not miss critical information. Text on loading screens can provide background story elements, gameplay tips, or controls, keeping players informed and prepared for upcoming challenges. Chat windows enable communication with other players, making multiplayer experiences more inclusive and collaborative.
To accommodate visual deficits, text displays can be customized in various ways. Adjustable font sizes ensure that text is legible for players with visual impairments, while options for changing font style and color can enhance readability. Backgrounds behind text can be modified to provide sufficient contrast, making the text stand out clearly against the game environment. Additionally, providing the option to increase line spacing and choose dyslexia-friendly fonts can significantly improve the reading experience for players with specific visual processing challenges.
In Eagle Island, players can choose to dim their backdrop in the settings menu. When dimmed to 100 percent, the backdrop goes from a forest setting to a solid black backdrop. Additionally, players can "outline characters" and "outline platforms." This adds a white outline around these elements, further increasing contrast and visibility.
In the game Grounded, an error dialog box overlays the screen. Text in error messages and other pop-up notifications should be accessible, ensuring players can read it.
Xbox provides an incredible resource for text display! Learn more about it in their Xbox accessibility guidlines linked below.