Horror games: Where accessibility begins, the scull mood may not stop

A variety of steel genres have actually arose since the introduction of the genre in the late 1960s. Even though these kinds are sometimes difficult to identify from each various other, they differentiate most of the time by frameworks, crucial designs as well as vocals, and different tempos. Sometimes a feature is shared by a genre and numerous other kinds or surrenders. The styles of Heavy Steel are normally grouped with these qualities.

We sneak through a dark corridor, you will hear as a shrill cry and leads us to a spidery written in blood message. While we try to decipher the words with the letters verlaufenen — which still needs a little extra time in people with dyslexia, euro divergence or visual impairment — we hear breathing behind us and — bang, the monster mauled us.

The scene described is not only typical for horror games, but can also be quickly the purest Accessibility horror. But it does, and should not be, because accessibility and scary mood are not mutually exclusive.

Everyone works differently

There is no one right answer to what fans are important in a game. This is especially true for the horror genre, which felt to completely individual feelings builds: anxiety, agitation, goose flesh.

A typical example: We are looking for a key, while we sit a monster in the neck in a gloomy basement. I find that wonderfully oppressive. Other annoying the fumble just. For still others the task is in the low contrast even an impossibility.

All attitude?

Bright glowing outlines that highlight the object desired, some playing could before Langeweiletod save, but more importantly, other horror fans playing in the first place allow. Although it may constitute a disturbing foreign body for me, breaks my immersion time. To pick us all, help in the case as many settings.

For that matter, but there is still pent-up demand in the horror genre. Games that offer many options, are rare. A positive example is the lesser-known indie game Horror Tales — The Wine. It allows us to decide, among other things, whether important objects shine conspicuous are only slightly stressed or even not at all. Even for the initially described problem — a visually attractive, but hard to read fonts — offers to put the text in a clear record of the image. An option that we can use, but do not need.

Unintentional horror killer

So many setting parameters are important depending on the game design. But we must not forget one: The people, the high demand for accessibility options have, so especially people with disabilities want, of course, chilling out to a horror game. Therefore, accessibility features must be present not only in different stages, but also each be thought out.

Announce wrong timed subtitles that jumps Cares before, include a horror killer. Like the deaf developer Morgan Baker in a YouTube video explaining about accessibility, which is unfortunately a common problem.

Another issue are completely missing subtitles for sounds that lure us on the right track. Very typical is because the ringing phone or a cry, as in the first scene described. Who of them will notice anything, is wrong under certain circumstances around aimlessly. That does not have to be.

Samara Summer

also in the winter

Samara is passionate about horror games of all kinds: from the big franchises like Resident Evil and Silent Hill to exciting indie titles like Tormented Souls or curiosities like Happy Game. That is why the freelance author wishes that the genre is more accessible and more people can enjoy the comforting goose bumps, rather than run away screaming for lack of features. In her column her stood Accessibility expert and Gamer freelancer Kelly Expert advice.

Innovation is in demand

The simplest solution is ringing phone a subtitle like. There are, but it is also more elegant solutions that can than be found if development teams Accessibility already think with the game design. When different needs are already taken into account in the development phase, we spend too much time in a complex option menu and can start immediately.

Morgan Baker suggests our example case to let the phone wiggle visible. This is only a very simple example, but indicates the direction in which it can go when experts are involved for accessibility during the development phase. If that happens frequently in the future, may be determined more horror fans because of the atmosphere of the games — not for lack of features — the creeps.