RIP Gaming in U.S.

I originally posted this in the gaming thread... but I think it's probably to important of a topic to be buried there.

https://www.dualshockers.com/cvaa-2019-games-to-be-made-accessible-for-disabilities/

New CVAA legislation requires games in the US to ensure they are accessible for people with disabilities or the FCC could issue potential fines for titles that fail to comply.

b) Accessible – The term accessible shall mean that:

(1) Input, control, and mechanical functions shall be locatable, identifiable, and operable in accordance with each of the following, assessed independently:

(i) Operable without vision. Provide at least one mode that does not require user vision.

(ii) Operable with low vision and limited or no hearing. Provide at least one mode that permits operation by users with visual acuity between 20/70 and 20/200, without relying on audio output.

(iii) Operable with little or no color perception. Provide at least one mode that does not require user color perception.

(iv) Operable without hearing. Provide at least one mode that does not require user auditory perception.

(v) Operable with limited manual dexterity. Provide at least one mode that does not require user fine motor control or simultaneous actions.

(vi) Operable with limited reach and strength. Provide at least one mode that is operable with user limited reach and strength.

(vii) Operable with a Prosthetic Device. Controls shall be operable without requiring body contact or close body proximity.

(viii) Operable without time dependent controls. Provide at least one mode that does not require a response time or allows response time to be by passed or adjusted by the user over a wide range.

(ix) Operable without speech. Provide at least one mode that does not require user speech.

(x) Operable with limited cognitive skills. Provide at least one mode that minimizes the cognitive, memory, language, and learning skills required of the user.

(2) All information necessary to operate and use the product, including but not limited to, text, static or dynamic images, icons, labels, sounds, or incidental operating cues, [shall] comply with each of the following, assessed independently:

(i) Availability of visual information. Provide visual information through at least one mode in auditory form.

(ii) Availability of visual information for low vision users. Provide visual information through at least one mode to users with visual acuity between 20/70 and 20/200 without relying on audio.

(iii) Access to moving text. Provide moving text in at least one static presentation mode at the option of the user.

(iv) Availability of auditory information. Provide auditory information through at least one mode in visual form and, where appropriate, in tactile form.

(v) Availability of auditory information for people who are hard of hearing. Provide audio or acoustic information, including any auditory feedback tones that are important for the use of the product, through at least one mode in enhanced auditory fashion (i.e., increased amplification, increased signal to noise ratio, or combination).

(vi) Prevention of visually induced seizures. Visual displays and indicators shall minimize visual flicker that might induce seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy.

(vii) Availability of audio cutoff. Where a product delivers audio output through an external speaker, provide an industry standard connector for headphones or personal listening devices (e.g., phone like handset or earcup) which cuts off the speaker(s) when used.

(viii) Non interference with hearing technologies. Reduce interference to hearing technologies (including hearing aids, cochlear implants, and assistive listening devices) to the lowest possible level that allows a user to utilize the product.

(ix) Hearing aid coupling. Where a product delivers output by an audio transducer which is normally held up to the ear, provide a means for effective wireless coupling to hearing aids.

So gamers... I have some bad news about your hobby... It's going to die a bit...

Luckily we still have old games.

and theres always this...

Eh I’ll believe it when I see it. Even then I guess I could just play smash ultimate for the rest of my life that could work too.

Another one of those "the road to hell is paved with good intention" stupidity.

If this become a thing, almost 99 percent of old games that operates on limited hardware would failed compliance and would become contraband products.

This is like socialism at its full retardation by setting its baselines to the lowest common denominator

Everyone is equal so we should all be equally handicap

as I doubt you could create a functional and well-balance gameplay that could support and offer the full experience to the handicap.

@mimisalome: It's supposed to be limited to communications and interfaces/controls but even still...

(viii) Operable without time dependent controls. Provide at least one mode that does not require a response time or allows response time to be by passed or adjusted by the user over a wide range.

I can see this being a problem either way.

Well they can have a "handicap" mode where the entire gaming processes are done by the A.I. while the handicap only act as spectators (providing an entirely functional game on another mode for the rest of society at the same time).

But I could see games would have trouble translating their mechanics on a mode designed for handicapped.

This will severely limit the overall aspect of game design.

Many Puzzle and logic games for instance would be relegated to very limited concepts.

And i highly doubt that they could translate grand strategy wargames and simulation games into a something that could cater to handicap people.

Even if they could pull it off such programming challenges and technical feats will surely reflect on the games commercial price tags.

That would affect every gaming consumers, not just the handicaps.

I am lucky.

@mimisalome: The conspiracy theorist in me wants to say these guidelines were created to attack indie games...

because what guy in his garage can afford to hire disabled people to test accessibility features...

tfw elements colorblind mode and close captions have done a better job in pleasing everyone disability or not. I don't know what this is fully about and still questioning the fcc, but there couldn't just have been an third party/outside of thegame service or a disclaimer made adjusted to specific guidelines determined on whether its a large company to just one person if not a small group to set up?

The US government sure does seem to be made up of a bunch of morons.

@ourmanuel: Like most countries to be honest.

lmao

Is this just a project, or was it approved already?

I'm not surprised. Why do stupid people have this much power.

Yet another episode in the the series of why the state should be destroyed.

Literally what.

Americans are so stupid lmao

Literally, WTH?

@totallynotjucas: In effect the first of January 2019.

Okay.

Lmao good luck.

This is actually the one of the stupidest things I think I've ever seen my country do, and that's saying a LOT. The only way to match these guidelines it to make a game that literally plays itself, like wtf. Then again this isn't a surprise, the US gov't never did like gaming to my knowledge.

How is Canada this time of year? For research purposes of course.

This 'act' has been in place since 2010. With companies able to take out a waver. Apparently that option wasn't renewed? Is there something stopping these companies from restructuring whatever waiver deal that had since 2010? There's alot of language that I immediately see and smirk at. Such as, 'could be subject to,' and 'possibly' and 'failure to comply will allow complaints to be made.' Seems like to even be subject to the possibility of a fine someone needs to submit and jump through hopes to get the FCC's attention. And even then all they'll do is take a look at the case in question to see if the company made 'attempts' to be within the rule? Honestly it sounds like the NFL's Rooney Rule. Which changed nothing but the 'perception' of inclusion.

Hopefully its much to do about nothing. If it doesnt effect the development of games I like and my ability to play them....I dont really care what they add or for whom.

Jesus, can I get an F for the indie market cause they're the ones that gonna get hit the hardest from this one.

Can we ask daddy Donald for some help with this one?

Also do note that the law practically want compliance for a broad range of disabilities.

So if your game requires the use of a hand operated controller (keyboards, mouse, joystickm flight stick, racing wheel, etc) somehow you need to employ an input mechanism that doesnt require one's hand.

So expect a feet or mouth or voice operated controllers package with next generation games.