10 Common Misconceptions About Accessibility In Video Games

3. Not All Genres Are Suited To Accessibility Options

Sekiro Shadows Die Twice
Sega

This one tends to gain traction not because of genres, but those specific titles within those genres used as gatekeeping tools.

For example, you could say “action-adventure or racing games can’t be accessible because of their presumed difficulty and intricacy, because Bloodborne and Assetto Corsa are both demanding and relentless in terms of input”, but that’s fallacious on two different levels.

For starters - those games do have accessibility options (with Assetto Corsa in particular offering some screen and button remapping options for a more tailored play).

What those individuals mean isn’t that it can’t be accessible, but rather that this isn’t a game for more casual players. The distinction isn’t subtle - the two aren’t synonymous, you silly wee goosles. You can make a hardcore game accessible.

Secondly, that’s generalising - there are more games in a genre than just those at the extreme end of the hardcore-o-spectrum. Ratchet and Clank sits in the same genre as Bloodborne. Sonic and Sega All Stars Racing Transformed sits in the same genre as Assetto Corsa. To say that a single game typifies an entire genre is bonkers - can you imagine deciding you didn’t like comedy films just because you watched Jack and Jill?

Actually, come to think of it, in that specific scenario, I wouldn’t actually blame you.

Contributor
Contributor

Hiya, you lot! I'm Tommy, a 39-year-old game developer from Scotland - I live on the East coast in an adorable beachside village. I've worked on Need for Speed, Cake Bash, Tom Clancy's The Division, Driver San Francisco, Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise, Kameo 2 and much more. I enjoy a pun and, of course, suffer fools gladly! Join me on Twitter at @TotoMimoTweets for more opinion diarrhoea.