Design for Every Gamer at the EGX Conference
On the 26 October, RNIB had the fantastic opportunity to host a panel event at EGX/MCM Comic Con in London.
EGX previously known as Eurogamer Expo is one of the biggest events for video games, held annually in the UK and Germany. This event provided the perfect opportunity to launch RNIB’s handy Dev Kit and Player panel, aimed at advancing accessibility knowledge for game developers and studios to help make games more accessible for blind and partially sighted gamers.
RNIB accessible gaming Dev Kit: best practice in accessible gaming
RNIB's Dev Kit is a comprehensive toolkit designed to support game developers in integrating accessibility in the video game space specifically for blind and partially sighted gamers. The Dev Kit provides guidance on:
- Scalable UI and high-contrast modes for better visual navigation.
- Audio cues for gameplay elements.
- Haptic feedback to enhance player engagement.
The Dev Kit also introduces the CAPS framework Challenge, Ambience, Participation, Story to ensure that games remain engaging while being accessible.
The Dev Kit can be found on our website and GitHub. It’s designed as a living document, evolving with industry feedback and technological advancements.
Design For Every Gamer player panel
We also launched our player testing panel consisting of over 200 gamers with sight loss, who are ready to provide feedback on accessibility in games. This is a resource that enables developers and studios to engage real-world users, gathering insights and improving the accessibility of their games. The panel includes players with diverse gaming preferences, age ranges, and experience levels, making it a versatile tool for accessibility testing.
RNIB panel: Cracking the code, designing accessible gaming for everyone
The panel provided a great opportunity to discuss the state of accessible gaming from a range of perspectives, whilst weaving in RNIB’s new resources for the industry. The panel was chaired by Robin Spinks, Head of Inclusive Design. The panellists included Jonny Marshall, RNIB Media, Culture and Immersive Technologies Team, Professor Robin Sloan, Abertay University, Jade Pughe, Developer, Hex, and Dan Northcote-Smith, Creative Director, T&P. These contributors created a number of exciting discussions on topics including playing games with lived experience of sight loss, how accessibility can be incorporated into higher education, how to balance creativity with accessibility and the future role of AI in accessible game design.
In addition, RNIB teased our upcoming game with a trailer. The game showcases how features like audio cues, haptic feedback, scalable UI, and high-contrast visuals break down barriers for gamers with sight loss. This hands-on example allows developers to explore how accessible design creates an inclusive experience across all devices. The game is currently in development. If you'd like to be notified when it's released, feel free to send us an email [email protected].
Overall, the event was a huge success, launching the handy Dev Kit and player panel as well as demonstrating the role RNIB has to play in the accessible gaming world. To finish on a fun note, the RNIB team who attended also had a great time exploring and describing the array of cosplay outfits on display. Some of the highlights included a man on stilts and a huge number of superheroes.
