📄Readability

Readability accessibility goes beyond text-based captions and subtitles. It encompasses whether all visual elements of your game can be easily understood by players with a wide range of visual abilities, including (but not limited to) colorblindness, low vision, and photosensitivity.

Key Areas to Test for Readability:

  • Color Contrast: Is there sufficient contrast between text and its background? Between gameplay elements (characters, UI icons, interactive objects) and their environment?

  • Colorblindness Simulation: Use tools or filters to simulate how your game looks under common types of colorblindness. Do crucial elements become indistinguishable?

  • UI & Text Scalability: Can players enlarge UI elements and text size for better legibility? Are the largest settings still aesthetically pleasing within your game's overall design?

  • Symbols and Shapes: If you rely on color and iconography, are the icons alone distinct enough for easy interpretation?

  • Visual Effects: Can any intense lighting effects, flashes, or rapid camera movements be toggled off or toned down for players with photosensitivity concerns?

  • Decluttering Options: Would players benefit from a customizable "clean" UI mode that removes non-essential visuals to improve focus on core gameplay elements?

Types of Feedback to Gather

  • Difficulty Parsing Information: Ask testers if they ever struggle to read text, understand the purpose of UI elements, or tell important gameplay objects apart.

  • Specific Challenges: Have players pinpoint the exact sections, colors, or UI elements that cause the most strain or confusion.

  • Importance vs. Aesthetics: Ideally, accessibility options shouldn't ruin the visual style. Get feedback on if the accommodations strike the right balance.

  • Beyond Compliance: Even if your game meets basic accessibility guidelines, player feedback can help you make it exceptional for a wider audience.

Resources:

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