Crafting Games That Cater to Autistic Players

As the gaming industry becomes increasingly aware of accessibility needs, efforts to accommodate neurodiversity have been limited. This article aims to bridge the gap by providing guidance on creating games that are more accessible to players on the autism spectrum. Changingday, the developer behind the VR title Blinnk and the Vacuum of Space, has been working towards this goal. The studio's co-founders, Alison and Nick Lang, drew inspiration from their personal experience with autism, having a daughter with an autism diagnosis. They recognized the lack of attention towards autistic gamers, despite gaming being a potential source of comfort for people on the spectrum. The Langs spent four years researching and developing their idea, involving autistic individuals at every stage of the process. They emphasize the importance of embedding accessibility into the development process from the outset, rather than treating it as an afterthought. Having autistic team members and involving autistic players in the development cycle were crucial in creating a game that catered to their needs. The game's features, such as preparing players for new situations, providing relaxing areas, and offering options to adjust sounds and colors, were designed to be autistic-friendly. The Langs also stress the value of researching the topic thoroughly and testing ideas with autistic players. The results of their research and testing informed the game's design, including the creation of a 'Vacuumizer 5,000' that sucks up creatures, avoiding the use of guns. The game's key options include setting expectations for new situations, providing safe spaces to take breaks, and avoiding failed states. The Langs hope to continue receiving feedback from the autistic community and incorporating it into their future games, including a potential sequel that utilizes evolving VR technology, such as face tracking, eye tracking, and hand tracking.