RESEARCH THESIS: ACCESSIBILITY IN GAMING
OVERVIEW
This research aims to create a Unity framework for inclusive gaming, using diverse input methods (keyboard, accelerometer, gyroscope, and speech) to maintain high-quality gameplay without requiring extensive equipment
Summary
May 2021 - May 2022
Duration
STATE OF ART + MOTIVATION
To better understand and solve the problem of accessibility in gaming, I first studied the state of the art at that moment and arrived at the following motivation.
The solution approach was to develop a framework that abstracts input data from gameplay features, ensuring that multiple types of inputs can be efficiently used without loss of quality. For this abstraction to succeed, a state machine driven player character was utilized.
SOLUTION
Once the framework was developed, a trial game was created to test its functionality. The game utilized procedural level generation and ragdoll animation to test the input abstraction and potential to personalize the game design based on the input type.
GAME DEVELOPED TO TEST FRAMEWORK
LEVEL GENERATION
Randomness combined with parameters drawn from input modality was used to calculate terms ne, nb, n1 – n10. (Number of enemies, blockers, and spaces in between them)
Patterns are produced using the formula 20*(ne) + 10*(nb) + ns1 +2*(ns2)+3*(ns3)+......10*(ns10) = 50, which was devised after splitting the game scene into spans 50 spaces wide.
Level generator instantiates the pattern of obstacles and enemies with added randomness based on input modality.
More common input types were programmed to produce harder levels while less familiar ones were programmed to provide easier levels to deliver a similar sense of difficulty while playing.
RAGDOLL PHYSICS + ANIMATION
Ragdoll physics was used in addition to an animation controller to support the state machine driven player character.
RESULTS
The testing session for the trial game was created with 10 participants. After experiencing the game through different input modalities, they were asked to rank the experience across three categories on a scale of 1 to 10 the results of which are as follows.
After carefully analyzing the data, the following conclusions were drawn. These conclusions further informed the future potential and direction of the research.
