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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsAbleGamer talks to Blizz about 3.1 accessibility
by Mike Schramm 
Mar 31st 2009 at 3:00PM
AbleGamers has a conversation with Jeff Kaplan about the upcoming accessibility changes to the game in patch 3.1. We saw in the patch notes already that there would be a new colorblind mode added to the game, but Kaplan goes into more detail here -- Blizzard is making sure that even when the interface depends on color to get information across (as in, how difficult your quests are or whether you'll get a skill point from making a crafting recipe or not), there will be other text and symbols in there that relay that information without color.Unfortunately, while the changes that are going in the game will be helpful. AbleGamers points out that the game isn't perfect for those with colorblindness yet -- mob levels are often shown to the player in a certain color, and there's no option yet for players to see that information in any other format. Additionally, Rogue combo points are shown by filing those little circles in with colors, and colorblind players who aren't able to see that color will have difficulty with that mechanic as well.
The good news is that, while Blizzard does want to make sure their core game is as accessible as possible, there's lots of room for addon authors to do more. Colorblindness is surprisingly prevalent, and everything coders can do to make the game easier to play will be welcomed by those who need it.
Filed under: Patches, Analysis / Opinion, Virtual selves, Odds and ends, Blizzard
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
Karilyn Mar 31st 2009 4:29PM
Even as someone who isn't colorblind I agree with this.
There should be two separate sliders, one for NPC attack spell detail, and one for player attack spell detail.
That way, if your computer struggles with graphics for whatever reason, you can turn the NPC spells to extremely detailed to make them easy to see, while reducing the player spells to a bare minimum.
...
Complete change of topic, but a quick note. Another thing I wish they would separate would be NPC Voice acting from sound effects. It's really hard to hear those awesome things the bosses say, over the sound of swords clanging, and magic explosions. Especially considering how many bosses are use their voice acting as audible indicator that they are beginning to cast a certain spell.
Heja Mar 31st 2009 3:38PM
My hubby has been using the colorblind addon for a long time so its nice to see blizz putting in something similar. I was happy to get said addon and not walk over everytime to his computer and tell him what things were lol. =p
Heja Mar 31st 2009 3:45PM
Also in response to mochabear, I don't see how its over the top, like most medical conditions there are different degrees of severity. For my husband it's difficult to tell everything from Tradeskills, Mob colors, Some Items, PVP, and currency. Where as for you personally it may be different. Without the use of great Addons such as colorblind and others it would be hard for him to enjoy the game. It certainly isn't limited to WoW either, (have you seen Disgaea's Battlefield!? lol). It's a challenge in nearly every game he enjoys, so it's nice to see Blizzard working on something BESIDES another class change for once.
Eric Mar 31st 2009 4:00PM
Now to add descriptive audio so the blind can play too!
LostTroll Mar 31st 2009 11:10PM
I'm all for helping people who have difficulty with things in life, and in this case being color blind - I myself am colorblind (Blue/Green/Seems like everything), but I'm really starting to feel that things in WoW are becoming... Not sure how to say it, but how dummy proof does Blizz or any other game maker have to make things in order for everyone to be happy?
It's starting to get crazy - Eventually someone from an orphanage will say something about the orphans wandering in SW. Will Blizz need to bend and change everything again?
Just my 2 cents
Lev Mar 31st 2009 4:08PM
Colorblind Reader checking in!
My Blue/Purple is really bad and I mainly have had issues with the blue/purple drops that need to be rolled on quick more then anything. If I'm in Sunwell I highly doubt Ki'ljaeden is going to drop something blue. Mainly in pugs is where I get confused dealing with loot some times. I just use my best judgment or ask someone in guild chat if it is epic or not. My guild always picks on me about the Diamond Raid Icon. I say it's purple they say it is Pink. I swear it's PURPLE!
Go Blizz, simple change but it makes a few lives easier and doesn't effect anyone else in a negative way. A++
"this really is going over the top"
I am thankful my Color blindness is not super severe like some people have. Bringing it into the real life, how many jobs have you been turned away because of your color blindness? Are you even old enough to have a job? I have a few times and it is very painful to have happen when I know I could have performed the job without a hitch but they didn't want to risk a possible lawsuit down the line.
It is nice to know that I can come play a game that says "hey lets help them instead of saying we dont care."
lev Mar 31st 2009 4:11PM
It is not like it effects anyone besides the person that turns the option on. 93% of WoW prolly won't even know that option is there.
AyaJulia Mar 31st 2009 4:39PM
The diamond raid icon is, in fact, purple. :) Even to those of us with normal color vision.
I suppose if you really wanted to nitpick, it'd be somewhere on the magenta scale, but definitely more purple than pink.
Karilyn Mar 31st 2009 4:50PM
Your friends are teasing you. The diamond raid icon is most DEFINITELY purple.
Dsbinbuffalo Mar 31st 2009 4:31PM
I will help wowinsider.com with the HORRIBLE use of semantics and grammar on their website. Mike, please have someone proof your helpful articles before you continue to make the wow population seem illiterate. People at Blizzard and other gaming sights read this website. Have some semblance of a professional writer.
Remen Mar 31st 2009 4:57PM
Did you seriously tell him to proof read his articles before he posts them and then say that “... Blizzard and other gaming SIGHTS read this ..." Don't be a hypocrite, proof read your own comments before telling others to proof read theirs.
csdx Mar 31st 2009 4:58PM
I'm waiting for blizzard to make the interface for blind people, oh and quadriplegics too.
Mark Apr 1st 2009 10:13AM
Me too, but I mean it. There are 21 million people in the US with disabilities, and I hope that someday they can all play video games. There are some great techs out there that can bring more and more people into the gaming world, it is just up to the game to support it, or at the very least not block it...
I wish you were not so blaze with your jokes... the Disability Club is very easy to join... being in the wrong place at the wrong time and you could be in the club. I went to work one day while active duty, and BOOM, I was in the club. You may have a ticking time bomb in your DNA, and all the sudden your in the club.
So lets hope that more game makers do think about these issues, given that 1 in 3 people over 65 are disabled... you better hope so, because you are not getting any younger, and I suspect that you will want to play something for the rest of your life... let's hope you can.
Auxon Mar 31st 2009 9:06PM
I wish they'd change the color of the "well-rested" portion of the XP bar, or add some numbers there when you hover so you can tell how much you have. I try to move my view over something light, and hopefully I can make out the difference in shade, but usually I just can't see it at all.
ColorblindWower Mar 31st 2009 10:22PM
This is fantastic news for people like me with slight color blindness. I have been religious about using the Colorblind addon for years. There is a long way to go in encounter design however. I dread encounters like Netherspite, where color differentiation is so enormously important. There is alot of stigma against people with color blindness, as people don't really understand it at all. I refuse to think of this as a disability as I have many way I use to cope IRL and when playing WoW with this problem. But I do hope that Blizzard is going to make some changes to address issues with the encounters as well as the changes to the UI.
Zanaji Apr 1st 2009 5:14PM
Colorblindness is really more common than people realize. I never knew I was mildly colorblind until I worked in a shop that had to sort items by color. I was the fabric girl you didn't ask if something matched, lol.