In today’s computer gaming news, learn more about Ben Breen who was born blind, but video games have been a part of his life for as long as he can remember. He played PC games without the necessary technology. Since then, he’s seen more creators add visual aids to games. Meanwhile, in a laboratory, scientists have cultivated brain cells that have learned to play the 1970s tennis-like video game Pong. They claim that their “mini-brain” can detect and respond to its surroundings. Lastly, Last week, Electronic Arts unveiled Need for Speed Unbound, a racing game with a blend of ultra-realistic automobiles and “the freshest street art,” which features some incredibly unrealistic visual effects and personalization settings that can be turn-off.
How Do Blind Video Gamers Play?
Original Source: How do visually impaired people play video games?
He started playing PC games without any technology to support him.
Since then, he’s seen more developers add functionality to games for the blind.
He urges huge game firms to consider those with visual loss when producing games.
“I started off with games like Fighter Pilot on PC because I didn’t know about screen readers or electronics,” he remarked.
So I was pushing buttons, seeing what happens, and nosediving a plane.
He played audio games with basic graphics for the blind.
Once developers included blind-friendly features, Ben could play mainstream games.
Studios have recently created games with more incorporated features for the blind, such as The Last Of Us Part 1 on PS5.
“I still play audio-only games,” Ben stated. “But I prefer things that more people appreciate.”
Handy features include short-cuts on the device and lock-on aim in fighting games.
Screen narration tells the user what’s going on the screen, while navigation aids help the player gauge their distance from opponents and items.
As an accessible games and immersive technologies research officer at RNIB, Ben shares his experiences with the billion-dollar gaming business.
At a recent conference in Dunde, he spoke with Google, EA Games, and Microsoft about how to enhance videogames.
Abertay University, the first to provide a computer games degree, hosted the event with RNIB.
By cooperating with the university, Ben hopes future developers will make accessible games from the outset.
“As much as we’ve had fully playable games on a few platforms, we need all the firms to step up.
“Even on a fundamental level, accessibility equals sales.”
Ben said, “Sight loss is a continuum and gaming is possible, but more needs to be done to make games accessible.”
Whatever games I can play, I will.
He added game producers must understand that accessibility is vital and consult persons with sight loss during production.
“I’ve had people claim they wouldn’t game if they woke up blind, but they would,” he added.
“You’ll want to continue, and games will add features if they do.”
Sloan studies games at Abertay. Dr. Robin Sloan, who has taught and researched game design for 15 years, says it’s important to build games with inclusion in mind and test them on people with low or no vision.
“Use greater contrast, bolder typefaces, and simplify the setting,” he suggested.
Beyond that, you have challenges like making visual decisions.
He suggested standardizing design models and coding with accessible features could help smaller game makers enhance their inclusivity.
Smaller companies buy design code from larger ones.
If the model is already available, developers may focus on the game.
Fit games and devices
Accessibility is a priority for the Association for UK Interactive Entertainment, the games industry trade organisation.
She continued, “The UK games industry has worked with charities like SpecialEffect to adapt games and gadgets like the Microsoft adaptable controller.”
“Organizations like Many Cats work with studios on recruitment and culture to promote accessibility at every step of development.
“The games industry equality, diversity, and inclusion campaign #RaiseTheGame has worked with RNIB to organize fundraising and awareness events such as Gaming for RNIB.
“RNIB reviewed materials for Digital Schoolhouse and provided training on making curriculum accessible to visually impaired students.”
Dundee launched Lemmings and Grand Theft Auto, among other titles.
Lab Brain Cells Play a Game Pong
Original Source: Lab-grown brain cells play video game Pong
Researchers grew brain cells in a lab that learned to play Pong.
According to them, its “mini-brain” can sense and respond to its environment.
Brett Kagan of Cortical Labs claims to have developed the first “sentient” brain in a dish.
Other academics call the work “interesting,” but term brain cells sentient too far.
“We couldn’t find a better term,” adds Dr. Kagan. “It can process external data in real time and respond to it.”
First created in 2013 to study microcephaly, a hereditary disease where the brain is too tiny, mini-brains are now utilized to study brain development.
This is the first time they’ve interacted with a video game.
The team:
generated 800,000 human brain cells from stem cells and mouse embryos and connected them to a video game through electrodes to show which side the ball was on and how far from the paddle.
In reaction, the cells produced electric current.
Over time, they used less energy.
But when the ball passed a paddle and the game continued with the ball at a random place, they spent more time recalibrating.
In five minutes, the mini-brain played.
It missed regularly, yet its success rate was substantially above random.
With no consciousness, it doesn’t know it’s playing Pong like a person, the researchers said.
beer pong
Dr Kagan hopes to utilize the technology to evaluate treatments for neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s.
“When people look at tissues in a dish, they’re assessing activity. However, brain cells process information in real time “say. “Tapping into their true function unlocks many additional study areas to explore”
Next, Dr. Kagan hopes to test the mini-Pong brain’s skills with alcohol.
If it behaves like a human brain, it might be used as a stand-in for experiments.
Dr. Kagan’s concept of sentient contrasts from dictionary definitions, which say it entails feeling and sensing.
Dr Dean Burnett prefers “thinking system”
“Information is being transferred around and utilised, making changes, therefore the stimulus they get is being ‘thought about”
The mini-brains are likely to get more complicated as research advances, but Dr. Kagan’s team is working with bioethicists to ensure they don’t accidentally build a conscious brain, with all the ethical problems that would raise.
“We must see this new technology like the fledgling computer industry, when the first transistors were janky prototypes, but after years of dedicated research, they led to great technical marvels across the world,” he argues.
Researchers have created AI gadgets that can beat chess grandmasters.
Professor Karl Friston of University College London, who works with Dr. Kagan, adds, “The mini-brain learned without being taught and is more adaptive and flexible.”
EA Says You Can Turn Off Need for Speed’s ‘anime’ Visual Enhancements
Original Source: If the new Need for Speed game’s visual effects are too ‘anime’ for you, EA says you can turn them off
Electronic Arts introduced Need for Speed Unbound this week as a blend of genuine automobiles and “the hottest street art,” which features exaggerated visual effects and customization options: colored smoke, hand-drawn sparks flying off tires, speed lines, lightning bolts, etc.
It promises to make Unbound stand out from realistic racing games like Forza, Gran Turismo, and most Need for Speed titles—but you can turn it off if you like.
NSU driving effects
EA tweeted, “You can disable the effects.” “You can never wear them. As other automotive parts.”
EA defined Unbound as “a legendary, generation-defining muscle automobile reborn with the style and swagger of tomorrow”
“We wanted to provide an art style that matters for gameplay, one that clearly honors player actions,” stated art director Darren White. Need for Speed Unbound’s driving VFX, called ‘tags,’ were meant to catapult players to the next level.
Labels “When you engage your boosting power, spectacular, customisable effects decorate the game scene, including illustrative lines around your car.
Realistic cars and game environment “base the aesthetics, “White said dazzling, fast-firing effects support EA’s Unbound concept.
“Taking inspiration from street art and other media, we subvert characters and visual effects,” White added. It’s “graffiti-come-to-life”
It’s a novel idea and distinct from other games in the genre, but for some, “different” equals “bad,” and even gamers who don’t mind the look may find the on-screen jazz irritating during a high-speed street racing. Even though tags are Unbound’s major gambit, EA will let players turn them off.
Need for Speed Unbound releases on Steam, Epic, and Origin on December 2.
Summary of Today’s Computer Gaming News
Overall, Ben Breen played PC games without the necessary technology. Since then, he’s seen more creators add visual aids to games. But now he wants all big game studios to think about people who can’t see when they make games. “I began playing PC games like Fighter Pilot without understanding how anything worked because I was unaware of screen readers or any other technology at the time,” he stated. Therefore, I was simply hitting buttons, observing the results, and nosediving a plane.
On the other hand, Cortical Labs’ Dr Brett Kagan claims to have constructed the first “sentient” lab-grown brain. It also have learned to play the 1970s tennis-like video game, Pong. The first mini-brains were created in 2013 to study microcephaly, a hereditary disease characterized by a small brain, and have since been utilized for research into brain development.
Finally, Electronic Arts introduced Need for Speed Unbound this week as a blend of authentic cars and “the hottest street art,” with exaggerated visual effects and customization choices. The game promises to set Unbound apart from other realistic racing games, like as Forza, Gran Turismo, and most of the previous Need for Speed titles—but if that’s not your thing, you can turn it all off.
