Plea for Accessibility - Deaf/HoH
Hepburnt
Join Date: 2020-12-21 Member: 266225Members
Join Date: 2020-12-21 Member: 266225Members
Hello!
I'm very happy with the visual improvements in Below Zero- specifically the highlighting interactable objects and the freedom to change its colour for colour-blind players. This is a welcome step in the right direction and a much needed visual accessibility feature, but Subnautica and Below Zero are still missing a key accessibility feature: accommodations for it's Deaf/HoH audience.
Hearing players have the advantage of hearing creature sounds to know what is in the area. Deaf/HoH players don't. This is apparent in the case of entering leviathan territory. As a deaf player, I have no way of knowing where the leviathans are or how I can protect myself if I cannot hear their cries. I have no way of knowing I'm in danger until the camera suddenly pivots and I am in the mouth of one.
So here is my plea: add a visual cue for audio dependent events.
Endless Ocean: Blue World had a great UI that made creature warnings more accessible to a Deaf/HoH player. If you were in danger the screen illuminated a lowered opacity red with a DANGER warning on it. It let me know I had entered radar of a dangerous creature and should be cautious. It did not give away their exact location the same way a leviathan does, but it let me know I should tread carefully and check my surroundings. Without the visual cue in Endless Ocean: Blue World, my experience would've been drastically different and more frustrating had I been getting attacked with no warning.
I am frustrated for my Subnautica and Below Zero experience because it isn't equal to a hearing player's; I don't have the same advantages or experience as they do. Adding a danger UI or another visual cue to let Deaf/HoH players know when a leviathan is near or you've entered their range would be a welcome and much needed feature not just for the Deaf/HoH audience, but for the wider community, too. I am not a low-vision player, but the highlight on interactable objects made my experience much better!
I want the same for audio cues. Making it toggleable for players so they have the option of having it on/off would add to the overall experience of your game.
Thank you for reading.
I'm very happy with the visual improvements in Below Zero- specifically the highlighting interactable objects and the freedom to change its colour for colour-blind players. This is a welcome step in the right direction and a much needed visual accessibility feature, but Subnautica and Below Zero are still missing a key accessibility feature: accommodations for it's Deaf/HoH audience.
Hearing players have the advantage of hearing creature sounds to know what is in the area. Deaf/HoH players don't. This is apparent in the case of entering leviathan territory. As a deaf player, I have no way of knowing where the leviathans are or how I can protect myself if I cannot hear their cries. I have no way of knowing I'm in danger until the camera suddenly pivots and I am in the mouth of one.
So here is my plea: add a visual cue for audio dependent events.
Endless Ocean: Blue World had a great UI that made creature warnings more accessible to a Deaf/HoH player. If you were in danger the screen illuminated a lowered opacity red with a DANGER warning on it. It let me know I had entered radar of a dangerous creature and should be cautious. It did not give away their exact location the same way a leviathan does, but it let me know I should tread carefully and check my surroundings. Without the visual cue in Endless Ocean: Blue World, my experience would've been drastically different and more frustrating had I been getting attacked with no warning.
I am frustrated for my Subnautica and Below Zero experience because it isn't equal to a hearing player's; I don't have the same advantages or experience as they do. Adding a danger UI or another visual cue to let Deaf/HoH players know when a leviathan is near or you've entered their range would be a welcome and much needed feature not just for the Deaf/HoH audience, but for the wider community, too. I am not a low-vision player, but the highlight on interactable objects made my experience much better!
I want the same for audio cues. Making it toggleable for players so they have the option of having it on/off would add to the overall experience of your game.
Thank you for reading.
Comments
if you know where they are it's easy to douge them (I can't really tell the difference between them yelling "I'm around" and "I see you snack" anyways I just look around when I know I'm close to one....)