Is a competitive and interactive gaming experience for all ages. The game is designed in a way that it even enables a player suffering from visual impairment to enjoy it in the same spirit as others.
Imagine not being able to see things the way there are suppose to be.
It's tought
Right!
Spacemaze
ROLE
UX Research, Game Design, Product design.
TIMELINE
6 months, Solo
Project Background
Problem Statement
The gaming industry neglects the 1.3 billion blind individuals globally, posing a challenge in creating inclusive gaming experiences with limited sensory capabilities. Visually Impaired People (VIPs) resort to modifying existing games, crafting customized controllers, or leveraging assistive technologies to engage in mainstream gaming. Nonetheless, the mainstream gaming space remains largely exclusive to VIPs, requiring greater emphasis on inclusivity efforts.
How might we
Create gaming experiences that are inclusive of communities suffering from visual impairment.
By Creating
a gaming experience adapted to the needs of VIPs and not the other way around by substituting the requirement of visual sense with their ability to hear and touch which is more evolved than a visually-abled person.
Process
1
Discover
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Contextual Inquiry
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Secondary research
2
Define
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Project Scope
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Key considerations
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Game type
3
Design
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Concept Design
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Game Mechanics
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Material Exploration
-
Prototyping
-
Final Design
DISCOVER
Do VIP's even want to play games?​
At this point, the key thing I wanted to learn was this. If so, what particulars should I concentrate on to maximize its effectiveness?
I started by
I started by....
Painpoints
The contextual inquiry involved engaging with visually impaired participants through observations in their natural environments. The participants included individuals with varying degrees of visual impairment, such as those who were blind or had low vision.
DEFINE
Redefined Objective​
After research outcomes it was observed that the end product of this project needs to be modified to be an interactive board game with supreme tactile response and a good sound feedback instead of a sound centric video games.
Narrowing down the scope
After close interaction and observations with VIPs in their natural surroundings
What are the key touchpoints to consider while designing for VIPs?​
What are the game types that are suitable for VIPs?​
Touchpoints to consider
To create a game for VIPs to play and enjoy the game, they need to have the following features -
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Most suitable game types for VIPs
To create a playful and enjoyable game for VIPs, they need to have the following features -
Puzzle Game
Choosing Game
Prototyping 1
The aim of the first prototype was to check if
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The mechanism with the magnets on board and the magnetic keys in hand was working or not.
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VIPs were able to identify and mind-map the maze.
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Textured tape on acrylic sheet could be used as a navigation tool.
Key Findings
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Can’t feel the tape (navigation)
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Magnetic keys attracting each other.
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Shapes too large to identify for AND , OR gates
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Movement not happening properly
Final Design
Prototyping 2
The aim of the this prototype was to check if
-
Refine the mechanism with the magnets on board and the magnetic keys in
hand for smoother movement. -
Achieve direct contact by eliminating the top acrylic sheet.
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Make the maze a 3D experience.
Key Findings
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Direct contact with the board, magnet, maze for heightened tactile
experience. -
Game mechanism working well.
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Initial curiosity is satiated.
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Different shapes for the AND (pair of circular magnets) & OR(rectangular magnets) gates work; easy to remember geometrical shapes
