What is Game Accessibility Nexus?
We are a website focused on accessibility in videogames. Our intention is to inform our visitors about options, gameplay mechanics and other relevant aspects so they can evaluate if a game is accessible to their specific needs and make a well-informed purchase. It is also our goal to provide developers with feedback on their creations, helping them understand the barriers that might exist and provide suggestions to solve them in an update or at least avoid the same issues for future products and encourage them in their achievements.
You will also find articles on assistive software and hardware, commentary on accessibility topics, interviews and recommendations on games with a high level of accessibility.
Who runs Game Accessibility Nexus?
Our staff is formed by a diverse group of people with various types of disabilities and skillsets. Equality, diversity and inclusion are an integral part of our core values, as we demonstrate by being part of the RaiseTheGame and PlayEquall initiatives. All the work we do for the site is as volunteers. Aside from our editors, other writers contribute with their content. We list them here as recognition and appreciation for their valuable time, work and experience.
CURRENT STAFF
Antonio I. Martinez is is the site’s founder, and acts as Editor-In-Chief and Mobility editor. He has Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 3 and has been a gamer for most of his life. His background formation in computer programming and English compose his basic skill set. Previously the mobility editor for Can I Play That, Antonio founded this new project to inform fellow gamers and offer actionable feedback to developers. As consultant, he has worked for Xbox, Ubisoft and Rebellion. Beyond self-advocacy, he’s created an accessibility webinar, a motor accessibility guide and given talks and participated in many interviews on different media channels to educate about the importance of accessibility in games. He has also been Judge for the AGDAs and, along his teammates, for The Game Awards.
Nickie Harper-Williams is our deaf/Hard of Hearing editor. She is a hard-of-hearing gamer, accessibility consultant and artist. She loves to play MMOs and RPGs but is partial to playing most games and giving them a try. She is also our representative for in-person events on United Kingdom.
Victor Branco is our Blind/Low Vision editor. He is a gamer with very low vision who is passionate about game accessibility. When he is not glued to the PC, he spends his days with his dog on long walks in green and beautiful places. Trying to improve every day in order to contribute as much as possible with the accessibility community.
PREVIOUS STAFF
Based in sunny California, Morgan Baker is a chronically ill, deaf gamer. She has a Master’s in Education and specializes in research methods and design. She works as a full-time Disability Specialist, as well as provides Accessibility Consultation to gaming studios, as needed. When she isn’t drinking copious amounts of coffee, you can find Morgan working hard to create accessible solutions.
Alexia is a deaf writer, graduated in Audiovisual Communication and a Master student in Screenwriting. Passionate about representation, accessibility and mental health in media, also writes about personal experiences with deafness/hearing loss and mental health on Medium.
CONTRIBUTORS
Vivek Gohil. A few years ago, Vivek thought he would never play video games ever again. Now, he’s an accessibility consultant, streamer and writer. His passion for games is only matched by his knowledge of comics and his sense of humor.
Dominic D. is a lifelong gamer who has been legally blind since birth. His interest in games eventually led him to Japan, where he lived for over a decade. During that time, Dominic further explored his interest in games and discovered his passion for game accessibility. He has since returned to his home state of California, where he continues to raise awareness of the benefits of accessibility in the game industry and beyond.
What is your review criteria?
Every game is analyzed and scored solely based on the options implemented, gameplay, design and the barriers these create or eliminate. We try to be as objective as humanly possible. While the reviewer might comment if they enjoy the game that is not the focus of our reviews. It is completely up to the reader to use the information provided as they see fit.
Do you work for the industry?
No. Our main concern is the disabled community, people who love games like we do and are looking for information on a game’s accessibility. We have found that this information is also useful for developers and it is in everyone’s interest that they can use it as feedback. The more they know, the better they can learn and improve their games by avoiding unintended barriers. We are grateful to the developers who provide us with a review copy or agree to have an interview with us, but neither of those grants any kind of privilege in our review process or scoring. We value transparency and in the case a publisher provides us with such a copy, it will be noted at the top of the post.
