I am currently designing a game based on John Wyndham's book "Day of the Triffids" (will probably avoid things that could cause copyright problems). Those of you who haven't read it: an apocalyptic event turns most of the worlds human population blind. There's a big panic and the world stops functioning as it did. The situation is made worse by walking plants that attack humans everywhere. So far, my obvious choice was that the player can only play as a seer. Because who would want to play a game where you can't see anything? But now that my game design is becoming more clear, I have started thinking that it would be possible to give the player a choice to play a blind person. The game is an RPG/hybrid, think Fallout combined with GTA(1) plus some other things (but a LOT smaller and with very simple 2D graphics - currently I'm focusing my design on creating just a prototype that can be completed in 2-3 hours). Much of the focus in the game is working with other people (NPC's) to ensure the survival of the human race. This includes working with the blind. There won't be much combat (not in the prototype anyway). Anyway, my idea regarding playing as a blind is: The blind in the real world can read even though they can't see (with their fingers). You could still see the map screen, dialogues, blind-compatible written text, even peoples faces by touching them etc. Maybe you could even "touch" things in the game world and memorize them -- by that you get a temporary view of your surrounding area (with a very limited radius). And since the game is mostly about working together to solve problems, it could be designed for the blind characters in a way that you would receive help from NPC's all the time. The main focus in the game would still be to play as a seer, but playing as a blind person could give a fun additional challenge to some players who want to go that way. It would definitely mean a lot of extra work, but it could be worth it. Do you think this is a good idea? [edited by - Erkki on August 3, 2003 8:26:02 PM]

It might work as a text adventure. Otherwise you''ve got serious interface problems.

JSwing

well, as long as it is not the only option, it seems fine.

if you''re going to do it, i would suggest making them only legally blind. the screen could be completely dark, except a small circle of faint light around the character, similar to using a torch in an open space.

The best you could do, graphically, would be to make the blindness effect mostly gameplay, or if you really worked at it, provide "blind versions" of all images so that if you felt something or someone you would get a fuzzy pictoral idea of what the item is, but no clues as to things like labelling, color, or be able to instantly identify things like hidden passages for what they are.

Being blind is not fun, hence making a game about being blind fun is forcing a bad idea. I''d say don''t bother.

Not sure if this would actually work, but maybe the player character could be a weak seer with very limited abilities (a child maybe?). S/he would need the help of blind experts for all difficult tasks. "I''m your eyes, you are my body" kind of thing.

If you want the player char to be blind, then the limited sphere of "vision" would be best, with all kinds of sounds displayed on the screen. Footsteps as moving footprint icons on screen, people talking occasionally, making them "visible". It would probably soon become annoying anyway, being blind in a game. Maybe it would work as a short episode?

Seems like a good idea for a first game, no graphics involved, just a black screen

quote: Original post by m_wherrett
Being blind is not fun, hence making a game about being blind fun is forcing a bad idea. I''d say don''t bother.

Being trapped in a base that has been overrun with demons while having only a pistol to protect you is not fun, hence making such a game is a bad idea. I''d say don''t bother.





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Thanx for your opinions. For now, I''m not letting the player play as a blind person. I might change my design later.

I''ll be frank. Unless this is one of the funnest games ever, no one will want to play a game where you''re blind. If you''re experienced in programming, try a different kind of realistic simulation, like realistic damage, or health, etc.