Maybe I should sue Sony because they don't do enough to make their games accessible to broke people.

subby: Bet they didn't see that coming

It's okay. Neither did he.

Lawsuits are not the answer for this.

I know a great many hearing impaired gamers, for instance, that would love it if every game had subtitles, when appropriate in the context of the game. Subtitles also help us late-night polite gamers who don't feel the need to annoy our neighbors with the horrific sounds of death and destruction every night.

But subtitles are appearing as an option on the better games out there. From the companies themselves, without policing or lawsuits.

vartian: Absurd lawsuits aside, with the Six-Axis control and the vibration feedback, I don't see why someone couldn't produce a game that was designed exclusively to be played without being able to see the screen or the buttons on the controller.

The lawsuits are against Sony Online Entertainment. The folks that do SWG, Everquest, Vanguard, etc.

Basically, he's complaining that 'This MMO allows scripts to run in game, and this other game here lets people change the graphics so they're high visibility, and this other game lets us screen scrape. So we're going to sue for lost revenue.'

The problem with the lawsuit is two-fold. First, they can't claim lost revenue; Sony only allows you to turn cash into items, not the other way around. Second, the mechanisms in these games that make them unfriendly for blind people are efforts to stop cheaters and bot-makers, not blind people.

Subby: Blind gamer sues Sony claiming that they don't do enough to make their games accessible to blind people. Bet they didn't see hear that coming

/FTFY

netweavr: Maybe I should sue Sony because they don't do enough to make their games accessible to broke people.

Hmph, I though the PS3 was made specifically FOR broke people.

Broke system for broke people.

Sony should counter sue him for not trying harder to see like a normal person.

I think they should settle out of court and pay him in cash. In "$100" bills (wink, wink)

NormallyTechnos: vartian: Absurd lawsuits aside, with the Six-Axis control and the vibration feedback, I don't see why someone couldn't produce a game that was designed exclusively to be played without being able to see the screen or the buttons on the controller.

The lawsuits are against Sony Online Entertainment. The folks that do SWG, Everquest, Vanguard, etc.

Basically, he's complaining that 'This MMO allows scripts to run in game, and this other game here lets people change the graphics so they're high visibility, and this other game lets us screen scrape. So we're going to sue for lost revenue.'

The problem with the lawsuit is two-fold. First, they can't claim lost revenue; Sony only allows you to turn cash into items, not the other way around. Second, the mechanisms in these games that make them unfriendly for blind people are efforts to stop cheaters and bot-makers, not blind people.

Actually, you can sell items and gold and characters for real cash on a site sponsored by sony:

http://www.livegamer.com/page_en/lgexchange.php?section=6&page=1

CtrlAltDelete: Lawsuits are not the answer for this.

I know a great many hearing impaired gamers, for instance, that would love it if every game had subtitles, when appropriate in the context of the game. Subtitles also help us late-night polite gamers who don't feel the need to annoy our neighbors with the horrific sounds of death and destruction every night.

But subtitles are appearing as an option on the better games out there. From the companies themselves, without policing or lawsuits.

Earphones.

Iblis824: Actually, you can sell items and gold and characters for real cash on a site sponsored by sony:

Ah, had no idea they had started doing that. I remember an article mentioning they were thinking about it six months back, and hadn't heard anything since.

Would they be willing to settle for a parakeet named Petey?

I'm suing the Blind Community because they don't make braille large enough.

What if I wanted to learn it? I can't because the bumps are too small and close together. I want to feel the joy that the blind man has... they shouldn't be allowed their own secret language. Terrorist plots and all that...

there would be a lot fewer stupid lawsuits like this if the answer to such stupid lawsuits was to take the plaintiff out back and kick the living shiit out of him for being such a farking stupid moron


/just sayin

He should just buy a Wii or 360, then sue them for the same reason.
//Nintendo fan for life
///Also now has 360

Stern alleges that Sony ignored repeated requests by email and post to make features of its games more accessible.


I have a buddy who works there and he forwarded me one of the emails. I can't blame them for not responding, here is an excerpt from one of them:


"sdafsgrthop fgviojn;r34 v4 4f;p ;sknferiunob 43of vl fwe4kfbeiorgo9 fh4 9rhphpuf4bhrpui 8489inkj fne wiop [h fpw4 w4"

This is the world the John Edwards of the world created.

I_C_Weener: We didn't have this problem back when blind people could play pinball.

Win.

"Blind gamer sues Sony claiming that they don't do enough to make their games accessible to blind people"

Was his name Tommy?

Cue the new Activision best seller Braille Hero.

Even Anne Frank could see this lawsuit coming.

Games are already dumbed down for the stupid among us. Is this really the next step? And what of deaf and blind quadruple amputees?

icy_one: Even Anne Frank could see this lawsuit coming.

Could you have possibly meant Helen Keller?

IKillBugs: Could you have possibly meant Helen Keller?

No, Anne Frank. The chick that was all duhhh, till the miracle worker showed up and knocked some smarts into her.

I'm waiting for the fun followup where the car companies are sued for not having blind friendly cars.

The handicapped have let it go to their heads when people call them "special". Maybe we should stop kissing their asses and go back to calling them "crippled".

IKillBugs: Could you have possibly meant Helen Keller?

You have to be a blind as Anne Frank not to get this.

In other news, a man born without a nose sues bacon for not being accessible to the olfactorally challenged.

netweavr: Maybe I should sue Sony because they don't do enough to make their games accessible to broke people.

I lol'd.

No no, he's not blind, he's just really fat. He probably freaked out when he woke up one morning and couldn't see his Wii.

Wait, wait, wait. Last I checked, you didn't need to make ANYTHING for the disabled if you didn't want to.

Secondly, Sony makes warcraft and hosts sites where you can sell you warcraft character? WTF?

Lastly, of all the game companies he wants to sue SONY? You know, the least successful one right now. I guess this guy is more than just visually blind.

Suck it up. Video gaming is first and foremost a visual experience.
Game companies should not be expected to meet the needs of a very low percentile of potential users.

There are legit reasons that physical characteristics should not always be accommodated.

I'm 5'8". Can I sue so that all things in the store should be able to be reached without a stool?

Britney Spear's Speculum: IKillBugs: Could you have possibly meant Helen Keller?

You have to be a blind as Anne Frank not to get this.
He doesn't get it because he's been hiding in his attic like Amelia Earhart.

netweavr: Maybe I should sue Sony because they don't do enough to make their games accessible to broke people.

I have terrible hand-eye coordination and need easier games. So, easier games for free than can be played by blind people. Get on that, Sony.

Britney Spear's Speculum: You have to be a blind as Anne Frank not to get this.

Looks like I missed that meme.

jst3p: Stern alleges that Sony ignored repeated requests by email and post to make features of its games more accessible.


I have a buddy who works there and he forwarded me one of the emails. I can't blame them for not responding, here is an excerpt from one of them:


"sdafsgrthop fgviojn;r34 v4 4f;p ;sknferiunob 43of vl fwe4kfbeiorgo9 fh4 9rhphpuf4bhrpui 8489inkj fne wiop [h fpw4 w4"

Brillant.

sony is a private company. if they wanna make video games that can only be played by red haired males between the ages of 18 and 25 and are 5'11" they can do that.

Next up: Visually impaired interest group sues all artists ever for not making colors accessible to those that cannot see.

FTFA:

But the group said it was worried the lawsuit approach would do little to promote the cause or the community of disabled gamers.

I'm betting it gets all sorts of attention. Not the kind they wanted, but they can thank this moron for that.

(1) The linked website requires PACER to read the filing. I think CA is dodging around its own transparency requirements there, since that's a subscription service.

(2) To my knowledge, there's no requirement that purely visual media make themselves usable by people who can't see in the ADA. ADA is primarily about employment and buying stuff, there are practical limits on what can be made accessible and the act largely acknowledges that. So, barring someone having a solution to point (1) where they can access the actual documents, I'm going to assume that the guy's blindness stems from being so goddamned stupid his brain can't even figure out how his eyes work.

(3) You knew this was a bad idea from the beginning, Sony's lucky the first time they got sued over it was a frivolous suit:
"The suit is also claiming financial loss - Sony runs auction sites for certain games where you can sell your game character's silver battle axe for real world money."
Seriously, seen trouble coming over that one for a long time. Surprised it took so long.

I for one think this would be an amusing twist. Imagine GTA IV - in pure livid detail - as narrated by christopher walken..

"Niko's icing an old fool. Niko's walki..what did i tell you about the skootching, children?!....Niko's inviting a prostitute into his car.. Niko's driving straight, looking for a place to pull off. There's one, to the right.. The camera is catching the action. Niko is vaguely acting like he's paying the prostitute. Niko is running over the hooker. Niko is getting out of his car to get the money back.."

Bebekins disarms the Exquisite chest and discovers:
Atramentous Shadowplate Pauldrons
Atramentous Shadowplate Bracers
Atramentous Shadowplate Greaves
Despotic Mind (Master)

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