Disability and Game Studies, 5 op

Disabilities and games are pervasive in our society in different ways. Games are no longer just a niche hobby; they are a pinnacle form of entertainment and cultural artefacts that reflect our society. By extension, game-based applications, such as gamification, serious games, exergames, etc., have come to be a part of almost all non-game activities of our lives. On the other hand, according to conservative estimates, there are at least 1.5 billion individuals globally living with a disability that impacts their daily living. A third of gamers experiences a disability. These number estimates are further increasing due to illnesses & aging, and the pervasive spread of games in society respectively, amongst other reasons. How do games and disabilities interact? Are their ways to ensure equal access to games and game-based applications regardless dis(ability)? This course provides an introduction to disability studies, its intersection with game studies, and how disabilities influence interaction with games, game cultures, game-based applications, and social interaction around games. The course also introduces accessibility and common accessible design practices that can facilitate equal access to games and related cultures and applications.