New PortaPlay game simulates blindness

By Robert Purchese Published 16 December, 2009

Players can't see past intro sequence.

Stevie Wonder's recent plea for videogames people with visually impairments can play has been heard all the way over in Denmark, by the ears of Hans von Knut.

He's the creative thinker at PortaPlay, a studio busy developing an innovative sound-powered action-adventure.

"Right now we are working on a demo of a game that uses only audio and no graphics. It's set in a semi-factual WWII era where the player is an allied spy dropped behind enemy lines to gather intelligence on a secret German doomsday weapon. The player is blinded during the intro and the rest of the game takes place in complete darkness," said Knut.

"The game has combat, stealth, dialogue and puzzles, and will also feature multiplayer so blind people can play against each other in the same way non-visually-impaired gamers do.

"We think a lot of seeing persons will be interested in trying the game," he added, "As many are curious about what it's like to be blind. And finally blind persons will be able to play computer games against seeing persons and actually stand a chance, which is something that a lot of people are looking for."

Knut explained that the idea originated earlier this spring when he tripped over some existing games for people with visual impairments. They were old and dusty and basically on-rails Mario-type affairs where sounds played when one of three buttons needed pressing.

Knut, who was once an audio designer, quickly latched on to the idea and was determined to implement proper "realistic audio environments" in place of the tinny arcade bleeps.

"By going this realistic way, the blind and visually impaired will actually be able to play the game with free roaming, the same way that they are able to navigate in their daily life using only their ears," offered Knut.

The project's garnered admiration in Denmark and has secured funding from Danish Screen - the regional film institute.

You can listen to what Knut and PortaPlay are trying to achieve by searching for Holophonic on Google. Knut suggested that in-ear headphones will produce the best results.

PortaPlay makes "edgy" web-based and mobile games to educate younger audiences. One of them offers a bizarre lesson on sexually transmitted diseases.

"One is a dating game for teens where they can invite each other [to play] nice and naughty games using their mobile phones as they try to become the most popular in their network. The game actually allows them to do the dirty stuff with each other in a fictive setting, but if they don't practice safe-sex they can catch sexual diseases and also transmit them to others," Knut told us.

"So it's a 'real-life dating meets The Sims meets safe-sex campaigns' game."

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (47) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • zoidberg #1 2 years ago

    quite a good idea, IMHO.

  • Dr_Wadd #2 2 years ago

    Wasn`t there an adventure game way back, in the 8-bit era I think, that only used audio and no text or graphics?

  • Doctor_What #3 2 years ago

    Sounds bonkers but very much worth trying. Good luck to 'em, I'll definitely take a 'look' when it's out.

  • MiniAmin #4 2 years ago

    It sounds great - i'm glad to see more accessibility in gaming. But if i'm being completely honest I think i'd get bored of a game without graphics very quickly.

  • Stegofreak #5 2 years ago

    I'm oddly excited by the prospect of a graphicless game. Will have to look into this in the future. Hope it gets a release.

  • Altrezia #6 2 years ago

    Great idea, if they make it work properly. :)

  • Mkwone #7 2 years ago

    Very curious about how pans out and certainly want to play it.

    raises some interesting problems for media covering as well. Here's the new batch of screenshots and concept art.

  • TeaFiend #8 2 years ago

    The dating game sounds like something researchers will simply love.

  • crwoody #9 2 years ago

    Any screens of this in action? ;-)

  • penhalion #10 2 years ago

    No idea how this simulates blindness in any way shape or form but, hey what do I know.

  • MiniAmin #11 2 years ago

    I wonder how menus would work...

  • Cadence #12 2 years ago

    ^^ Maybe a bit like the menus you get when you ring BT. "Choose option 1 to speak to someone who won't understand you", Choose option 2 to be put on hold for 20 minutes then cut off", etc.

  • aldo_14 #13 2 years ago

    No intention of playing this, but that's because I'm not blind already... it's a fantastic idea and good to hear* someone doing it.


    *no pun intended. I remember an also massively commendable fan-project to add complete (sound effect etc) subtitles for deaf gamers playing Doom3.

  • statusjones #14 2 years ago

    sounds (sorry) a bit like a multiplayer version of The Pit then

    you know, thqt xbla community/indie games thing

    http://www.studiohunt y.com/itp/

  • jjolley #15 2 years ago

    Much as this is interesting, it's a sign of bad times to come in my view. Because one guy's done it, you're going to get the rest of the blind thinking they're owed all of the time. I'll give it a go obviously, but many sighted people won't play it, and why should they feel sorry for blind people anyway? I've never expected people to feel sorry for me in the slightest.

  • EmiliasHorse #16 2 years ago

    I am very much in favour of games being made for the blind. I can imagine System Shock 2 with a narrator adding visual clues to the player that add to the already hugely impressive audio. It would take a very talented dev to make a playable game.

  • Shadders #17 2 years ago

    This would be ace with 3D audio!

    There's no reason it couldn't work like a radio soap opera I guess.

  • asphaltcowboy #18 2 years ago

    Yeah, I bet the graphics are rubbish!

  • tinyspark #19 2 years ago

    Is it technically correct to still call it a 'video'game though? Audiogame surely?

  • TravisTouchdown #20 2 years ago

    Isn't a huge amount of 'survival' when blind about haptic feedback? Something that's absolutely terrible in games? We get around it by seeing, and hearing, our avatar interacting with something onscreen, along with a bit of rumble maybe. When you've only got hearing and rumble to rely on ... I just don't know if it'll pan out - or simulate blindness in any way other than the most crude.

    Fascinating all the same.

  • huckan #21 2 years ago

    I can't believe no one's asked if there'll be a HD version!

  • neilka #22 2 years ago

    "DOA: Paradise revealed for PSP"
    "New PortaPlay game simulates blindness"

    Duplicate news stories?

  • scowat #23 2 years ago

    Post deleted at 16:41:01 08-02-2012

  • djed #24 2 years ago

    cool link, scowat.

  • Psiloc #25 2 years ago

    EG use Firefox :-).

  • madjim #26 2 years ago

    Will it work with my Dual Core/ 8800 GTS setup?

  • chrisola #27 2 years ago

    aldo_14 - i'm pretty sure Half Life 2 comes with the extra subtitles etc so deaf gamers could actually play it.

  • jefranklin18 #28 2 years ago

    Be interesting to see the Digital Foundry 360/PS3 comparisons... ;)

  • Shadders #29 2 years ago

    This game is discriminatory towards deaf people!

  • Avaloner #30 2 years ago

    "We think a lot of seeing persons will be interested in trying the game," he added, "As many are curious about what it's like to be blind."

    How about trying a blindfold on? That should amply satisfy your curiosity.

  • Sunyavadin #31 2 years ago

    "PortaPlay makes "edgy" web-based and mobile games to educate younger audiences. "

    They'd better watch out for Tim Langdell, then....

  • jambo74 #32 2 years ago

    How Wonderful (and handy)





  • Ranger101 #33 2 years ago

    The Pit on Xbox Indie Games / XBCG has done Blind gaming quite well.

  • Bander #34 2 years ago

    I've been looking forward to something like this for a while. I'm certainly not blind, but I have a Japanese toy called Otoge that is pretty much an audio-only shooter. Although gameplay is limited (it's about 10 years old and only cost me £5 I think), the beauty of it is that it can be played anywhere so long as you have a free hand and don't need to be paying attention to anything else with your ears. Walking, at the gym, at a park or beach when it's too sunny to see a portable screen comfortably, lying in bed too lazy to raise your hands...

    But if I'm in front of a games console or PC, I may as well have the screen on. Unless I really was blind, in which case I doubt I'd be investing in a console in the first place. Audio-only software would be far better suited to portable devices like phones.

  • jonbwfc #35 2 years ago

    Is 'fictive' actually a word?

  • jjolley #36 2 years ago

    I note that I was marked down for being honest. I'm actually blind as many will know, and I am genuinly concerned about the state of disabled access, but even I understand that there are some things in life that are going to be difficult. I don't expect braille raised versions of famous works of arts now do I? I don't expect Braille on food packages, nice and handy as that might be?

    I find it genuinly disturbing that the blind are worrying about computer game accessibility when we have other, more serious issues to worry about. How about the half-price licence fee for TV? How about the lack of access to many public performances? Hell, how about the inability to afford half the technology because the pricing is so out there? As an example, I have a reader (a portable camera attached to a PDA) that cost me 2000 pounds. I wasn't handed it on a plate, I had to buy it myself. In short, we have more pressing accessibility issues than just gaming.

    I play games, I manage with what I can and accept that there are some things that are going to be impossible.

  • FortysixterUK #37 2 years ago

    It's a cheap way to make a game I suppose....
    and of course, my other, more cynical approach is..." you are taking the piss ?"
    And yes, I fully admit I only read the banner and scanned the article.
    Edited by 1 at 16/12/09 @ 14:54

  • Bulbatron #38 2 years ago

    jjolley, I pretty much agree with you. I don't think it's about people feeling sorry for blind people though, just about trying to give blind people another kind of experience I suppose. I know lots of blind people and some of them do play games, but not many. I don't really think that games developed specifically for blind people would ever take off in a big way, and even fewer fully sighted people would ever bother with them. And I can't see it ever happening on consoles, other than indie games like In the Pit.

    While I'm not actually blind, I am visually impaired and I agree with you that there are more pressing things that probably need to be looked at. My personal bug-bare is audiobooks - and the fact that you can't always go into a shop and buy unabridged versions. And then there are large print books which you can only really find at the library or for a higher price if you buy them. Having said that, I haven't looked for large print books for quite a while now (since I can get through an audiobook (even an unabridged one) in a fraction of the time it takes me to read the print version), so perhaps things have changed.

  • jjolley #39 2 years ago

    At FortysixterUK:
    I'd agree with you on the game being cheaper to make, not so sure on it taking the piss. I only think that this is some sort of backlash. I recall the recent blind idiot who wants to sue Sony online for something or other, there was a gamespot article. I just can't imagine this:
    Blind person: "Hey look. There's this really great game with brilliant sound in. Wanna play?"
    Sighted Person: "Er, perhaps.
    (Turns on PS3, asks for sighted assistance to find the game because the UI won't talk to him. Blind player then sets up the game, screen fades to black!)
    Blind person: "What do you reckon?"
    Sighted Person: "Anyone for watching TV instead? This game's for you people init!

    Nobody will take this seriously, above the access for all idiots.

  • jjolley #40 2 years ago

    At Bulbatron:
    The voice of reason. Regarding audiobooks, I tend to only buy dramas myself but audible.co.uk is the usual source. there are many other places but i'm not an expert.

    With regards large print books, perhaps it may be a good idea to ring the RNIB again as they're always adding to there DAISY and large print catalogues.

  • Bulbatron #41 2 years ago

    jjolley, I do have quite a lot of dramas, I must admit. I have used audible.co.uk from time to time. I can't decide whether to get a full membership or not. I used to read more large print books than I do now since I realised how much quicker it is to get through an audiobook. I find I can concentrate more on a story if I'm not having to rely on my eyes as much. Luckily I can usually read normal sized print, so I'm not completely dependant on large print, but it can be a bit of a strain sometimes and having large print certainly takes the edge off it. I've never needed to read braille, but that's just as well since my fingers are far too bulbous. Tried reading Moon once. That was easier.

    But to keep this slightly more on topic - I'll just say that at the end of the day, if the games for blind people thing works and developers can find a good way of doing it then great, but as I've already said, I certainly can't see it catching on with fully sighted people, or all that many blind people either.

    As for my own gaming, it is very much dictated by my vision - or lack of. For example, while I do like to play shooters, I always have to put the difficulty on easy. So generally I prefer slower-paced games. I'm a big fan of horror games, but as they seem to become more action-heavy, I find myself more and more wary about approaching them. Alone in the Dark made me want to scream and yank out my remaining good eye.
    Edited by 1 at 16/12/09 @ 16:06

  • seasidebaz #42 2 years ago

    "By going this realistic way, the blind and visually impaired will actually be able to play the game with free roaming, the same way that they are able to navigate in their daily life using only their ears," offered Knut.

    Don't blind people usually have a dog and / or stick to aid their navigation?

  • altitude2k #43 2 years ago

    I think this is a great idea. Reminds me of the (supposed) implementation of sign language into HL2:Ep3, or HL3...whichever game Valve were talking about this for.

  • koopa #44 2 years ago

    Sounds interesting, maybe someone could do this in a regular game for one level or something...

  • raion #45 2 years ago

    I like the concept. it excites me because having to rely entirely only on sounds, you'd be forced to fill the gaps using the immagination. something that modern media rarely stimulates.

    you know... I'm gonna go and find out if there are any choose your own adventure audio books. I liked the pen and paper ones when I was young.

  • pinochet_cz #46 2 years ago

    ow..wait for natal..I can imagine game in dark completely controlled by fingers .)

  • jambo74 #47 2 years ago

    @altitude2k

    Yeah, as the implementation of sign language is real handy for the deaf!
    Imagine multiplayer chaos, hands waving
    Edited by 1 at 18/12/09 @ 15:14