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Can an inherently visual medium such as videogames violate the American Disabilities Act because because it's virtual worlds are not easily navigable by the visually impaired? That is what a lawsuit filed by a California man alleges according to Gamespot.
Alexander Stern is suing Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) and Sony Computer Entertainment of America (SCEA) after repeated requests to modify the massively multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPG) to the guidelines defined by the ADA. Stern contends that developers of other MMORPG games such as World of Warcraft and the developers of the PC adventure game Terraformers provide modifications either directly or through third-party modifications.
Additionally, Stern contends that he is suffering a financial loss because SOE will not make their games accessible. Sony runs an official auction site where gamers can sell the items they've gained in the games for real money.
Stern's suit declares, "Sony has constructed the products in a way that is inaccessible to plaintiff; maintains the products in this inaccessible form; and has failed to take any action whatsoever to correct these barriers even after being repeatedly notified of the discrimination that such barriers cause."
Neither Sony Online Entertainment or Sony Computer Entertainment of America have commented on the suit through their representatives.
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Comments
Maybe he should sue strip clubs too because he can't see any of the strippers, or maybe he should sue earth because he can't enjoy the color of the sky. Dude, you're blind, it sucks, but that's the way is is, find a different hobby.
Next up: Suing the FAA becasue they don't allow blind pilots.
AA and Delta allow drunk pilots at least...
In other news, pending lawsuits to Kodak for failure to make pictures accessible.
Utterly ridiculous. It's a form of entertainment that's usually played by people who can actually *SEE*. Why should Sony conform to a minority's standards when it would make it less enjoyable for the majority (Seriously, would you want to play a video game where everything is fudge ginormous so visually impaired people can see it?)
And his financial loss- bullshit. It's not like he invested and lost money in this, he's just unable to auction. So what? I can't go and invest in the stock market but that's because I'm up to my neck in debt. Should I sue the big name stock companies for not having ultra-low prices?
Jeez, more useless lawsuits :|
Why is prejudice always promoted by such dishonest discourse? The man isn't asking to drive a car nor fly a plane which would constitute deadly conduct, a serious felony. Would you say, "It's a form of entertainment that's usually played by WHITE PEOPLE..." Of course not, for then people would see the falsity of your arguments.
People with severe disabilities have fewer opportunities to generate income, they still have to eat just like you do. Oh and by the way, game engines don't *see*, they work internally with what developers call objects. When you play a game, you see what the game engine generates for you to see, which could also just as easily generate textual information, which makes your points invalid. So a game could tell someone that an open door is to the left, or you need to go Northwest, or you are walking on/off the path, etc.
Oh and regarding the condescending remarks about this not being a lot of money, just be glad you are not limited in your income opportunit
"Would you say, "It's a form of entertainment that's usually played by WHITE PEOPLE..."
Oh dear, someone just compared racism with games.
'Dear God, I would like to file a bug report about a product of yours...'
"Oh and by the way, game engines don't *see*...which makes your points invalid..."
You seem to be very thick, so I'll reiterate the gist of what I said using BIG LETTERS.
"It's a form of entertainment that's usually played by PEOPLE who can actually *SEE*" As in, the people can *SEE*. Not the game engine; I don't see any logical reason for you to assume that I could be even remotely referring to the engine in itself. Of course mere scripting doesn't have a sense of vision, thanks, Cpt. Obvious. Furthermore for a virtual world as large as the typical MMORPG playground, it's extremely difficult to create an 'easy to see' version, and it's not profitable as not many visually impaired people play video games- which mainly rely on VISION, if you didn't get that from
"regarding the condescending remarks about this not being a lot of money" Condescension? I see a factual statement; he didn't lose money. Maybe an opportunity to make cash, but that's not LOSS, just not gain. It's like saying you had financial loss because your neighbor found treasure in their backyard and you didn't. They didn't STEAL it, after all.
"(The game engine)could also just as easily generate textual information"
Why should Sony conform to a minority (probably less than 1% of active gamers are visually impaired) in a way that might irritate a majority? I don't want to read five-inch high text in an RPG. "WELL THEY COULD MAKE A VERSION FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED". Money makes the world go round and while it would be nice to make everyone as comfortable as possible I doubt it either practical or indeed even possible for a company to change a game to such an extent.
"Disable people have fewer opportunities to generate income"
And this is one; suing without valid reaso
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