Promoting Inclusive Design Practice at the Global Game Jam: A Pilot Evaluation

TL;DR

This study evaluates how promoting inclusive design practices during the Global Game Jam can positively influence students' attitudes and intentions to incorporate accessibility features in their future game development projects.

Contribution

It demonstrates that engaging participants in inclusive design initiatives at game development events can improve attitudes and motivation towards accessibility.

Findings

Participants' attitudes improved after the initiative

Participants are more likely to pursue further learning on accessibility

All attendees showed increased consideration of accessibility in future games

Abstract

Games are a popular form of entertainment. However, many computer games present unnecessary barriers to players with sensory, motor and cognitive impairments. In order to overcome such pitfalls, an awareness of their impact and a willingness to apply inclusive design practice is often necessary. The Global Game Jam offers a potential avenue to promote inclusive design practices to students of game development. As such, this paper evaluates the impact of an initiative to promote inclusive design practices during the 2014 Global Game Jam. An attitude questionnaire was distributed to both participants and non-participants at one event venue. The results indicate that, having enrolled in the initiative, students' attitudes improved. Furthermore, all attendees reported they were likely to pursue further learning opportunities and consider accessibility issues in their future games. This suggests that the Global Game Jam, and other similar events, present an attractive avenue to promote inclusive design practice within the context of digital game development. However, further analysis of submitted games, additional qualitative inquiry and a large-scale trial are needed to determine impact on practice and to form recommendations for future events.