As a neurodiverse Shiny hunter, my minor addiction keeps me safe from more predatorry game mechanics.

Shiny Hunting And Neurodiversity - Access-Ability

After some time to sink in the track, my thoughts on MCR's first piece of new music in nearly a decade.

The Foundations Of Decay Reaction - My Chemical Romance

Introducing even more ways for more people to play Street Fighter, at least for local play.

Street Fighter 6's Button Mashing Dynamic Control Scheme - Access-Ability

A motion sickness miracle, but predicated on two handed gameplay.

Horizon: Call Of The Mountain Accessibility Review - Access-Ability

By turning off audio, and replacing it with a visualiser, Sector's Edge is seeking to even the competetive playing field.

Sector's Edge, Deaf Mode, And Competetive Equity - Access-Ability

Not strictly accessibility settings by name, but still an unfortunate implementation of useful options.

Let's Talk About Final Fantasy XVI - Access-Ability

As a gamer without visual memory, this new option could be a game changer.

Prince Of Persia: The Lost Crown Accomodates Lack Of Visual Memory - Access-Ability

Very similar functionality, with one notable difference we hope to see changed before public release.

PS5 Gets Co-Pilot Support Via "Assist Controller" Mode - Access Ability

A new attempt at allowing blind players more options for play without sighted assistance.

Sea Of Theives Introducing Audio Aim Assist For Blind Players - Access-Ability

Accessibility is about more than just game settings, and it's important to take time to appreciate that ocassionally.

How Xbox Is Advancing Accessibility Outside Of Its Games - Access-Ability

This week on Access-Ability, we try something a little different. Join me for a 35 minute chat with Arevya, a disabled and chronically ill content creator, talking about PTSD and video game accessibility.

PTSD And Gaming Accessibility (Feat Arevya) - Access-Ability

Now that the PlayStation Access Controller has been out for a few months, I spoke to disabled content creator and accessibility advocate Arevya about her experiences finding a place for the device in her gaming life.

The PS5 Access Controller: Four Months Later (Ft. Arevya) - Access-Ability

OpenDyslexic becoming more commonly offered by game developers is great, but it can't be the entirety of the conversation when it comes to dyslexia support.

The Nuance Of Dyslexia Friendly Fonts In Games - Access-Ability

Summer Games Fest 2023 had me hoping we'd see more accessibility announcements from the 2024 livestream season. Why do I think that didn't materialise?

Where Were The Accessibility Announcements At Summer Games Fest? - Access-Ability

Last week at Gamescom, I purchased an early unit of the Byowave Proteus Accessibility controller. Some teething issues aside, there's a really promising controller here, mostly caveatted by price.

Byowave Proteus Controller Hands-On Impressions - Access-Ability

I can very much pinpoint the game that made my motion sickness worse. Trying to "power through" was the wrong call to make.

The Dangers of Advising "Powering Through" Motion Sickness - Access-Ability

Sometimes, we just need uncomplicated, joyous, fun factory games in our lives.

00:00 - Intro
01:21 - Arevya Chat
01:31 - Outer Wilds
05:44 - Astro Bot
11:37 - Thank Goodness You’re Here
16:56 - Mobile Gaming
25:45 - Laura Chat
25:48 - The Plucky Squire
32:27 - Zero Zero: Perfect Stop
34:26 - News Headlines
35:01 - God of War Ragnarok Audio Descriptions and Hints
37:31 - Tales of Kenzera: Zau Update
39:41 - Easy Surf Cabernet Assessment
44:06 - Satisfactory Arachnophobia
45:36 - PS5 Pro
1:00:29 - Outro and Question

Ep 11: Pure, Wholesome, "Game Games" - Ctrl, Alt, Access

Echoes of Wisdom makes non-speaking Link more directly canon than seen before in the series. A lot of it is well handled. Some of it feels a little closer to fantasy.

A huge thanks to JadeBarefoot on BlueSky for giving this a sensitivity read and accuracy pass.

Non-Speaking Representation In Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom - Access-Ability

Bloober, you surprised me, not just by having interesting accessibility support, but also by not screwing up sentively handling complex mental health themes.

Silent Hill 2 Remake Accessibility Review - Access-Ability

This is very much not a review, because conflict of interest, but I still wanted to show off what settings are here and how they work.

Touring Accessibility in Life is Strange: Double Exposure - Access-Ability

I am obviously biased about this game, but I still wanted to show off what the accessibility settings are.

Touring Accessibility in Dragon Age: The Veilguard - Access-Ability

Let's try something new for the first time...

Board Game Accessibility (Rebellion - Joyride) - Access-Ability

Sometimes, fluctuating disabilities mean you have to pivot plans, and that's okay x

00:00 – Intro
03:52 – Arevya played Super Market Simulator, Botany Manor 
05:30 – Steven Spohn and Mark Barlet are leaving AbleGamers
08:40 – FDG 2025 will have the theme "Accessible Worlds, United Through Play"
10:35  – Laura and Arevya have consulted on Sorry, We're Closed 
12:05 – Arevya consulted on Life Below
14:43 – Lauras take on the PS5 PRO
19:15 – Laura has played Mario & Luigi Brothership, Super Mario Party Jamboree, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and LEGO Horizon Adventures 
36:25 – Where to find us

Ep 14: We're Tired, and Consulted on More Games! - Ctrl, Alt, Access

It's the end of the year. Here's the 18 games from the last 12 months I thought were most interesting. Only a small handful of them are games I have to disclose a conflict of intrest for, which I think is a pretty decent ratio honestly.

00:00 - Intro
01:30 - Indika
04:40 - Another Crab's Treasure
06:51 - Hellblade 2
09:11 - Shadow of the Erdtree
10:49 - Ode to Castlevania
13:42 - Thank Goodness You're Here
14:40 - Balatro
16:18 - Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
18:35 - Pacific Drive
20:43 - Mouthwashing
23:43 - UFO 50
25:50 - Echoes of Wisdom
28:44 - Astro Bot
30:43 - Life is Strange: Double Exposure
33:50 - Dragon Age: The Veilguard
37:22 - Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
39:18 - Metaphor Re:Fantazio
42:13 - Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
45:47 - The Sujimon Rap

The LauraKBuzz Game of the Year Awards 2024

Could not have predicted I'd have this many positive thoughts to share about accessibility in a From Software title, but here we are.

Elden Ring: Nightreign Cognitive Accessibility Impressions - Access-Ability

This new set of audio boost features on PS5 is a game changer, both for those with hearing loss and for autistic gamers.

I'm Autistic: PS5's Audio / Voice Boost is a Game Changer - Access-Ability

A huge step toward standardisation of an important feature industry wide, but that annoyingly misses the mark on doing so in the most industry standardised way.

Steam's New Accessibility Store Tags Are Fantastic, With a Caveat - Access-Ability

A pretty promising selection of features available on first boot of the zombie hoard combat adventure game.

Days Gone: Remastered - Accessibility Impressions - Access-Ability

Spider-Man PS4 demonstrated in 2020 that PlayStation can backport accessibility settings for free into older versions of titles. Their approach in the years since has placed accessibility upgrades behind a paywall.

Accessibility Remasters are a Disability Tax - Access-Ability

Expecting professionals to deliberately subject themselves to illness triggering material in order to protect others down the line from those same harms is not sustainable. We need to take seriously the fight to reduce risks before playtesting with illness impacted players.

Accessibility Consultants Are Putting Their Health On The Line - Access-Ability

We're back from GA Conf, and we sure have some games to discuss.

00:00 - Intro
02:14 - Oblivion
10:40 - Laura tried the Switch 2
13:09 - Donkey Kong Bannanza
14:35 - Mario Kart World
16:20 - Drag X Drive
28:50 - Metro Prime 4
33:42 - Clair Obscure: Expedition 33
37:15 - 1000xRESIST
40:00 - PS5 audio boosts including voice boost
42:31 - Steam A11Y tags
52:00 - Microsoft increase price of XBOX but not Adaptive controller
52:48 - Godot 4.5 improves accessibility support
54:42 - Days Gone Remastered accessibility features detailed
58:41 - World of Warcraft introduces Rotation Assist with Single-Button Assistant
1:01:44 - Where to find us

Ep 25: Wheelchair Isn't a Dirty Word Drag X Drive - Ctrl, Alt, Access

In the calm before the Switch 2 storm, we discuss having helicopter arms as accessibility.

0:00 - Intro
3:28 - To a T
24:57 - Doom: The Dark Ages
37:20 - IGN Article RE Able Gamers
53:11 - Outro

Ep 26: T-Pose Disibility Representation in the Dark Ages - Ctrl, Alt, Access

While the series still has issues with predatory microtransactions, these new accessibility updates to legally distinct Fifa move the sports sim series in a great direction.

High Contrast Mode and More Coming to EA Sports FC 26 - Access-Ability

Star Trek is set in a utopian future where disabilities can be accomodated through futuristic technology. Does this starship piloting video game LARP experience manage to capture the same spirit with its level of accessibility accomodations?

Bridge Command (London) - Accessibility Review - Access-Ability

An update on accessibility at Bridge Command. I'm pleased to say it's largely positive news.

Bridge Command (London) - An Accessibility Update - Access-Ability

Podquisition. SyFy FanGrrls Contributor. LPVG. Ex Destructoid UK EIC + Former News Editor @ Kotaku UK. Author: Uncomfortable Labels + Things I Learned From Mario’s Butt.

The LauraKBuzz Podcast

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